India observes January 30 of every year as Martyrs’ Day or ‘Shaheed Diwas’ to mark the death anniversary of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. 

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi spearheaded the cause of India’s independence. Born in Porbandar, Gujarat in 1869, he was a great thinker and writer, who made a tremendous contribution to the making of a free India.

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A lawyer by profession, he led several non-violent movements like the Khilafat, Champaran Satyagraha and the Dandi Salt March in 1930. In 1942, he launched the Quit India Movement to overthrow the British rule in India. 

He was shot dead by Nathuram Godse in 1948 on this day at Gandhi Smriti in Birla house on this day during his evening prayers.

Along with his contributions towards the freedom struggle, Gandhi was also instrumental in abolishing the practice of untouchability. From leading India’s non-violent movement of freedom from the ruthless British rule to introducing principles of ideal governance and society, Mahatma Gandhi guided the nation and the posterity like a father in the true sense.   

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On this day, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister usually pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi. They are also joined by the service chiefs of the three defence forces to lay floral wreaths at his memorial.

The central government directs state governments and ministries to observe two minutes of silence at 11 am to commemorate the day and remember the sacrifices of martyred freedom fighters.

“The State/UT Governments are requested to ensure that the Martyrs’ Day is observed with due solemnity. They may issue instructions to all educational institutions and Public Sector Enterprises under their control for the observance of the Martyrs’ Day accordingly,” an advisory from the Ministry of Home Affairs reads.

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Additionally, Martyrs’ Day is also observed on March 23 to pay homage to leaders of the independence struggle including Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru. All three were hung by the British for assassinating officer John Saunders in 1928.