Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, young revolutionary from Punjab, martyred during India’s freedom struggle on 16 November 1915, for alleged role in Lahore Controversy was born on 24 May 1896.

  When the Gadar movement, started by Baba Sohan Singh, was born in 1913, Kartar Singh Sarabha became a key member. Gadar Party formed by the Indians in Oregon on April 21, 1913. With the aim to oust the British from India, putting all they had at stake.

Kartar Singh Sarabha made in charge of bringing out the Pubjabi language edition of Gadar, the party mouthpiece. The newspaper highlighted the atrocities of the British and fuelled revolutionary ideas among the overseas Indians.

Sarabha like many Indians in the US keenly felt his enslavement. North America at that time was hostile to Asian immigrants. Their presence caused much resentment, as an individual belonging to a subject race. Freeing India from the British yoke felt to be a way out to restoring the honour and dignity of Indians as a people.

The date for armed revolt, Gadar party, set for 21 February 1915. Leaked to the British authorities after which the date was changed to 19 February. 

He returned to India in 1914 to fight for his country’s independence. On November 16th, 1915, Sarabha hanged at the tender age of 19.

A Punjabi novelist Nanak Singh wrote a novel titled “Ikk Miyan Do Talwaran” based on Kartar Singh life.