Mahavir Singh Rathore

Mahavir Singh Rathore (Martyred on 17 May 1933) was a young revolutionary freedom fighter of India and a member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha. Though his name remains relatively unknown in public memory, his sacrifice and valor live on through the silent walls of the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, where his statue still stands.

Early Life

Mahavir Singh was born in Etah, Uttar Pradesh. His inclination toward the freedom movement began at a young age, when he was still in Class 6. He once raised the slogan "Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai" during a British-organized Aman Sabha and was punished for his defiance. These formative experiences planted the seeds of revolution in him.

During his college years at DAV College, Kanpur—a hub of revolutionary activity—Mahavir Singh became deeply involved in the freedom struggle. He joined the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an organization dedicated to India's independence, and was trained in conducting secret operations.

Revolutionary Activities

Mahavir Singh played a crucial role in assisting the escape of Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Durga Devi from Mauzang House in Lahore. For this act, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the British authorities.

He was later imprisoned at the infamous Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman Islands, due to his alleged role in the John Saunders murder case.

Martyrdom

While imprisoned, Mahavir Singh went on a hunger strike along with fellow revolutionaries, demanding human conditions for political prisoners. The quality of food served in the jail was so poor that even animals would refuse to eat it. In an effort to break his hunger strike, the British attempted force-feeding.

On the sixth day of his fast, Mahavir Singh choked to death when a feeding pipe inserted from his nose accidentally flooded his lungs with milk. In an attempt to hide the incident and prevent unrest, the authorities tied a stone to his body and sank him in the sea, denying him even a proper cremation.

The British government never issued a death certificate or even a telegram to his family. The news eventually made its way to mainland India weeks later.

Legacy and Family Struggles

Although a statue of Mahavir Singh stands at Cellular Jail, his sacrifice remains largely unrecognized in his home state and in the broader national narrative. His family paid a heavy price—they were forced to relocate nine times under British surveillance, ultimately settling in Jaipur. The family’s ancestral property was encroached upon, and they were left with little support.

His father, Shri Devi Singh, once said:

“Knowing that you are fighting for the country proves that we have not accepted slavery from our hearts. Now that you are on the path to freedom, don’t look back and never betray your associates.”

Mahavir Singh Rathore remains one of the unsung heroes of India's freedom struggle, his martyrdom etched in silence and sea, remembered by a few but deserving of national honor.