Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would dedicate the historic Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial, commonly known as "Bassian Kothi" after its restoration and facelift very soon. This was informed by Punjab Tourism Minister Mr Sohan Singh Thandal while reviewing the progress of ongoing work at Bassian Kothi near Raikot town of Ludhiana district today.Bassian Kothi is a more than 200 year old monument of Sikh heritage, which is being developed into a memorial in remembrance of Late Maharaja Dalip Singh, the last Sikh Maharaja. It was at Bassian Kothi where Maharaja Dalip Singh was kept in captivity arrested by the British in 1849 prior to his exile.
Thandal informed that the final date of inauguration of this memorial would be finalised in next two weeks time. The minister even held a high-level meeting of the department officials which was attended by Principal Secretary (Tourism) Ms Anjali Bhawra, Director (Tourism) Mr Navjotpal Singh Randhawa, ADC Khanna Mr Ajay Sood, SDM Raikot Ms Shena Agarwal, chairman of Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial Trust Prof Gurbhajan Gill, former MLA Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, senior Akali leader and general secretary of trust Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, secretary of trust Mr Parminder Singh Jatpuri, besides several others.It was during the meeting that the minister decided to finalise the date of inauguration in next two weeks time and asked Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the company carrying out the restoration, beautification and landscaping of the historical Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial, to complete the work within next two weeks.
While speaking to the media persons, Mr Thandal said that in another significant decision aimed at imparting quality technical education to the youth of the region, the Chief Minister had already given nod for setting up Punjab Institute of Management and Technology (PIMT) at the around 7-acre piece of land adjoining to Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial (Bassian Kothi).
He informed that this institute would be set up by the Punjab Technical University (PTU) as the CM has already asked the Vice Chancellor of the PTU to complete the necessary formalities in this regard besides finalising the courses in which training would be provided by the institute.Sohan Singh Thandal said that the state government is committed for the restoration of all buildings with historical and religious significance in Punjab. He said the CM is showing keen interest in this project and wants it to be dedicated for the people of country at the earliest. He said that it was in the year 2011, when the state government engaged the services of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for the restoration work.Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill said that the trust members have decided that Punjab Tourism Minister Mr Sohan Singh Thandal would be the ex-officio patron of Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial Trust.