Instal Baba Bhakna’s statue: Kin’s demand on birth anniversary
GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 3
On the eve of the 151st birth anniversary of freedom fighter Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, his family has only one request for the state government: “Keep your word on installing Baba Bhakna’s statue.”
To mark the occasion, an “akhand path” was performed in the district’s Bhakna village on Sunday, a day before the birth anniversary.
Last year, CM Capt Amarinder Singh had announced that the demand for the statue would be met. The promise, however, remains on paper.
Former SDM Amritsar II Shivraj Bal and MLA Tarsem Singh DC had visited the family last year and zeroed in on probable sites where the bust could be installed. The selected sites are Bhakna Chowk, the Amritsar-Attari GT road and the Heritage Street.
Officials said a report was submitted to the government to take a final call, but the response was awaited.
Baba Bhakna, the founder member of the Ghadar Party, was born on January 4, 1870. He had set up a pillar in his village, 4 km from here, displaying a message dedicated to the freedom struggle.
He had spared a chunk of land to establish a school, which was later adopted by the government and named Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna Senior Secondary School.
After he passed away on December 21, 1968, his family built a memorial where he was cremated. To this day, the family has been looking after the memorial without government support.
His great-grandson Jasbir Singh Bhakna said, “Minister OP Soni had visited the school last year and announced to turn it into a smart one. The promise hasn’t been fulfilled. MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla had visited us and announced Rs 3 lakh to renovate the memorial site. Even that promise remains on paper.”
