Udham Singh is a prominent figure of the Indian independence struggle.
He was a witness to the carnage that took place on April 19, 1919, in Amritsar’s Jallianwalla Bagh.
Udham Singh had held Michael O'Dwyer responsible for the horrific event because he as a Governor of Punjab had supported General Reginald Dyer's massacre plan at Amritsar. O'Dwyer had termed it as a "correct action".
On 13th March, 1940, Udham Singh assassinated O'Dwyer at a joint meeting of the East India Association and the Central Asian Society (now Royal Society for Asian Affairs) in Caxton Hall, London.
Udham Singh did not try to flee or resist arrest. He was convicted and sentenced to death.
On 31 July 1940, Singh was hanged at Pentonville Prison, in north London.
This animation follows the 21 years of Udham Singh's life following the Jallianwallah Bagh massacre in 1919, leading up to the assassination of Michael O'Dwyer and his execution in Pentonville Prison shortly after.
“I did it because I had a grudge against him. He deserved it. He was the real culprit. He wanted to crush the spirit of my people, so I have crushed him. For full 21 years, I have been trying to wreak vengeance. I am happy that I have done the job. I am not scared of death. I am dying for my country. I have seen my people starving in India under the British rule. I have protested against this, it was my duty. What a greater honour could be bestowed on me than death for the sake of my motherland?"
- Udham Singh after Michael O'Dwyer's assassination.
