Sukhdev Thapar was an Indian revolutionary. He was organizer of revolutionary party in Punjab. That is why the conspiracy case constituted by British Colonial Government was waging war against King George and it was crown verses Sukhdev.
He was born in Ludhiana, Punjab on 15 May 1908 to Ramlal Thapar and Ralli Devi. He was brought up by his uncle Lala Achintram after the death of his father.
He showed a defiant spirit from an early age itself. During his school days, he would refuse to salute the British officers who visited his school.
He joined the National College in 1921 and came in contact with revolutionary minded youths including Bhagat Singh, Bhagwati Charan Vohra and Yashpal. He also joined the Naujawan Bharat Seva, which had been started by Bhagat Singh in 1926. The two became close friends and associates.
Sukhdev was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), and organized revolutionary cells in Punjab and other areas of North India. He was the chief of Punjab unit of HSRA and instrumental in taking decisions.
He reportedly gave himself the nickname ‘Maarkhaana’, which was the equivalent of the English term ‘punching bag’. He was also known by various aliases in the party—“villager”, “dayal”, “swami” and others.
Sukhdev is best remembered for his involvement in the assassination of Deputy Superintendent of Police, J. P. Saunders, on 18 December 1928.
Sukhdev and his comrades were arrested in May that year in Lahore and, along with others, faced trial in the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
He also participated in the 1929 Prison hunger strike to protest against the inhuman treatment meted out to the inmates.
On 23 March 1931, he was hanged in Lahore jail, along with Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru. Their bodies were secretly cremated at the banks of the River Sutlej.
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, a constituent college of the University of Delhi, is named in memory of Sukhdev. It was established in August 1987.
Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Inter-State Bus Terminal is the main bus stand of Ludhiana city, the birthplace of Sukhdev is named after him.
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