SIA to install 9 feet Khanda at site of Saragarhi memorial in Pakistan

AMRITSAR: New York-based Sikhs in America (SIA) will install a 9 feet high Khanda, a Sikh religious symbol, at the original site of Saragarhi memorial built by British in 1897 where 21 Sikhs soldiers had laid down their lives while fighting the Pashtun Orakzi tribesmen during the famous

battle of Saragarhi

.


While talking to TOI upon his return from Saragarhi in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPA) province of Pakistan on Thursday , chairman of SIA Gurinderpal Singh Josan said he had installed a Nishan Sahib and offered prayers at the site where 21 Sikh solders were stained in their post and were attacked by a large number of tribesmen.

Josan had led a delegation of SIA to visit Saragarh memorial built at the original site by British in 1897 and another one built by British in 1901.

British army had cremated the mortal remains of 21 soldiers on September 14, 1897 and erected a memorial there on September 25, 1897.

“Being a tribal area not many people could visit the memorial since there was always a risk of attacks by Afghan tribes so British erected another Saragarhi memorial near Lockhart Fort in 1901” said Josan, adding that the original memorial was destroyed in an earthquake in 1971.

He informed that till date hardly anyone visits the Saragarhi memorial barring some Pakistan army officials or school children from nearby villages.

Claiming to have received permission from Pakistan government to install a Khanda, Josan informed “We will soon install a 9 feet high Khanda besides we are also developing a park around the memorial” he said adding that the work was being inspected by Sunny Singh vice president of Saragarhi Foundation who hails from Hangu village.

Earlier the SIA had employed decedents of Orakzai tribe fighters who had fought against 21 valiant Sikhs during the battle of Saragarhi to renovate the Saragarhi memorial built in 1901.

SIA had also brought five stones from the original site of Saragarhi memorial . “We will give one stone each to war museum, Khalsa College and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee” said he adding that one stone each would be given to the panchayat of village Dhunn in Tran Taran district which was the native village of Naik Lal Singh , one among the 21 soldiers and one stone will be given to Sarwali Welfare and Charitable society .

President of Society Harpreet Singh Bhatti said that he was constructing the Ist World War Memorial on Batala-Dera Baba Nanak Road which would be on way to Kartarpur corridor. Bhatti’s grandfather was martyred in the 1st World War.

SIA has also taken up the issue with Pakistan government for opening of Saragarhi memorial for the tourists and the Sikh Jatha’s visiting Pakistan on pilgrimage. “We have taken up the issue directly and through various like minded bodies in Pakistan and we are hopeful that Pakistan government will consider our demand sympathetically” he said.