Unsung heroes of India's freedom movement: Madanlal Dhingra

New Delhi: Madanlal Dhingra came into limelight when he assassinated Curzon Wyllie on 1 July 1909. Curzon Wyllie was an Indian army officer, and later an official of the British Indian Government.He was political aide-de-camp to the Secretary of State for India, Lord Hamilton. Curzon Wyllie was perceived to have been responsible for several brutal measures against the Indian people.Madanlal Dhingra shot Curzon Wyllie dead at a party of the NIA, at Jahangir House of the Institute of Imperial Studies. The music session was just over when Curzon Wyllie entered the hall with his wife. Dhingra approached him, and fired 5 shots killing Curzon.Police arrived, and Dhingra willingly allowed himself to be arrested England was rocked by the murder of Curzon Wyllie. Dhingra was born on 18 September 1883 in Amritsar in a doctor's family. His father was loyal to the British. Dhingra was was a fun-loving guy and was naturally the centre of attraction of young men and women. Madan Lal was the sixth of his seven sons. Two of Madan Lal's brothers were doctors, one was an MRCP (1895); two other brothers were barristers.He could have lived a life of luxury. But he chose to be a martyr for India's freedom struggle. Freedom of the motherland was not particularly on Madan Lal's mind during early days of his life. He take a move towards nation's freedom after he went to London for studying engineering in June 1906.He joined India House in London, whwere he met Veer Savarkar.It was Veer Savarkar who inspired Dhingra to take steps to bring independence to India. Veer Savarkar contributed a lot to India's independence. At India House in London Veer Savarkar used to gather many Indian students, and give speeches and hold discussions to inspire them to serve the cause of the upliftment of India. Dhingra was sentenced to death for the assasination of Curzon Wyllie.The British Press made some vicious allegations against Dhingra, taking advantage of remarks made by an ex-Army officer at the inquest on Wyllie's death. In his last days, Dhingra had wished that his clothes, books and other belongings should be sold and the money thus raised be given to the National Fund. On the day of Dhingra's martyrdom, he had the names of Ram and Krishna on his lips. His friends printed a handout and gave it out on the streets, praising Dhingra's sacrifice and the injustices being perpetrated against India, together with a warning that the struggle will not subside. Dhingra died with the Bhagwad Geeta in his hands. His parting words were: "My only prayer to God is that I may be re-born of the same mother and I may die in the same sacred cause till the Cause is successful. Vande Mataram!"In an article written in ‘Vande Mataram'on 10 September 1909, Lala Hardayal wrote, “Dhingra, the immortal, has behaved at each stage of the trial like a hero of ancient times. England thinks she has killed Dhingra; in reality he lives for ever and has given the death-blow to English Sovereignty in India .” Madan Lal Dhingra's coffin was exhumed on 12 December 1976 in the presence of Natwar Singh, then Acting High Commisioner for India. This coffin too was flown back to India. Madan Lal Dhingra lives on in the hearts of his country men. Humble salutations to his memory!