Last Updated:March 23, 2025, 07:00 IST

Shaheed Diwas 2025: On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh and his associates Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death.

Shaheed Diwas 2025: Shaheed Diwas, or Martyr’s Day, is observed in India on March 23 every year. This day is commemorated in remembrance of the three brave warriors of the nation: Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar.

On this day, people remember and pay tribute to the martyrs who fought to protect our country and sacrificed their lives during the Indian freedom struggle. Martyred in the prime of youth, at the age of 23, Bhagat Singh remains one of the bravest, most influential revolutionary figures in Indian history.

To make this occasion more memorable, here’s the history, significance and some of the best inspirational quotes by Bhagat Singh. Also, check out some movies based on the life of the legend that evoke patriotism and remember courageous souls.

Shaheed Diwas 2025: History

In 1928, the Simon Commission came to India to decide on the governance of India with no presence of Indian members. This led to a protest against them by Indian freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai on October 30, 1928, in Lahore. To stop the protest, police Superintendent James A. Scott ordered a baton charge on the protesters and severely assaulted Lajpat Rai. The freedom fighter succumbed to his injuries on November 17, 1928.

This assault was witnessed by Bhagat Singh, and he, along with Shivaram Rajguru, decided to kill Scott in revenge. However, he mistakenly shot Assistant Superintendent of Police John Saunders. At the time, Chandra Sekhar Azad was with them, and he shot police constable Chanan Singh to help them flee from the site.

Later, on April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh exploded two bombs inside Delhi’s Central Legislative Assembly to protest against the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Dispute Act. They didn’t intend to kill anyone, but some assembly members were injured. He was then handed a life sentence. However, soon after, his involvement in the Saunders’ murder was discovered. It was on March 23, 1931, when freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and his associates Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British.

Shaheed Diwas 2025: Significance

March 23 remains a dark day in Indian history, but it holds profound significance as a tribute to India’s brave freedom fighters, soldiers and citizens who sacrificed their lives for independence. The day acknowledges the countless lives lost in the pursuit of freedom and inspires us to value freedom and its unsung heroes.

Shaheed Diwas 2025: Inspirational quotes by Bhagat Singh

• “Bombs and pistols do not make a revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting stone of ideas.”
• “They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit.”
• “Lovers, Lunatics and poets are made of the same stuff.”
• “Merciless criticism and independent thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary thinking.”
• “Philosophy is the outcome of human weakness or limitation of knowledge.”
• “Zindagi to apne Damm par hi jiyi Jati Hai…Dusro ke kandhe par toh sirf janaje uthaye jate Hai. (Life is lived on one’s own strength… Others help is needed in funerals only.”
• “It is beyond the power of any man to make a revolution. Neither can it be brought about on any appointed date. It is brought about by special environments, social and economic. The function of an organised party is to utilise any such opportunity offered by these circumstances.”
• “Man’s duty is to try and endeavour, success depends upon chance and environments.”
• “Revolution did not necessarily involve sanguinary strife. It was not a cult of bomb and pistol. They may sometimes be mere means for its achievement.”
• “Love always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love.”

Shaheed Diwas 2025: 7 Movies On The Life Of Bhagat Singh

1. Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh (1954): After 23 years of his hanging, this was the first film made on the life of the freedom fighter. Directed by Jagdish Gautam, the film features Prem Abeed, Ashita Mazumdar, Jairaj, and Smriti Biswas in lead roles. What was even more soul-stirring about this film was the classic patriotic song ‘Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab humare dil main hain’ by Mohammed Rafi. This song became an iconic hit cherished even to this day and is played on national holidays.
2. Shaheed Bhagat Singh (1963): The second film to be made on the life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh was released in 1963. In this film, legendary actor Shammi Kapoor played the protagonist. KN Bansal’s directorial also starred Premnath, Shakeela, and Achla Sachdev.
3. Shaheed (1965): The film on the life of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev portrayed how the freedom fighters went to the gallows at a young age. It is regarded as one of the classics of Indian cinema even today, thanks to its evergreen classics by Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, and Manna De. This film had the entire nation humming to its patriotic compositions, like Aye Watan Aye Watan, Humko Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna, Mera Rang De Basanti Chola and Pagadi Sambhaal Jattaa. S Ram Sharma’s directorial won the 13th National Awards along with awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi, the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and Best Story.
4. Shaheed-E-Azam (2002): Among the many films released on the life of Bhagat Singh in 2002, Shaheed-E-Azam saw Sonu Sood playing the titular role of Bhagat Singh. Directed by Sukumar Nair, the roles of Chandrashekar Azad and Rajguru were played by Raj Zutshi and Dev Gill, respectively.
5. Shaheed (2002): Unfolding events from the legend’s life, Guddu Dhanao’s directorial depicted the significant contributions of Bhagat Singh and his companions Rajguru and Sukhdev and the moment of his capital punishment on March 23, 1931. The role of Bhagat Singh was essayed by Bobby Deol, while his brother Sunny Deol essayed the role of Chandrashekhar Azad.
6. The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002): This Rajkumar Santoshi directorial has to be on the list. The Legend Of Bhagat Singh chronicles the life of Bhagat Singh and his priceless contributions to win back India’s independence from the British Raj. Headlined by Ajay Devgn, the film also sheds light on Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary ideas and his unwavering commitment to the cause, right from witnessing the death of Lala Lajpat Rai to the reopening of the Saunders’ murder case. How can we not forget the compelling music by AR Rahman that brings tears to everyone’s eyes after hearing the song? It is worth noting that this film bagged two National Awards. One was for the Best Feature Film in Hindi, and the other was won by Ajay Devgn under the Best Actor category.
7. Rang De Basanti (2006): This cult classic by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra boasts an ensemble cast including Aamir Khan, Siddharth Narayan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Atul Kulkarni and British actor Alice Patten in lead roles. The film released on Republic Day revisits the story of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Chandrashekhar Azad. Reigniting the patriotism in the youth, this movie follows a group of young college students who, while acting in a documentary about India’s freedom fighters, align with the ideologies of the revolutionaries.

Which one is your favourite?