Pul Kanjri (Amritsar), August 21
The pristine glory of once a bustling town, Pul Kanjri, associated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh is likely to be revived as the ‘Friends Of India New Zealand’ (FOINZ) has announced an ambitious plan to mark the 58th anniversary of the Kabaili attack from Pakistan, here.
The historical town on the Amritsar-Lahore road, which was a big trade centre at that time, has been reduced to a tiny village now. Most of the residents of Pul Kanjri who had survived the bloodbath, a few days after Partition, migrated to safer places, especially Amritsar. Partition brought ruin to this place.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, copy of which has been sent to the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr H.P. Luthra, general secretary of the FOINZ, unfolded the future plan to revive the glory of the historical town. The missive reads that the association intended to involve the people of Pakistan also so that appropriate memorial to all those who laid down their lives in the infamous attack could be raised.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had built a ‘baradari’ (having 12 gates) where he used to stay on way from Amritsar to Lahore. A 12-foot-wide canal, now a small water channel, used to run along this town. According to residents, the canal used to carry water from Kahnuwan ‘chhamb’ to the Shalimar Gardens, Lahore, and was constructed by emperor Shah Jehan.
The residents say Moran, a dances girl, used to come and dance in the darbar of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Though certain residents say that Moran belonged to Makhanpura village in the Ajnala area, others say she was from Kakkar Manjh village. Once, while she was coming to this place, one of her shoes fell into the canal. She refused to dance until her demand to construct a “pul” (bridge) was accepted, which the Maharaja did. Since then, this place is known as ‘Pul Kanjri’. Later, it was developed into a big centre of trade.
Mr Luthra is grandson of Shaheed Partap Singh of Panja Sahib (now in Pakistan). The FOINZ has planned to build ‘Unity Park’ with freedom memorial walls at Pul Kanjri. The proposed park and four freedom memorial walls would include park with flora and fauna from both India and Pakistan and walkways. Statues of freedom fighters and famous people, a museum and a theatre to promote art from India and Pakistan are also proposed to be constructed. The association also plans to invite private investors from overseas and local persons to set up shopping arcades, hotels and other necessary attractions like children’s park and cultural centres.
The proposed four memorial walls will include the martyrs’ wall ( having names of martyrs inscribed on it), the history wall (carrying information about events of significance relating to freedom struggle), and the friendship wall (having inscription of names of popular artistes, leaders and writers, acknowledged by people of India and Pakistan both).
The Friends of India New Zealand has initiated this idea seeking cooperation from the Governments of India and Pakistan, people, artistes, business corporate and film industries of both countries.
