Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday said the SAD-BJP government would establish a world-class heritage memorial at Chapparchiri village in Mohali to commemorate the legendary Sikh hero Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s historic battles against the Mughals in the area.
During a visit to the site, Badal held the previous state governments responsible for the delay in constructing a memorial of Banda Singh Bahadur, who fought and won the battle of Sirhind to not only bring to an end the Mughal rule, but also established a brief but important four-year Sikh rule in Punjab.
The CM said the state government had already given in-principle approval to give 20 acre for the construction of Minar-e-Fateh and preservation of the war site as a Sikh heritage. He chaired a meeting of renowned Sikh historians and scholars late last evening at his residence to chalk out the modalities for the finalisation of the concept and design of the proposed memorial to commemorate the historic battle fought in May 1710.
He assured that the state government will extend full support and cooperation to complete the entire project within a timeframe in view of its greater significance since the tercentenary anniversary of the battle falls in May, 2010.
Badal constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh to prepare a concept paper in the light of historic perspective of Chapparchiri battle, which would be recreated at the site through light and sound programme.
The committee will also finalize the panel of architects and the landscaping experts to whom this project will be entrusted.
The other members of the committee will be the eminent Sikh scholar Dr Harnam Singh Shan, noted historians Dr Kirpal Singh, Dr J S Grewal, Dr Sukhwant Singh, World Sikh University Vice-chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Punjab, Gitika Kalha.
He said the present government had also finalised a comprehensive plan to build memorials to commemorate the historic incidents of “Chhota and Vadda Ghallughara” (holocaust) at Kahanuwan in Gurdaspur and Kupraheeran in Barnala, respectively. Meanwhile, accepting the demand of the village panchayat, the CM announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for the gymnasium and 5 marla plot each to every houseless poor for the construction of low-cost dwelling units.
