Shivaram Hari Rajguru was a great Indian freedom fighter who played a major role in the India’s struggle for Independence. He is amongst those great Indian revolutionaries who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of country. His full name was Hari Shivaram Rajguru and was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family. Since his childhood days, he had witnessed the brutal atrocities that the Imperial British Raj inflicted on India and her people. This instilled within him a strong urge to join hands with the revolutionaries in a bid for India’s freedom struggle.He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, who wanted India to be free from British rule by any means necessary.
Rajguru became a colleague of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev and took part in the assassination of a British police officer, John Saunders, at Lahore on 17 December 1928. Their actions were to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai who had died a fortnight after being hit by police while on a march protesting the Simon Commission.
Early Life
Rajguru was born on 24 August 1908 at Khed to Parvati Devi and Harinarain Rajguru in a Marathi Brahmin family. Khed was located at the bank of river Bheema near Poona. His father died when he was only six years old, and the responsibility of family fell on his elder brother Dinkar. He received primary education at Khed and later studied in New English High School in Poona. He joined Seva Dal at a young age. He attended training camp conducted by Dr. N. S. Hardikar at Ghatprabha.
Executions
On 23 March 1931, the three brave revolutionaries were hanged, whilst their bodies were cremated on the banks of the River Sutlej. Shivaram Rajguru was only 23 years old when he became a martyr; however, he will always be remembered in the pages of Indian history for his valour and dedication of his life towards India’s independence.
National Memorial is located at Hussainiwala, in Ferozepur district of Punjab in India. After the execution in Lahore jail, the bodies of Shivaram Rajguru, Bhagat Singh, and Sukhdev Thapar were brought here in secrecy, and they were unceremonially cremated here by authorities. Every year on 23 March, martyrs’ day (Shaheed Diwas) is observed remembering three revolutionaries. Tributes and homage are paid at the memorial.