Sikh martyrs forgotten, rues Sirsa

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 13 

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjinder Singh Sirsa today said the walls of India Gate had the record of martyrs of World War II but they had no record of martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Of the 1,300 people shot dead by the British Army on April 13, 1919, around 800 were Sikhs and the rest were Hindus and Muslims, he said. 

He was speaking at a function organised to observe 100 years of Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The programme was organised by the DSGMC at India Gate to pay tributes to Jallianwala Bagh victims. On this occasion, around 100 students of Guru Krishan School recited the shabd “Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe”, depicting the courage bestowed upon Sikhs by Gurus and the commitment of Punjabis and Sikhs towards their nation and religion. Besides, a play “Neotian Di Oat” on the Sikh history was showcased. 

Addressing the gathering, Sirsa said, “It was Udham Singh who had taken revenge for the massacre after 21 years. He had killed General O’Dwyer. Udham Singh was hanged later.” He said the history of Sikh Generals Banda Singh Bahadur, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Baba Baghel Singh too spoke of Sikh valour, but unfortunately, it was not taught in schools.

He said Delhi was the national capital and programmes should have been organised to remember the day here but no initiative was taken. He said he was pained to see that the historic day and its significance had been forgotten amid the election frenzy.