Fatehpur Rajputan did not abandon secular ethos in 1947

Lead story

With deep roots in guarding Sikh values, the residents of Fatehpur Rajputan village did not abandon their secular ethos even during the time of partition of the country in 1947.

Over 20 martyrs of Saka Nankana Sahib hailed from Fatehpur Rajputan village but it remained a semblance of peace during the partition.

Before the partition, a majority of the residents of the village were Muslims and the villages around it were predominantly inhabited by Sikhs.

Before the partition, a majority of the residents of the village were Muslims and the villages around it were predominantly inhabited by Sikhs. Fatehpur Rajputan was the Zail, headquarter of 32 adjoining villages. Its Zaildar was Naib Baksh. Among the natives of the village, he was the most famous. He used to hold court to resolve the disputes of people.

Three mosques in the village have survived the vagaries of nature, thanks to some enterprising natives of the village who contacted the Waqf Board. After due consent, these mosques were later converted into gurdwaras.

During the colonisation of the "Baar Area" of Lyallpur, Shekhupura and Sialkot, which now fall in Pakistan's Punjab, many enterprising agriculturist families of the area, particularly of Fatehpur Rajputan and neighbouring Nizampur, settled there. They were instrumental in setting up the villages of Nizampur Deva Singh Wala, Nizampur Moolla Singh and Nizampur Chele Wala in Sheikhupura district (Pakistan).

The Term "Baar Area" was developed when the then British government decided to carve out agricultural land out of the forest area by offering Murabbas. A Murabba of land comprises 25 acres. At that point of time, residents of these villages accepted agricultural land in Lyallpur, Shekhupura and Sialkot. This happened towrds the fag end of the 19th century.

In 1921, took place Saka Nankana Sahib, to liberate Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib, which is now in Pakistan. As many as 15 natives from village Nizampur Deva Singh Wala, three belonging to village Nizampur Moolla Singh Wala and Nizampur Chele Wala laid their lives in liberating the Gurdwara.

Upon partition, their descendants returned to settle in Fatehpur Rajputan and were instrumental in setting up Guru Nanak Khalsa Shaheedi High School and Gurdwara Guru Nanak Khalsa Shaheedi. Shahidiya or martyrs, became a suffix for a family of the village. Master Ajit Singh Shahidiya and Iqbal Singh Shahidya are its examples, who still live in the village.

Eminent personalities who worked hard to uplift the educational and cultural standards of the village are: Principal Dalip Singh who was instrumental in imparting professional educational courses like JBT, art and craft teacher training courses to hundreds of students of the area; Bhalwan Sohan Singh who was advisor wrestler Dara Singh; Principal Balwinder Singh Fatehpuri, who wrote over three dozen books; Dr Surjit Singh; and, Bishan Singh Arhati.

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