On the 114th anniversary of his execution, a memorial to Madan Lal Dhingra will be formally dedicated.
Madan Lal Dhingra
- Early Years: Dhingra was born on September 18, 1883, in an aristocratic family in Amritsar to a British loyalist father who worked as a chief medical officer.
- Dhingra’s patriotism was sparked by his exposure to the nationalist movement in Lahore throughout his studies.
- Dhingra’s patriotism extended to socioeconomic issues, driven by a sense of justice and sympathy for India’s underprivileged masses.
- Expulsion and Survival: Dhingra’s defiance highlighted his devotion to the cause after he was expelled from college for protesting the usage of British-imported cloth.
Participation in Revolutionary Circles
- Contact with Leaders: Dhingra maintained contacts with significant personalities such as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Varma, both of whom were involved in London’s revolutionary circles.
- Dhingra frequented India House, a hotbed for revolutionary Indian nationalism founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma, which fueled his revolutionary passion even more.
- Dhingra joined the Abhinav Bharat Mandal, which was created by Vinayak Savarkar, and there he improved his plan to assassinate Curzon Wyllie.
Murder of Curzon Wyllie
- Curzon Wyllie’s Bio: Curzon Wyllie was a British Indian officer and intelligence officer who specialised in gathering intelligence about rebels.
- Assassination: Dhingra attended an occasion where Curzon Wyllie was present on July 1, 1909. Dhingra opened fire five times, killing both Curzon Wyllie and a doctor who tried to assist.
- Justification by Dhingra: During his trial, Dhingra claimed that if fighting the Germans was patriotic for an Englishman, fighting the British was even more so.
Memorial and Legacy
- Dhingra was found guilty and executed on August 17, 1909. He was buried in London. In 1976, his ashes were returned to India.
- Struggle for a Memorial: A memorial in Dhingra’s honour has long been sought. The efforts resulted in the memorial’s formal inauguration on the 114th anniversary of his execution.
- Inauguration of the Memorial: On August 17, 2023, Governor Banwari Lal Purohit dedicated the memorial in Amritsar’s Golbagh neighbourhood.
- The Memorial’s Importance: The memorial honours Dhingra’s sacrifice and involvement in the fight for India’s independence.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/madan-lal-dhingra-8896635/#:~:text=Madan%20Lal%20Dhingra%20was%20an,refused%20to%20take%20his%20body.