Heritage trust writes to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, calls for preserving military heritage of Asal Uttar vill
The Punjab chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) has written to the Punjab Chief Minister and forwarded a proposal to preserve and recognise the military heritage of Asal Uttar village in Khemkaran in Tarn Taran as it was the site of one of the largest tank battles of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.
Citing a need to develop military heritage sites as tourism hub, including at Asal Uttar in Tarn Taran, Maj Gen Balwinder Singh, VSM (retd), convener of Punjab INTACH, an Army veteran, said INTACH has a sincere desire to save and preserve our heritage for the betterment of Punjab cultural landscape. “After World War II, one of the biggest tank battles was fought at Asal Uttar village in KhemKaran sector near Tarn Taran. It became the focal point of one of the most intense battles of the 1965 war. This village is strategically significant due to its proximity to the International Border, the GT Road and the Beas river, which served as a natural barrier. Our adversaries had planned a major offensive in this sector with a view to cutting off the GT road supply lines, thus threatening J&K and Northern Punjab border areas. The dynamic leadership of Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh, who was then the Western Army Commander, ultimately turned the table in our favour.
Around 97 tanks of Pakistan were destroyed/captured and Pakistan army had to retreat in haste because of this strategy by Lt Gen Harbaksh Singh. The battle is also known as Graveyard of Patton, due to a large number of Pakistani Patton tanks being destroyed. The village has several military sites and memorials. Such historical sites must be preserved and promoted among young generation,” he said.
He said one feels that the state should make this place as a tourism site like Longewala border area tourism hub in Rajasthan. “INTACH can play an important role in re-enacting the complete story of the battle and assist in making it a historical military heritage site,” he proposed.
