Lahore, 31 December
The Punjab government has opened the Bhagat Singh Gallery for tourists at the historic Poonch House here, where the Shaheed-e-Azam freedom fighter was tried about 93 years ago. The gallery houses historical documents, including photographs, letters, newspapers, trial transcripts and other memorabilia related to his life and freedom struggle.
Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman inaugurated the gallery on Monday. Zaman said, “Tourists will have access to the gallery under an agreement signed between the Industries, Commerce and Tourism Departments of the Punjab Government in this regard. He said that the historic building of Poonch House has been restored to its original form. Industrial Directorate of Punjab is located in Poonch House.
He said, “The gallery (martyr) shows the struggle for freedom of Bhagat Singh.” were exhibited, including his execution certificate, letters, photographs and newspaper cuttings and other materials.
It is to be noted that the 23-year-old Singh was hanged by the British authorities on March 23, 1931 in Lahore along with his two companions Rajguru and Sukhdev. He was tried on charges of conspiracy against the colonial government. A case was filed against Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru for the murder of British police officer John P Saunders.
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The records kept in the gallery include Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s application on August 27, 1930 for providing the court order and other documents. A document about Bhagat Singh’s death sentence says: “I (the Superintendent of Jails) hereby certify that the sentence of death passed on Bhagat Singh has been duly executed and that the said Bhagat Singh was executed on 23 March 1931. On the day of Monday at 9 o’clock in the night, he was hanged by hanging from his neck until he died in Lahore Jail. The body was not removed until pronounced dead by a medical officer; and that no accident, error or other mishap has occurred.” The revolutionary warrior did not end each of his appeals with the traditional ‘yours truly’ or ‘obedience’ and instead opted for the words “yours etc etc”.
The case files also document how the British India Police and agencies busted Bhagat Singh’s team of around 24 to 25 members from different parts of India and the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army and the Young Bharatiya Janata Party. His connections with the Naujawan Bharat Sabha were proved.
Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Chairman Advocate Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi told News-Patiala on Tuesday that since the Punjab government has opened the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Gallery, the government has opened Shadman Chowk (where the martyrs are buried). was hanged) should also be named after Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. “We will continue to put pressure on the government for this,” he said. -News-Patiala
