Gurdev Singh Sandhu, Grandson of
Shaheed-i-Azam Udham Singh hangs himself
due to extreme poverty
An incredibly sad series of events has recently come to light regarding the grandson of the celebrated Sikh matyr, Shaheed Udham Singh.
Despite the celebrated status of Shaheed Udham Singh across Sikh communities, and promises from various powerful political figures, the family he left behind have never received any support. It seems highly questionable that the family of a man who has given his life for his country have had no choice but to live in poverty and work in exceptionally poor conditions.
It is due to this extreme poverty experienced by the descendants of Shaheed Udham Singh, that his grandson, Gurdev Singh Sandhu, has hanged himself this month. He was found hanging with a rope around his neck inside his well. Gurdev Singh Sandhu, a farmer by trade, had been living in poverty for decades. He has appeared on television a number of times, explaining how despite his grandfather was considered a national hero, he was unable to find the most basic of jobs and therefore was incapable of supporting his family.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case – there are many freedom fighters from India who have died for worthy causes and beliefs and yet their families continue to face poverty and hardship.
Is it right that millions are spent on building Gurdwaras, langars, romallas, and other expensive artefacts all over the world, when there are families of martyrs suffering in extreme poverty?
Udham Singh
The Amritsar Massacre
For anyone who is unfamiliar with the story of Shaheed Udham Singh, The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (otherwise known as the Amritsar Massacre) is a horrific event which took place on the 3rd April 1919. In response to a peaceful gathering of men, women, and children in the Jallianwala Bagh Garden who had gathered to celebrate Baisakhi, Colonel Dyer made the decision to bring the event to a halt by driving tanks into the area.
He had not appreciated quite how narrow the roads were and was forced to abandon his plan as the tanks were unable to drive down the roads. Instead, he sent his men into the garden where he then ordered them to open fire upon the group with no warning. It is thought that over a thousand men, women, and children were slaughtered by Dyer and his men, with many hundreds more injured. The whole operation had been approved by Lieutenant Governor O’Dwyer who later stated that the massacre had been the right thing to do.
One of the survivors of this brutal event was a young boy, Shaheed Udham Singh, who vowed to one day claim revenge against Lieutenant Governor O’Dwyer, the Governer of Pujab at the time. In his later years, he made his way to London where he assassinated Lieutenant Governor O’Dwyer. Shaheed Udham Singh was subsequently arrested.
Following his arrest, Shaheed Udham Singh stated:
“I did it because I had a grudge against him. He deserved it. He was the real culprit. He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years, I have been trying to seek vengeance. I am happy that I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country. I have seen my people starving in India under the British rule. I have protested against this, it was my duty. What greater honour could be bestowed on me than death for the sake of my motherland?”
Following to his murder trial, Udham Singh was sentenced to death and subsequently hanged on 31 July 1940. Today, he is hailed by many as being Shaheed-i-Azam Udham Singh.
It is regrettable that his family continues to suffer in extreme poverty – poverty to such an extent that his grandson felt he had no choice but to commit suicide.
