Finally, govt wakes up to overhaul Bhagat’s ancestral house

After facing neglect for several decades, the state government has finally allotted funds to renovate the ancestral house of martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan village of the district.

After facing neglect for several decades, the state government has finally allotted funds to renovate the ancestral house of martyr Shaheed Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan village of the district.

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The renovation of the martyr’s house, which is in a bad shape, will start after a function on his martyrdom day on March 23 in which chief minister Parkash Singh Badal will pay tributes and also address a rally. The work will be carried out in the next six months.

The government has reportedly sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to renovate and preserve the structure so that the next generations could visit the house and get inspiration from the martyr’s supreme sacrifice.
After visiting the house a month ago, officials of the department of cultural affairs, archaeology and museums prepared a comprehensive plan for the renovation and preservation of the entire building to encourage tourism at the village.

After the government sanctioned the money, the department hired a Chandigarh-based private firm which will renovate roofs and walls, which are on the verge of collapse. Doors and windows will be changed as part of the project.

A senior official informed that it is for the first time that the government has given attention to Bhagat Singh’s house and sanctioned money to renovate it, after facing criticism for failing to preserve the structure for posterity.

He said Shaheed Bhagat Singh is remembered on his birth anniversary and martyrdom day only, with politicians gathering to make tall claims on the occasion.

The official said the department did not have sufficient funds for renovation and would merely paint the house before the martyrdom day in the past.

A memorial park which was named after Bhagat Singh near the house has been crying for attention for long.

Speaking to HT, conservator Balwant Singh said it is for first time that the department is going to renovate the house since it was handed over to it in 1984. Before that, the local panchayat used to take care of the house.

The work will be completed in the next six months.