Martyrs day or Shaheed Diwas is celebrated in India to pay homage to those who lost their lives fighting for the freedom of this country. They sacrificed for the larger benefit of the nation. It is celebrated on 30th January to commemorate the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi, one of the great freedom fighters of the nation was assassinated in the year 1948. Rightly called the Father of the Nation, he became a martyr on 30th of January. Today happens to be the 70th death anniversary of the freedom fighter.

Along with Gandhi, there were a lot many other freedom fighters who equally worked hard in the independence struggle. These leaders served as an inspiration for the common man to take part in the independence movement. The way they spoke about freedom of the country made everyone feel patriotic and fight off from the clutches of the Britishers. On this martyr’s day let us take a look at some inspirational quotes given said by the great martyrs of India.

  1. Mahatma Gandhi: Freedom is not worth having if it does not include freedom to make mistakes.

  2. Bhagat Singh: One should not interpret the word revolution in its literal sense. For the established agencies of exploitation, it conjures up a feeling of blood-stained horror. To the revolutionaries, it’s a sacred phrase.

  3. Lala Lajpatrai: The shots that hit me are the last nails to the coffin of British rule in India.

  4. Rani Laxmibai: I will not give my Jhansi to anyone.

  5. Chandrashekhar Azad: If yet your blood does not rage, then it is water that flows in your veins. For what is the flush of youth, if it is not of service to the motherland.

  6. Ashfaqulla Khan: There is no Dream, and if there is, there is only one to see you my children struggling for the same and for which I am expected to be finished.

  7. Ram Prasad Bismil: Even if I have to face death a thousand times for the sake of my Motherland, I shall not be sorry. Oh, Lord! Grant me a hundred births in India. But grant me this, too, that each time I may give up my life in the service of the Motherland.

Every year on Martyrs Day, the president, prime minister and the defence minister along with the army Service chiefs gather at the Rajghat memorial of Mahatma Gandhi to pay their tribute. All the state and central government offices observe a 2-minute silence at 11 AM as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives. We all have studied about our remarkable Indian Freedom Struggle and it wouldn’t have been possible without the blood, sweat and countless lives that were lost in the movement. It is thus very important to observe and remember the struggle of those who breathed their last for the nation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2018 10:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).