Bhai Hriday Ram was born on 28 November 1885, in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
His father, Gajjan Singh, was a goldsmith.
Inspired by the activities of the Ghadar Party, Bhai Hriday Ram became its active member.
He established a unit of the party in Mandi.
The “Ghadar Conspiracy” was a campaign by the Ghadar Party to incite a rebellion in the British Indian Army in February 1915, with the aim of ending British rule in India.
People from many countries were involved in this campaign. Bhai Hriday Ram played a key role in this rebellion.
He learned the art of bomb-making from renowned freedom fighters like Rash Behari Bose and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle. In preparation for the rebellion, Hriday Ram made bombs, raised funds, and encouraged Indian soldiers in the British Army to revolt.
He and his group members committed robberies to fund their operation. 21 February 1915 was set as the date for the rebellion. Unbeknownst to the revolutionaries, a spy had infiltrated the operation and was passing information to the British.
On 19 February 1915, Bhai Hriday Ram brought bomb-making chemicals to their hideout and began making bombs.
The police raided the site and arrested the freedom fighters. The trial often referred to as the “First Lahore Conspiracy Case,” began on 26 April 1915 and lasted until 13 September 1915. During the trial, the court stated that even though Hriday Ram was young, he was “one of the most important conspirators.”
On 13 September 1915, he was sentenced to death. The court also ordered the confiscation of his property. Around November 1915, the British reconsidered the fate of several people revolutionaries in the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
Along with Bhai Hriday Ram, the death sentences of fifteen other revolutionaries were commuted.
Bhai Hriday Ram was sent to the Cellular Jail (Kala Pani). There he suffered torture and frequently went on hunger strikes to protest the inhumane treatment of prisoners. After spending six years at Kala Pani, he was sent to Madras Jail. He was released on 30 April 1927 and returned to Mandi in 1929.
He passed away on 21 August 1965.
Heroes like Bhai Hriday Ram sacrificed their freedom and endured immense suffering for India’s independence. We should never forget their contributions.