General Sham Singh Attariwala remembered

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 10

The Punjab government has spent nearly Rs 1,000 crore on memorials to immortalize the unparalleled role played by great heroes and martyrs in shaping the course of the human history.

Stating this during a state-level function to mark the 170th Martyrdom Day of General Sham Singh Attariwala here today, Cabinet minister Gulzar Singh Ranike gave a clarion call to the younger generation to tread the path shown by great martyrs and contribute to make a healthy society.

Ranike paid floral tributes to the legendary General along with former Arunachal Pradesh Governor and Chief of Army Staff, Gen JJ Singh (retd), descendants of General Attariwala — Col Harinder Singh Attari, Col Kuldip Singh Sidhu — besides Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam.

Recalling the unequaled sacrifice made by the General in the first Anglo-Sikh war at Sabraon on February 10, 1846, Ranike said Sham Singh Attariwala was one of the greatest warriors of India, who preferred death to slavery. By his own example the General made it clear to his countrymen that nothing was more precious than freedom from the foreign repression, he added. He said his superb example was a beacon and a source of inspiration to numerous freedom fighters, who fought against the British from 1846 to 1947.

While addressing the gathering, Gen JJ Singh (retd) said the sacrifice made by General Attariwala had also been admired by Britishers. He said General Sham Singh Attariwala, who fought against the British forces till last breath and did not leave the battlefield, would always be a source of inspiration for generations to come.

Gen JJ Singh (retd) also visited the museum at Attari, the native village of General Sham Singh Attariwala. Office-bearers of General Sham Singh Attariwala Trust also presented a memento to General JJ Singh (retd) after a Bhog ceremony.

The former Chief of Army Staff also presented mementos and lohi (woolen shawls) to descendants of General Sham Singh Attariwala.

Earlier, Ranike announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh to the General Sham Singh Attariwala Trust for the maintenance of the monument constructed at Naraingarh in the memory of General.

GOC 15 Infantry Division, Major General Sanjay Thapa, laid a wreath on behalf of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Commnand, Lt-Gen KJ Singh on the occasion.