- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Punjab School Holiday: The Punjab Government has announced a gazetted public holiday on Friday, July 31, 2026, to commemorate the Martyrdom Day of Shaheed Udham Singh. An official notification has been issued in this regard, confirming closure across all state institutions for the day.
According to the notification, all government offices, boards, corporations, government schools, colleges, and other state-run institutions across Punjab will remain closed on the occasion. Regular official work in these institutions will remain suspended for the day, giving students and employees a day off in remembrance of the revered freedom fighter.
Why Has This Holiday Been Declared?
The holiday has been declared as a mark of respect to the sacrifice and patriotism of freedom fighter Shaheed Udham Singh, whose martyrdom is observed every year on July 31. The day is included in Punjab's official holiday calendar for 2026. Shaheed Udham Singh is remembered for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating former Punjab Lieutenant Governor Michael O'Dwyer in London in 1940. He was executed on July 31, 1940, and is regarded as one of India's most revered freedom fighters.
Which Institutions Will Remain Closed?
As per the official notification, all government offices, boards, corporations, government schools, colleges, and other state-run institutions across Punjab will observe the holiday, with regular functioning suspended for the day. Meanwhile, Punjab schools had already concluded their summer vacations, which ran from May 25 to June 30, 2026, so this holiday falls separately within the regular academic calendar. Students and parents are advised to check with individual schools or the Department of School Education, Punjab portal for any further localised updates.
About Shaheed Udham Singh
Shaheed Udham Singh (1899–1940) was a prominent Indian revolutionary best known for assassinating Michael O'Dwyer in London to avenge the horrific 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He is revered as a national hero and is often respectfully referred to as "Shaheed-i-Azam" (the great martyr).
Born Sher Singh in Sunam, Punjab, he was orphaned at a young age and raised in an orphanage in Amritsar. Deeply impacted by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where British forces fired on a peaceful gathering, he dedicated his life to India's freedom struggle. He became associated with the international Ghadar Party and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), travelling globally, living in the U.S., Africa, and Europe, to plan his mission and gather support for the revolution.
His defining act took place on March 13, 1940, at Caxton Hall in London, where he shot and killed Michael O'Dwyer, the former Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab who had justified the 1919 Amritsar slaughter. Following the assassination, Udham Singh did not attempt to flee. During his trial, he famously used the name 'Ram Mohammad Singh Azad' to symbolise the unity of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities in India's fight for independence. He was sentenced to death and was hanged at Pentonville Prison in London on July 31, 1940.
His remains were eventually returned to India in 1974 and cremated, cementing his legacy as one of the most dedicated and fearless freedom fighters in Indian history.