Statue of Bhagat Puran Singh installed at Desh Bhagat Park

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 17

Adding another feather into its cap, the Desh Bhagat Park has installed a life-size statue of Bhagat Puran Singh on its premises. Despite the rising temperature, thse footfall of visitors in the park has increased to see statues of great personalities of Punjab and India.

Sculptor Manjit Singh is making statues of those renowned personalities which are slowly fading away from the minds of youth and children. After leaving his class one officer’s job in Punjab Government, Manjit has built nearly 40 statues including a 17 feet tall statue of flying Sikh Milkha Singh and other life size statues of former president of India Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, Pan Am Air Hostess Neerja Bhanot, martyrs of Indian freedom movement, great sports personalities and those who have great contribution in the field of religion and culture of Punjab.

“Bhagat Puran Singh’s insatiable thirst for knowledge and craving to learn more to help the needy made me to think of preparing his statue,” Manjit said.

He was a writer, self publisher, an environmentalist and a great philanthropist. But he is best remembered by the people for setting up a home for in Amritsar named Pingalwara. Even after his demise in 1992 his house still serves to hundreds of disabled people.

Renowned politicians of Punjab including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Bollywood and Punjabi actors have paid visits at this park and applauded the work done by Manjit who is spending money from his own pockets to build the statues.

“I read somewhere that, when you want something all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. Only this thought keeps me moving and there are people who help me getting the dream of preparing statues of much acclaimed and unsung heroes,” Manjit said.

The sculptor is busy preparing the life size statues of the founder of The Tribune newspaper Dyal Singh Majithia and president of Chandigarh based NGO Harman Singh Sidhu.