In a bid to give befitting tribute to Satguru Ram Singh ji, the Punjab Chief MinisterParkash Singh Badal today approved to institute an award in his name.Presiding over a high level meeting of Kuka Martyrs’ Memorial Trust led by its President Baba Surinder Singh Namdhari here at Chief Minister’s Office this morning, Mr. Badal asked the state government to work out the modalities for the said award in consultation with the representatives of the Trust. He also entrusted the task of publishing the calendar on Satguru Ram Singh ji and brochure highlighting the significance of Kuka Movement in the national freedom struggle, to the state Information & Public Relations department in order to perpetuate the rich legacy and philosophy of Namdhari sect amongst the future generations.
Likewise, the Chief Minister also impressed upon the Vice Chancellors of Punjabi University Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar to include the chapters related to Satguru Ram Singh ji and Kuka movement in the syllabus prescribed for the classes of BA, MA and M.Phil in these Universities as part of their academic curriculum. He also agreed to the proposal for the resumption of bus routes from Sri Bhaini Sahib to Ludhiana and Chandigarh and Sri Bhaini Sahib to Jiwan Nagar in district Sirsa (Haryana) and asked the state Transport department to initiate requisite steps in this regard at the earliest. He also asked the Public Relations department to look into their demand for organizing art exhibitions and light & sound shows on the life of Satguru Ram Singh ji and kuka movement to imbibe the sense of patriotism amongst the youngsters. Apart from this, he also asked the Education department to get their demand of naming the government schools after the names of Kuka martyrs in their ancestral villages, the Chief Minister ordered the department to collect the available data on all the martyrs, who belonged to Punjab and made supreme sacrifices in different movements of the freedom struggle.
Responding to their demand on the issue of making documentary film on Satguru Ram Singh ji and kuka movement, the Chief Minister apprised the members of the Trust that the state government was in the process of constructing a world class Jang-e-Azadi memorial at Katarpur at a cost of Rs.200 crore to showcase the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the national freedom struggle. This memorial would depict all the freedom movements including the kuka and the exemplary valour displayed by its martyrs would also be aptly highlighted in one-and-a-half-hour documentary film being produced by the Ace Film director Shyam Benegal.
The Chief Minister also approved the construction of four additional rooms in the Government Senior Secondary School at Sri Bhaini Sahib and asked the Principal Secretary School Education to do the needful. He also directed the Chairperson Punjab School Education Board to get the book ‘Mahan Swatantarta Sangrami Satguru Ram Singh ji’ written by Sukhdev Madhpuri republished as per the requirement of the Trust. Mr. Badal also asked the Water Supply & Sanitation department to include the scheme of sewerage treatment plant at Sri Bhaini Sahib at a cost of Rs.695.50 lakh in the World Bank project. He also asked the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the GoI for seeking financial assistance to the next of the kin of Namdhari martyrs.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Education Minister Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Rural Development & Panchayat Minister Mr. Sikandar Singh Maluka, Chief Parliamentary Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. Harmit Singh Sandhu, Adviser to CM on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary Information & Public Relations Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary School Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary Higher Education Mr. Roshan Sunkaria, Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. PS Aujla, Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs Mrs. P.Raji Srivastva, Secretary Freedom Fighters Mr. VK Janjua,Secretary Mandi Board Mr. Deepinder Singh, Director Information & Public Relations Mr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor GNDU Dr. Ajaib Singh Brar, Chairman Powercom Mr. KD Chaudhry, Chairperson Punjab School Education Board Dr. Tajinder Kaur and Additional Director Information & Public Relations Mr. Gurwaryam Singh.