Martyrs' Day observed on January 30 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's assassination

Key facts

• Martyrs' Day is observed every year on January 30 to commemorate the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
• Mahatma Gandhi survived at least five documented assassination attempts before January 30, 8.
• The first recorded attempt was in 1934 in Pune when a bomb exploded near Gandhi’s car.
• In 1944, dagger attacks were made on Gandhi during prayer meetings in Panchgani and Sevagram involving Nathuram Godse and his associates.
• On January 20, 1948, Madanlal Pahwa detonated a bomb at Gandhi’s prayer meeting at Birla House, Delhi, but Gandhi remained unharmed.
• Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, on January 30, 1948, at Birla House in New Delhi.
• Godse and Narayan Apte were executed on November 15, 1949, after trial; other conspirators received prison sentences.
• Shaheed Diwas 2026 is being observed across India with prayer meetings, a two-minute silence at 11:00 AM, and tributes at Raj Ghat.