Much has been written about Udham Singh, both at the popular and academic levels. Most of these writings portray him as a hero who avenged the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. To support this view, writers often claim that he was present at the Bagh during the massacre or arrived shortly afterward as a volunteer from a Sikh orphanage to assist the wounded and collect the dead. Deeply disturbed by the horrific scenes, it is said that he vowed to take revenge on O’Dwyer. However, these accounts are largely based on a single statement in one book and are often distorted.
This popular narrative fails to address several critical questions.
• If Udham Singh’s sole aim was to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by killing O’Dwyer, why did he also target Zetland, Lamington, and Louis Dane?
• When arrested at Caxton Hall, the police found two diaries—one from 1939 and another from 1940—containing the addresses of Zetland and Wellington, in addition to O’Dwyer. Why were those names included?
• Why did he wait so long to assassinate O’Dwyer, despite being in England since 1933 and having traveled globally between 1920 and 1927?
• Was his 1927 return to India with ammunition and revolvers part of a broader revolutionary plan?
Moreover, historical records about Udham Singh have been inconsistent, including his name, birth date, and birthplace. Some accounts lack proper historical perspective. An English author even claimed he was a double agent for both British and German intelligence services. Clearly, a factual re-examination is necessary.
Early Life and Background:
Udham Singh was born on December 26, 1899, in Mohalla Pilbad, Sunam, to a poor Kamboj family. His birth name was Sher Singh. His father, Tehal Singh, worked various jobs—selling vegetables, serving as domestic help, and working as a watchman. His mother, Harnam Kaur, passed away early, leaving behind her husband and two young sons, Sadhu Singh and Sher Singh.
Tehal Singh relocated the family to Amritsar to seek religious education for the children but fell gravely ill and died on the way. The orphaned boys—then aged eight and six—were admitted to the Central Sikh Orphanage, Putligarh, in 1907. Sher Singh was renamed Udham Singh in their records.
At the orphanage, he received basic education and learned handicrafts, along with religious teachings on Sikhism and its history. After his elder brother passed away, Udham Singh became a quiet, reflective, and helpful individual. Records suggest that by 1918, he was working as a carpenter or motor mechanic in Mombasa or Mesopotamia. He returned to India in June 1919 and later worked in railway workshops in Uganda, British East Africa.
Revolutionary Journey:
Before heading to Africa, Udham Singh had already encountered prominent nationalists like Saifuddin Kitchlew, Sardar Ajit Singh, Sardar Basant Singh, Baba Bhag Singh, and Master Mota Singh. He was strongly influenced by the Ghadr Party, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the controversial honor (‘siropa’) given to General Dyer, and the Nankana Sahib massacre.
In 1924, he traveled to the United States, became an active Ghadr Party member, and supported revolutionary activities. From there, he traveled extensively—to France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Lithuania, Hungary, Italy, and also connected with revolutionaries in Iran, Afghanistan, Panama, Japan, and Singapore.
He collaborated with Bhagat Singh, who admired his dedication. In July 1927, he delivered weapons and funds to Bhagat Singh and the Ghadr Party. That August, he was arrested in Amritsar with two revolvers. His FIR listed him as Sher Singh.
Arrest and Execution:
The execution of Bhagat Singh in 1931 deeply affected him. In letters written from Brixton Prison in 1940, Udham Singh expressed how Bhagat Singh’s death symbolized the collapse of the revolutionary movement. Released later in 1931, he obtained a passport under the name Udham Singh and traveled to England by 1933.
British intelligence did not realize that Sher Singh and Udham Singh were the same person until 1937. Meanwhile, the 1934 Ghadr Directory still listed him as Sher Singh.
On March 13, 1940, as British officials convened at Caxton Hall in London to discuss colonial affairs, Udham Singh assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, injuring Zetland, Lamington, and Louis Dane. His diaries from 1939–40 also mentioned the address of Wellington, the Viceroy during Bhagat Singh’s hanging, suggesting broader revolutionary intent.
Final Words and Legacy:
Udham Singh tracked O’Dwyer for nearly 20 years, believing him to be a key oppressor—responsible for Ghadr suppression, WWI recruitment coercion, and Jallianwala Bagh. At Caxton Hall, O’Dwyer had once again mocked Indians, reinforcing Singh’s belief in his tyranny.
After his arrest, Udham Singh stated:
“I took my revolver from home with me to protest… I did not mean to kill anyone… I did it for my country. I have seen people starving in India under British imperialism… I don’t regret my protest. It was my duty.”
While imprisoned, he wrote 14 letters to comrades and the Ghadr Party, and even planned an escape. He also went on a 42-day hunger strike. On June 5, 1940, when sentenced to death, he declared:
“I do not care about the death sentence. It means nothing. I am proud to die for my country. You British call yourselves civilized, yet order machine guns on students… I have nothing against the British public. My sympathy lies with English workers. But I despise the British government—its dirty dogs and mad beasts. India is enslaved, mutilated, and destroyed by your imperialism.”
On July 31, 1940, Udham Singh was executed. He died with revolutionary slogans on his lips:
“Long Live Revolution!”
“Down with British Imperialism!”
“Long Live India!”
Records—from police files in 1927, the 1934 Ghadr Directory, and his 1940 trial—all confirm: Udham Singh was a Ghadr Party revolutionary, not a double agent.
Immortal Legacy:
Udham Singh used many aliases—Ude Singh, Frank Brazil, U.S. Sidhu Singh, and even Mohamed Singh Azad—but his message was always clear: freedom through fearless resistance.
He remains a towering figure in Punjab’s revolutionary tradition, and an immortal in India’s freedom struggle.
By Prof. Navtej Singh
