The Punjab Government has decided to install a statue of eminent freedom fighter and martyr Baba Maharaj Singh inside the main gate of District Administrative Complex, Ludhiana. This announcement was made by the Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Dr. Charanjit Singh Atwal at village ribbon uchchi where he was addressing a state level function to mark the 159th martyrdom day of Baba Maharaj Singh.Addressing a mammoth gathering on this occasion, Dr. Atwal said that respective governments and and a handful of writers have tried to portray 1857 rebellion as first war of Indian independence but history stands witness to the fact that Baba Maharaj Singh initiated the struggle for the cause of India’s freedom whwn he decided to free the last Sikh ruler Maharaja Dalip Singh from the clutches of british empire. It was really a misfortune for country that the british got the wind of his plans and he was eventually exiled to Singapore where he had to undergo immense hardships and as a consequence he became a martyr on 5th July, 1856.
Dr. Atwal said that whereas the Punjab Government has constructed various memorials dedicated to the history of the country and Sikhs, it has also decided to immortalize the memory of Baba Maharaj Singh by deciding to install his statue. He further said that this statue would be given shape by the same sculptor who has designed the various statues in Parliament House. Dr. Atwal informed that this statue would cost Rs. 95 Lakh.Divulging more information, Dr. Atwal said that an I.T.I. would also come up at Maloud in the memory of Baba Maharaj Singh and the foundation stone of both the projects would be laid out soon by the Chief Minister, Punjab, S. Parkash Singh Badal. He also said that keeping in view the development plan for Payal constituency, modalities are being worked out in right earnest to open a nursing college at village jarg with the support of SGPC.
Announcing the commencement of Senior Secondary School from the next session at Village Rabbon Uchchi, Dr. Atwal informed that the Education Minister, Punjab, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema and the Education Department have accorded their approval. Dr. Atwal also announced a grant of Rs. 3 Lakh to both the dharamshalas of the village and said that in view of the development of Payal constituency whereas the Judges have started sitting in the court complex, the sewerage laying work is also going on in full swing at Payal, Doraha and Maloud. He assured of taking up other demands of the area with the Chief Minister.Before this, he garlanded the photograph of Baba Maharaj Singh. Religious programmes were also presented on this occasion. Among the other prominent people who addressed the gathering included Subordinate Services Selection Board Chairman Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Jathedar Raghbir Singh Saharanmajra and Jathedar Harpal Singh Jalla (Both SGPC members), BJP leader Karnail Singh Kalia and Bhupinder Singh Cheema.On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal, S.D.M. Payal Harjot Kaur, Bikram Singh Cheema, Sarbjit Singh Cheema and Manjit Singh Mehram were also present.