On 13 March 1940, an incident in Caxton Hall became one of the most talked-about acts of resistance carried out by an Indian revolutionary on British soil. On that day, Udham Singh executed a carefully planned mission targeting Michael O’Dwyer, whom he held responsible for the repression in Punjab and the tragedy of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

Planning the Mission

For many years, Udham Singh carried the memory of the suffering caused by British rule in India. By 1940 he had decided to confront one of the key figures associated with that repression.

On 13 March 1940, Michael O’Dwyer was scheduled to speak at a joint meeting organized by the East India Association and the Central Asian Society at Caxton Hall in London.

Udham Singh arrived at the event with a ticket issued in his wife’s name, allowing him to enter without raising suspicion. He carried a revolver hidden inside a book, whose pages had been carefully cut in the shape of the weapon. The revolver itself had been purchased from a soldier in a public house, another step taken to ensure that his plan would remain unnoticed.

Once inside the hall, Singh quietly found an empty seat among the audience and patiently waited for the right moment.

The Attack

As the meeting concluded and the speakers moved toward the platform, Udham Singh stood up and fired his revolver. He shot Michael O’Dwyer twice, and one of the bullets passed through O’Dwyer’s heart and right lung, killing him almost instantly.

The sudden attack caused panic in the hall. Several other officials present were injured during the shooting, including:

• Louis Dane
• Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland
• Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington

Udham Singh did not escape. He was immediately arrested at the scene, and the pistol used in the attack was seized as evidence.

A Mission Twenty-One Years in the Making

For Udham Singh, the assassination was not a spontaneous act but the culmination of over two decades of determination and planning. He believed that Michael O’Dwyer’s policies and support for the repression in Punjab were responsible for the suffering of Indians under colonial rule. By targeting O’Dwyer in London, Singh intended to deliver a symbolic act of revenge and resistance against British imperial authority.

The events of 13 March 1940 therefore stand as a decisive moment in the history of the Indian independence struggle—when a revolutionary carried out a mission he had pursued for twenty-one years, striking directly at a key figure of British colonial power.

Arrest and First Statement

On 1 April 1940, Singh was formally charged with the murder of Michael O’Dwyer and placed in custody at Brixton Prison. When asked to explain his motivations, Singh stated that he held a deep grudge against O’Dwyer and believed he deserved punishment. He said he did not fear death and had acted according to his belief.

During his time in custody, Singh adopted the name:

Ram Mohammad Singh Azad

This name carried a powerful message:

• Ram representing Hindus
• Mohammad representing Muslims
• Singh representing Sikhs
• Azad, meaning free

Through this name he expressed the idea that freedom for India could only come through unity among its communities.

While awaiting trial, Singh also went on a 42-day hunger strike, after which he was force-fed.

The Trial

The trial began on 4 June 1940 at the Old Bailey, presided over by Cyril Atkinson. Udham Singh was defended by V. K. Krishna Menon and St John Hutchinson. During the trial he declared that he had waited 21 years to seek justice for the suffering of his people. He said he was not afraid of death and believed he was dying for his country. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Execution

On 31 July 1940, Udham Singh was hanged at HM Prison Pentonville by executioner Stanley Cross. His remains were later preserved at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Every year on 31 July, marches are held in his hometown Sunam, where people pay tribute to his memory.

His Speech Against Imperialism

After his conviction, Udham Singh made a speech condemning British imperialism. The judge ordered that the speech should not be published, but activists later campaigned to release it.

In 1996, the full statement was finally published.

A Message of Unity for Today

The symbolic name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad continues to carry an important message: unity among communities is essential for freedom and strength.

To Sikh brothers and sisters, the message is particularly powerful. Sikh history shows courage, sacrifice, and devotion to dharma. From the teachings of the Gurus to warriors like Hari Singh Nalwa, Sikhs have always been protectors of justice and defenders of righteousness.

Sikh communities are often known for their strength, bravery, and rebellious spirit against injustice. However, true strength does not come from division. It comes from unity with the people of the same land.

Udham Singh’s chosen name reminds us that Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs together form the strength of the nation.

The Importance of Unity in the Present

Division among communities weakens society. Unity makes it stronger.

Instead of internal conflict, the focus should be on:

• Participating in democracy
• Defeating bad leadership through elections
• Creating better policies and governance
• Standing together against corruption and injustice

The revolution needed today is not one of destruction, but one of awareness, unity, and leadership.

Leadership and the Future

Sikh communities have historically served as protectors of dharma and defenders of society. Many Sikhs have played important roles in the army, agriculture, politics, and public service.

In the future, many hope to see more Sikh leaders in politics, the armed forces, and other sectors, guiding society with courage and moral strength.

The spirit expressed in the Khalsa tradition — often summarized in the phrase “Khalsa will rule” — can be understood as a call for righteous leadership, justice, and protection of the people, not division.

The events of 13 March 1940 show the determination of Udham Singh to act against what he believed was injustice. But his symbolic name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad reminds us that his vision was larger than a single act.

It was a vision of unity, freedom, and courage.

When people stand together across communities, follow the principles of dharma, and participate actively in shaping governance through democratic means, they carry forward the spirit of those who struggled for freedom.

Unity remains the greatest strength of a nation.