Punjab Speaker, residents pay tributes to legendary Sikh revolutionary Baba Maharaj Singh

Mahesh Sharma

Payal, July 5

People from across all political and social barriers paid tribute to legendary Sikh revolutionary Baba Maharaj Singh at Rabbon Uchi village in Ludhiana.

Baba Maharaj Singh had led an anti-British movement in Punjab after the first Anglo-Sikh war. He had exhorted the people to strive for unity and integrity of the nation and follow the path shown by the first Sikh martyr of the independence struggle.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who represented the Punjab Government during the function, announced a grant worth Rs 10 lakh for the organisation established in the name of Baba Maharaj Singh.

Speakers including Sandhwan, Payal AAP MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Payal SDM Charanjit Singh were present on the occasion. One of the speakers said Baba Maharaj Singh was a great patriot, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country. He said attempts were made to portray the 1857 revolt as the beginning of the country’s freedom movement, but history proved the fact that Baba Maharaj Singh had started the struggle for independence when he tried to free the last Sikh ruler Maharaja Dalip Singh from the British.

“But, the British were tipped-off about the plans made by Baba Maharaj Singh in league with his comrades, he was imprisoned and sent to Singapore, where he suffered innumerable hardships and was martyred on July 5, 1856,” said Sandhwan.

The speakers said people should follow the teachings of the first martyr of the Indian Freedom Movement.

MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura said he was committed to carry out the overall development of Payal constituency and special emphasis would be given to the development of Rabbon Uchi village.