Tributes paid to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, freedom fighters

Tributes were paid to martyrs Kartar Singh Sarabha, Vishnu Ganesh Pingle and other prominent figures of the Independence Movement during a meeting held by the cultural wing of the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee in Jalandhar on Sunday.

The meeting brought together key administrative committees of the cultural wing, which had played a pivotal role in organising the recently concluded Mela Ghadri Babeyan. Participants paid homage to Kartar Singh Sarabha (Sarabha, Ludhiana), Vishnu Ganesh Pingle (Talegaon, Pune), Jagat Singh (Sursingh, Amritsar), Harnam Singh (Bhatti Goraya, Sialkot), Surain Singh (Gilwali, Amritsar), and Bakshish Singh (Gilwali, Amritsar).

During the deliberations, attendees emphasised the importance of continuing the struggle inspired by these martyrs. They agreed that the best way to honour their sacrifice is to implement their ideals in the present day, advocating for the liberation of the working people and the creation of a pro-people system.

The meeting also took a constructive look at the recently held 34th Ghadri Babas’ Fair, suggesting greater public participation to make future events even more successful. A call was made to address the basic needs of fair attendees to enhance the experience. The committee members expressed their gratitude to the families who attended from both domestic and international locations and thanked the mass democratic organisations of Punjab for their support.

Despite the youth festival coinciding with the fair at Punjab universities, the large turnout of young attendees at the fair was seen as an encouraging sign. Special mention was made of the drama and music troupes from Chhattisgarh, New Delhi, Jammu, Haryana, and Uttarakhand, whose performances were deemed a highlight of this year’s fair. Suggestions were made to send thank-you letters to these groups for their contributions.

The committee also discussed administrative shortcomings of the fair and explored ways to consolidate its achievements while learning from past mistakes. In a statement to the press, Committee President Ajmer Singh, General Secretary Prithipal Singh Marimegha, and Cultural Wing Convener Amolak Singh reiterated that the fair continues to keep the legacy of India’s freedom struggle alive, taking new steps every year.