Tributes paid to Baba Maharaj Singh

People from all walks of life paid tributes to legendary Sikh revolutionary Baba Maharaj Singh at Rabbon Uchi village near here.

Baba Maharaj Singh had led an anti-British movement in Punjab after the first Anglo-Sikh war and exhorted people to strive for unity and integrity of the nation and follow the path shown by the first Sikh martyr of the Independence struggle.

Speakers, including Payal MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura, Baba Jagjit Singh Harkhowal, Piara Singh, Karan Sehora and Chhinder Pal said Baba Maharaj was a great patriot who sacrificed his life for the sake of the freedom of the country. They said attempts were made to portray the 1857 revolt as the beginning of the freedom movement in the country but history proved that Baba Maharaj started the struggle for when he tried to free the last Sikh ruler, Maharaja Dalip Singh, from the clutches of the British.

“But, having received a tip-off of the plans made by Baba Maharaj in league with his comrades, the British Government imprisoned and sent him to Singapore, where he suffered innumerable hardships and was martyred on July 5, 1856,” said Giaspura.

The speakers said people should follow the teachings of the first martyr of the Indian freedom movement to preserve Independence.

A book describing the life of Baba Maharaj Singh was also released on the occasion.