Sukhdev: Son of the soil
LUDHIANA: In 1928, Indians were seething with resentment because the Simon Commission, which did not have a single Indian member, was to decide the future of India. Lala Lajpat Rai led one of the many protests and was beaten to death. To avenge him, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru
and Sukhdev Singh Thapar of Ludhiana shot DSP J P Saunders. The three
were arrested after the Central Assembly Hall bombings, which shook the
foundations of the British empire in India. Today, Indians remember them
as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, three names but one entity. They
were hanged on March 23, 1931 in a furtive manner that clearly exposed
the British sense of discomfiture.
The residents of Ludhiana are proud of the fact that Sukhdev was a son of the soil, but today, his relatives are fighting the apathy of the government by protecting the house he was born in on May 15, 1907 at Naughara Mohalla of the old city.
"I have been fighting a lone battle for a long time to preserve the house of my uncle Sukhdev, who was my father's elder brother. We have had to run from pillar to post in the quest but if you ask me, the government has no interest in protecting his memorial," said Ashok Thapar, a businessman.
The residents of Ludhiana are proud of the fact that Sukhdev was a son of the soil, but today, his relatives are fighting the apathy of the government by protecting the house he was born in on May 15, 1907 at Naughara Mohalla of the old city.
"I have been fighting a lone battle for a long time to preserve the house of my uncle Sukhdev, who was my father's elder brother. We have had to run from pillar to post in the quest but if you ask me, the government has no interest in protecting his memorial," said Ashok Thapar, a businessman.
INDIA-FREEDOM FIGHTER/ANCESTRAL HOME
Authorities reopened ancestral home of freedom fighter Sukhdev Singh in Ludhiana city of India’s northern state of Punjab, after being closed for a period of 15 months.
The ancestral home of Indian freedom fighter Sukhdev located in Naughara Mohalla was opened on Friday (May 31) after a meeting held between the officials.
The house, which had been declared a national property by the state government, had been lying locked since January 16, 2012, following the High Court orders.
Acting on orders by the High Court (HC), Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana, Rahul Tiwari met a 3-member committee, formed by the HC to look into the maintenance of the house.
Block officer, Ludhiana East, Gagen Deep Singh said on Saturday (June 01), that a committee was formed to ensure that the ancestral house would be kept open and maintained.
“DC (Deputy Commissioner) formed a committee in regard with Shaheed Sukhdev’s ancestral house, after being directed by the High Court. Following the directions of DC, a meeting was held yesterday evening in which the trust president, Ashok Thapar along with the representative of the archaeological department and I were present and the ancestral house was opened. The cleaning is now underway. As per the directions of the High Court, from this day forward the house will be kept open,” said Singh.
During the meeting, a committee member and ‘Sukhdev Singh Thapar Memorial Trust’ president Ashok Thapar gave a presentation demonstrating how the house could be used as a museum.
Ashok Thapar said, that no government help had been offered in maintenance of the house.
“This has been opened after 15 months and it is in a very bad state. Earlier we had taken an amount of Rs 85,000 ($ 885.054) and got this place renovated. We had taken the proposal from a lady who takes care of the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal. We have already spent money to the tune of Rs 30,00,000 ($53,098.34) from 1960 to 2013. We have not taken any money from the government and neither have we been approached by them,” said Thapar.
The committee comprises of three members, who are Gagandeep Singh, block officer, Ludhiana (East), Rajinder Singh, archaeological officer, department of cultural affairs tourism archaeology besides, the trust president, Ashok Thapar.
Sukhdev was born in the house and had lived there till he was 5 before his family moved to Lahore.
In 1995, hearing a writ petition, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ordered the government to undertake maintenance of the home.
Meanwhile, the DC complying with the High Court orders has said that the 3-member committee shall meet on every last working day of every month and review the maintenance of the monument.
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