On 89th Execution Anniversary
Bhagat Singh – a right time revolutionary,
but forgotten hero and
martyrs memorial spot at Hussainiwala
HARISH MONGA
March 23, 2020
Unfortunately, today on March 23, 2020, it will be the first time that Shaheedi Mela at Hussainiwala has been postponed due to lockdown in the wake pandemic Coronavirus in the whole of the country.
Bhagat Singh – born on September 27, 1907, at Banga sacrificed his life along with two close associates – Rajguru and Sukhdev and hero of the Indian the independence movement was executed in their youths on March 23, 1931, at Shadman Chowk, in Lahore, now in Pakistan.
His two acts of dramatic violence against the British in India and execution at the tender age made them the folk hero. The spot at Hussainiwala is forgotten now, erected in memory of freedom fighters and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for their motherland.
The trios were hanged one day before the actual orders of hanging at the Lahore Central Jail fearing a revolt and secretly transported their bodies to Hussainiwala breaking the jail’s rear wall. It is also believed that they were unceremoniously set afire in the dark of the night on the banks of the Sutlej. On the next day, the residents of the area found the half-burnt bodies which they cremated after the last rites.
It took 37 years for the Indian government to raise the martyrs’ memorial but after around five decades, it has not been developed to attract the visitors, to inculcate the spirit of patriotism among them. In fact, till 1961, the memorial the spot was a part of Pakistan after partition and it was later on, exchanged with 12 villages near the Sulemanki head works in Fazilka with the initiative of first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru.
In 1965, though the stone was laid by YB Chavan, then Union Home Minister but work could not take place due to Indo-Pak war and again in 1971 war with Pakistan, the area was attacked by Pakistan troops on the night of December 3. They looted the memorial and took away the busts of the three martyrs. These were brought back with the intervention of efforts of then DC Swaran Singh Boparai. The busts were again installed when the memorial was rebuilt in 1973 with the efforts of then CM Giani Zail Singh.
Leaders of the various subsequent governments had been visiting the place and promising to bring this spot on the international tourist map by setting up museum and light and sound show, but all promises remained a baby of the podium only.
Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, President, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Rajguru and Sukhdev Memorial Society, who organize Shaheedi Melas every year remarked that leaders come, pay floral tributes, make promises and leave which looked like a stereotyped ritual. Lastly, Narendra Modi, PM during his visit on 2015 and the subsequent visit by Navjot Singh Sidhu former Punjab Local Bodies and Tourism Minister had promised to develop the memorial and agreed to spend Rs.10 crore.
Sat Pal Khera, President, Senior Citizens Forum opined that the government must develop the National Martyrs Memorial to make it a tourist hub to augment the spirit of patriotism among the youths and to know the sacrifices of freedom fighters to free India from British colonial rule.
Apart from this, Qureshi is also fighting to rename the Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh chowk with the Pakistan government and once Pakistan the government had principally agreed but the official announcement is yet to take place.
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