23 March: Saheed Divas (Martyrs’ day); Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev attained Martyrdom

23 March: Saheed Divas (Martyrs’ day); Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev attained Martyrdom

"One should not interpret the word “Revolution” in its literal sense. Various meanings and significances are attributed to this word, according to the interests of those who use or misuse it. For the established agencies of exploitation it conjures up a feeling of blood stained horror. To the revolutionaries it is a sacred phrase." - Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh (b. 28 September 1907 – d. 23 March 1931) was an Indian socialist considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He is often referred to as "Shaheed Bhagat Singh", the word "Shaheed" meaning "martyr" in a number of Indian languages. Born into a Sikh family which had earlier been involved in revolutionary activities against the British Raj, as a teenager Singh studied European revolutionary movements and was attracted to anarchist and Marxist ideologies. He became involved in numerous revolutionary organisations, and quickly rose through the ranks of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) to become one of its main leaders, eventually changing its name to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928.

Shivaram Hari Rajguru (b. August 24, 1908 – d. March 23, 1931) was an Indian revolutionist from Maharashtra. Rajguru was born at Khed near Pune now known as Rajgurunagar. He was a colleague of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev, and took part in the murder of a British police officer, J.P. Saunders, (at Lahore) in 1928. The reason behind the murder was to revenge the death of veteran leader Lala Lajpat Rai who died due to injuries sustained during excessive police beating.

Sukhdev Thapar (b. 15th May 1907 - d. 23rd March 1931) was a Bharatiya revolutionary from Punjab. He was an active member of the HSRA, being one of its senior most leaders. He is known to have started study circles at the National College (Lahore), in order to delve into Bharat's past as well as to scrutinise the finer aspects of the world’s revolutionary literature. Along with Bhagat Singh and others he started the ‘Naujawan Bharat Sabha’ at Lahore. The main aims of this organisation were to activate the youth for the freedom struggle, inculcate a rational scientific attitude, fight communalism and end the practice of untouchability.

All three were convicted of the crime and hanged on 23rd March, 1931. They were cremated at Hussainiwala at the banks of the Sutlej river in Ferozepur district of Punjab.

So far Commemorative Stamp has not been issued on Sukhdev Thapar. Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust has submitted memorandum seeking the release of commemorative stamp on Sukhdev Thapar to the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, during the stamp release function of commemorative stamp issued on Shivaram Hari Rajguru issued on 22nd March 2013.