Shaheed Sohan Lal Pathak

Indian Freedom Fighter and an intellectual , who joined the Ghadar Party. Took Part in organizing revolt amongst soldiers in Burma and Thailand. Hanged on 10th February 1916 in Mandley Jail.

Shaheed Sohan Lal ji was born on 7th of January 1883 in the house of Pt. Chanda Ram, a poor Brahmin of Patti, District Amritsar. Being a brilliant student, Sohan Lal ji won scholarships and prizes a number of times while he was at the local school. But he discontinued his studies after he passed the Middle examination and secured employment in the Irrigation Department. After a short time he left this service and joined the Normal Training School, Lahore. On the completing of the course he took up the work of a schoolteacher.

During his stay at Lahore, Sohan lal Pathak developed strong leanings towards the national movement. The revolutionary uprising of 1905-07 created a deep impact of his mind. He resigned his job as protest against the Headmaster's ordering him to break off his contacts with Lala Lajpat Rai and other national leaders. Thereafter, be became joint Editor of the Urdu journal Bande Matram working under Lajpat Rai. Simultaneously, he joined the classes, which Lala Hardyal had started at Lahore to impregnate the Indian Youth with the fire of revolution.

Sohan Lal Pathak shifted the field of his activities to Burma. Immediately, a search was started for the arrest of this dangerous revolutionary. It was not so easy to lay hands upon him, as he knew the local language and moved freely in the country in the dress of the native people. At last the Government succeeded in arresting him in August 1915 at Memyo (Burma). He was detained in the fort of Mandlay during his trial. The court declared him guilty and sentenced to death. He died on the gallows on 10th February 1916. Another great freedom fighter who died with him on the gallows was Harnam Singh Sahari.

 Pandit Sohan Lal Pathak, one of the outstanding leaders of the Ghadar Party was hanged on February 10,1916 in Mandalay jail for inciting rebellion against the British rule. At his martyrdom another Ghadarite Amar Singh wrote:

Chadha Mansoor Phansi Par Pukara Ishk Bazon Ko

Yeh Beeda Hai Tabahi Ka Uthaye Jiska Ji Chaahey

(From the Gallows Mansoor called those who dared to love This path of self-sacrifice,

those who march on it, should do so with complete free will)