Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra was an Indian revolutionary and pro-independence activist. He assassinated British Official William Hutt Curzon Wyllie as a revenge for inhumane Indian killings by British Officials while he was a student in England.

Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra was born in Amritsar (India) on September 18th, 1883. His father, Dr. Ditta Mal Dhingra, was a civil surgeon and had eight sons, all of whom studied abroad. Dhingra studied at the MB Intermediate College of Amritsar until 1900 and then went to Lahore to study at the Government College University. He was especially troubled by the poverty of Indians, and he studied literature concerning poverty and famines extensively. Dhingra believed in the Swadeshi movement. He thought self-government could be the solution to the key problems.

One time, Dhingra led a protest against his college’s principal’s order to have the blazers of the school uniform made from cloth that’s imported from England. He was expelled from college for it. His father asked him to apologise to the college, but he refused. He left college and refused to come home to listen to his father even talk about that matter. He took a job and started working as a clerk. He took multiple low-level jobs after that, which made his family worry about him. His brother convinced him to continue his studies in Britain, which he finally agreed to. He took admission at University College London to study mechanical engineering.

In Britain, he came into contact with many Indian revolutionaries, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Varma. These meetings turned his focus toward independence and inspired him to fight. He joined Abhinav Bharat Mandal, a secretive society, and was also known to frequent a shooting range. He was even disowned by his father for his political beliefs.

Before Curzon Wyllie, Dhingra had tried to kill George Curzon and Bampfylde Fuller but couldn’t execute the assassination. He then decided to kill Curzon Wyllie, who was one of the highest-ranking British officials and was believed to be one of his father’s close friends. During a function at the Imperial Institute by the INC (Indian National Association), when Cruzer was leaving, Dhingra fired five shots at him. 4 of which were hits. He died instantly. Cawas Lalcaca, a Parsi doctor, tried to rescue him but was shot. Dhingra was arrested immediately. Dhingra was tried at the Old Bailey and sentenced to death. He said he’s not regretful and that his actions were solely motivated by patriotism. While many condemned the assassination, many also appreciated it. He died at the gallows, with his last words being a short patriotic speech and Vande Matram.

His contributions to the Indian Independence Movement are incomparable. He was the inspiration behind many of the blossoming freedom fighters of that era, including Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad. The Arora-Khatri team thanks him for his contributions. He would be forever alive in our hearts.