To perpetuate the glorious legacy of Sikh Panth replete with countless selfless sacrifices, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave approval to erect a memorial to eulogize the supreme martyrdom of great Sikh martyr Baba Jai Singh Khalkat at his native village Baran in Patiala district at a cost of Rs.10.50 crore. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Chief Minister asked the organizing committee under the Chairmanship of former Cabinet Minister Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan to execute this project on the fast track. He also directed the Secretary Rural Development and Panchayats to get the estimate of the project verified from Technical Advisor to Punjab Government Gen. (Retd.) B.S. Dhaliwal so that this project could take off at the earliest.
Briefing about this prestigious project, Mr. Sekhwan told the Chief Minister that this historic monument in the memory of legendary Sikh martyr Baba Jai Singh Khalkat would be constructed to keep our younger generations abreast with the unprecedented sacrifices in the Sikh history. Mr. Sekhwan who prepared a concept paper on the life of legendary Sikh martyr Baba Jai Singh Khalkat revealed that his entire family including his wife Sardarni Dhan Kaur, two sons Karraka Singh and Kharrak Singh and his younger daughter-in-law Amar Kaur were martyred and Baba ji was skinned alive after being hung upside down from the tree and latter set on fire as ordered by the then tyrannical Mughal regime in 1753. Somehow, the pregnant wife of Baba ji's son Karraka Singh managed to escape to Ambala and gave birth to a boy that carries on the family of Baja Jai Singh. Emotionally moved by this spine chilling episode, the Chief Minister said that the entire land of Punjab was soaked with blood of martyrs who ever preferred to attain martyrdom than not to compromise with their religious beliefs and lofty ideals as preached by great Gurus. He asked the Sikh scholars and historian to undertake focused research to unearth more such martyrs and heroes who still remained unsung in the annals of our history.
The Chief Minister also asked the Rural development and Panchayats department to make all out efforts to spruce up overall development in both these villages Baran and Nawan Baran as a befitting tribute towards Baba ji's supreme sacrifice.It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had already formed a committee comprising Chairperson Punjab State Technical Education Board Mr. Sekhwan as its Chairman, Deputy Commissioner Patiala as Vice chairman and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Patiala as its Nodal Officer. Both the Sarpanches of village Baran and Nawan Baran besides the President and General Secretary of the Management Committee of local Gurdwara, Baran would be its members. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting Chairperson Punjab State Technical Education Board Mr. Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Secretary Rural development and Panchayats department Mr. Deepinder Singh, Director Cultural Affairs Mr. NPS Randhawa and Deputy Commissioner Patiala Mr. Ramveer Singh,