India became independent primarily because of its unique freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. However, certain incidents of British bestiality fanned the flame of freedom and hastened the process of independence. These incidents, to mention only a few, include the massacre at Jallianwalla Bagh, Amritsar, on April 13, 1919, the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at lahore Central Jail on March 23, 1931, the barbaric treatment given to the heroes of the Quit India Movement in August 1942 and the vindictiveness shown towards the gallant soldiers of Azad Hind Fauj in May 1945.

In all these situations Indians stood united, firm like a rock, which not only shocked the British but also paralysed their administration. Their heart quailed before the Indian resistence and they almost lost their balance. These events made them realise that they were sitting on the brink of a volcano. According to Dr RC Majumdar, “This consideration played an important role in their final decision to quit India”. India became independent and made its tryst with destiny on August 15, 1947 when the Indian Tricolour replaced the Union Jack.

Coming in the wake of the Ghadar and Satyagraha movements, the bloodshed in Jallianwalla proved to be a definitive nail in the British coffin. The statement of the then Governor of Punjab Michael O’ Dwyer who had engineered this bloodbath, that the “firing was meant to create a moral effect, though from a military point of view” provoked only laughter. The British Government’s own records have grossly underestimated the extent and impact of the tragedy.

While there was open revolt in Punjab, a wave of anger spread around the country. Motilal Nehru gave a clarion call to the nation to respond to the call of the “lacerated heart of the Punjab”. The Government also retaliated. Military courts were set up which tried 852 men, of which 582 were convicted. Hundreds were executed. Every Punjabi became a soldier, every house became a fort. Secret societies were formed, everywhere there was talk of independence and inquilab.

The massacre was followed by the imposition of Martial law in Gujranwala, lahore and Amritsar. A new type of flogging was introduced. KC Ghosh writes: “Thousands of students were forced to walk sixteen miles a day for roll calls: Students and professors numbering hundreds were arrested and detained. School children between five and seven were compelled to attend parade and salute the flag. Owners of property were ordered to bear the responsibility for safety of the Martial law posters stuck upon their property. An entire marriage party, without having least knowledge of any provisions of Martial law was flogged publicly. Six boys of Islamia School, lahore, simply because they happened to be big, were flogged... To humiliate the people, open cages were constructed and placed in central places where arrested men, some very respectable, were confined like so many ferocious animals. Novel punishments like crawling order, the skipping order and others unknown and undreamt o in any law, civil or military, were freely practiced on the innocent and the guilty alike. Persons were handcuffed and roped together, hindus and Muslims were handcuffed in pairs with the object of demonstrating the consequences of Hindu-Muslim Unity.” This shocked the conscience of the entire country. The people’s anguish was voiced by Rabindranath Tagore who renounced his knight-hood in protest.

The All India Congress Committee met on 20-21 April, 1919, at Amritsar. The Annual Congress Session also took place in Amritsar. At Gujranwala there was serious trouble. A railway station, a railway bridge, the main Post Office, the Munsif’s Court were razed to the ground. The Telegraph Office, the Dak Bungalow, Kutcheri and a school were also set ablaze. At Kasur and Wazirabad, there were similar occurrences. At lahore, there was shooting and firing. Calcutta burst out in anger. In Amritsar, more than two persons were not allowed to walk on sidewalks. langars were forbidden.

Bhagat Singh, only 11 years old, did not go to school on the day of the massacre but took a train to Amritsar and visited the spot. There he stood for several minutes in deep trance, picked up the earth from the soil, rubbed it on his forehead, carried some it in his phial. During his return journey he tightened his grip on the phial when the conductor asked him for the ticket. When he reached home that evening, his sister asked him for the meals and the share of mangoes she had kept for him. Bhagat Singh, who relished mangoes, fasted that night. He showed his sister the bloodstained holy earth. According to his family members, he placed fresh flowers on the holy earth every morning, taking new inspiration from the wounded orchard. One morning he went to the river Ravi and pledged that he would colour its waters with the colour of his blood, which would mingle with the five streams of the Punjab to create what he called the ‘Freedom’s Flood’.

General Dyer boasted to the Punjab Governor that he had saved Punjab for him. But history is a slippery maiden. It seldom obliges. The coming events showed that Dyer might have saved Punjab for his immediate boss but he lost India for his distant masters. In a soul stirring poem, Sarojini Naidu predicted the doom of British rule in India. So did lenin from Soviet Union in his letter dated April 10, 1920, addressed to the editor of the Amrit Bazar Patrika which was intercepted by British police.

Udham Singh, who later shot and killed O’Dwyer was only 16 at this time, and an eyewitness to the bloodiest day of India’s history. He too pledged in blood to avenge the massacre. With this aim in view, he first landed in Africa. From there he went to America where he met the Indian revolutionaries working for the liberation of motherland. In 1923 he landed in England. But he returned to India in response to an urgent call from Bhagat Singh. When he reached lahore, he was detained for violation of Arms Act. After a mock trial he was sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment. When Bhagat Singh was executed on March 23, 1931, Udham Singh was in jail. He was released in 1932.

In 1933, he escaped to Germany from where he went to london. He had to change his names many times. By now, General Dyer had died but Sir Michael O’Dwyer and lord Zetland were alive. He followed them like a shadow and kept track of their movements. He purchased a  revolver and kept it ready for action.

The opportunity came on March 13, 1940, when both Sir Michael O’Dwyer and lord Zetland were to speak at a seminar. Udham Singh moved quietly and seated himself a few rows away from the rostrum. Sir Michael O' Dwyer delivered an inflammable speech. As he turned to resume his seat, Udham Singh brought out his revolver and fired five shots. Sir Michael O'Dwyer died without a shriek.

There was confusion and chaos, and Udham Singh could have escaped easily but he stood there and took responsibility for his actions. He was executed. By his supreme sacrifice Udham Singh joined the ranks of Khudiram Bose, Madan lai Dhingra, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Ashfaqulla Khan, Ram Parsad Bismal and Bhagat Singh. Death couldn’t conquer these martyrs for now they live in the hearts of their people.