Pakistan to preserve Bhagat Singh's birthplace as heritage site

Hindustan Times | ByVishav Bharti, Chandigarh

Updated on: Nov 03, 2019 08:58 pm IST

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Pakistan will preserve Shaheed Bhagat Singh's birthplace at Chak No. 105 GB (now Bangay village) as a heritage site. "The News on Sunday", weekly edition of the daily "The News International" published across the border, has reported the Faisalabad district administration decision.

Pakistan will preserve Shaheed Bhagat Singh's birthplace at Chak No. 105 GB (now Bangay village) as a heritage site. "The News on Sunday", weekly edition of the daily "The News International" published across the border, has reported the Faisalabad district administration decision.

The news suggests that the plan includes developing the martyr's entire village, as part of a wider campaign of preserving the region's history and restoring 45 historical buildings, especially. Faisalabad's district coordination officer (DCO) Noorul Amin Mengal visited the house of Bhagat Singh, and the report quoted him as saying that the district administration had constituted Lyallpur Heritage Foundation to do research and preservation.

(A file photo of the freedom fighter at Lahore Railway Police Station after his first arrest.)

The newspaper story also quoted Virk as saying his family had made efforts to keep the objects safe. The Shaheed's almost a century-old primary school is in disrepair. Welcoming the Pakistani restoration plan, Jagmohan Singh, Shaheed's nephew in Ludhiana, said India should also participate in the initiative. "We could take help from Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). We are thankful to the Virk family for its preserving the place for so long. It is a reflection of our common heritage, struggle and history," he said.

(The school where he went for training.)
Serving in Lahore last year, officer Mengal had initiated the process to name a roundabout at Shadman after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It is at the spot (part of the old jail) where the revolutionary freedom fighter was hanged. The matter is pending before the high court concerned.