Saragarhi battle to be part of school curriculum: Sidhu

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, September 12

Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said today that the Battle of Saragarhi would be included in the school curriculum so that students could draw inspiration from this tale of valour.

The announcement was made during the state-level Saragarhi Day function organised here in memory of the 21 Sikhs of the 36th Regiment who had died fighting over 10,000 tribesmen in the North-West Frontier Province on September 12, 1897.

Sidhu and his Cabinet colleagues Manpreet Singh Badal and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, local MLA Parminder Singh Pinki and other leaders paid obeisance at Gurdwara Saragarhi.

Manpreet said the state government would go all out to beautify and develop places associated with martyrs. Sidhu announced that the Saragarhi Memorial and the National Martyrs’ Memorial, Hussainiwala, would be brought on the international tourist map.

“We are making a comprehensive plan to establish museums, light-and-sound systems, libraries and other facilities at these places,” Sidhu added.

Pinki demanded that the state government should also develop the Anglo-Sikh war sites and other historical places in and around Ferozepur.

A delegation of officers from the British Army paid tributes to the Saragarhi martyrs. In his address, Brig Timothy John Seal said it was a rare honour for them to attend the commemoration day.

Among the officers present were Sumedh Singh Gurjar, Commissioner; Ramvir, Deputy Commissioner; Rajinder Singh, DIG; Bhupinder Singh, SSP; Brig JS Arora, Director, Sainik Welfare; Major Gen Rajesh Kundra, GOC, Golden Arrow Division; and MS Chhina, IG (Bathinda Zone). The district administration honoured the kin of martyrs.