Martyr’s Day (Shaheed Diwas) is commemorated on January 30 annually to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Known as the “Father of the Nation”, Gandhi was a prominent political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence movement. He achieved international fame for his theories of non-violent protest to achieve political and social progress. He spent most of his adult life advocating civil disobedience and peaceful protest as a means for India to gain independence from Britain, which had ruled directly since 1858. Independence was finally declared on 15 August 1947, about a month after the British Parliament passed the “Indian Independence Act”, which partitioned British India into India and Pakistan. Amid increasing sectarian violence, Gandhi travelled to the Indian capital of New Delhi to fast and attend prayer meetings for peace. His presence on the day of his death attracted a crowd estimated to number between a few hundred and 1,000 followers. Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse at Birla House during evening prayers on 30 January 1948. His killer was a Hindu fanatic who believed he was too conciliatory towards the large Muslim minority in the Indian subcontinent. Today, Gandhi is considered a symbol of peace and non-violence worldwide.

Event suggestions:
• Mapping Martyrs’ history through artefacts, timelines, and dialogue
• Exploring historical milestones through guided community memory circles
• Creating heritage displays honouring civic resilience and identity