CM dedicates Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial to Nation

Announced skill development training centre at Bassian

Bassian (Ludhiana): May 24, 2015: (PRD//Punjab Screen Bureau):

Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal today said that a skill development training centre would be developed on land located adjoining the Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial at village Bassian so that the youth of area could be trained and made self dependent. The Chief Minister said this after inaugurating the memorial constructed in the memory of last Sikh Emperor, Maharaja Dalip Singh, at Bassian Kothi near Raikot, here today.

While addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that making today’s youth self employed is need of the hour and setting up of skill development training centres in different parts of the state is the first step into this direction. Mr Badal said that the setting up of Skill Development Training Centre at Bassian village would help the youth of Raikot and its adjoining areas. The Chief Minister said that he has also asked the representatives of Maharaja Dalip Singh Trust to give their suggestions also so that this project could be conceptualised at the earliest.

While speaking about the historical significance of Bassian Kothi, Chief Minister said that it was here that the last Sikh ruler, Maharaja Dalip Singh, son of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, spent his last night (on December 31, 1849) as a sovereign king in Punjab, the state ruled by him. At that time Maharaja Dalip Singh (6 September 1838 – 22 October 1893), was less than 12 years in age. He said that Bassian Kothi was basically an advance supply depot of the British military division based at Ferozepur.

While recalling his first visit at Bassian Kothi on April 20, 2011, the Chief Minister said that when he first visited the place, Bassian Kothi was literally in shambles. On that day, he was holding Sangat Darshan programme at a marriage palace in village Bassian (near Raikot, Ludhiana).

The Chief Minister said that due to the rich historical significance of this place, the state government decided to construct a memorial here and an amount of Rs 5.29 crore was sanctioned for this purpose. He said that Delhi-based Indian National Trust and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was roped in for this purpose.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal said that the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was based on secularism and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party alliance government was following his footsteps to propagate the rich legacy of Maharaja’s golden era of rule with service. The Chief Minister said that for preserving our rich history, the SAD-BJP has been constructing several memorials in different parts of the state. He said that the memorials are constructed to perpetuate the glorious legacy of the state for our coming generations. The Punjab government has constructed Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Wadda Ghallughara, Chhotan Ghallughara, besides several other such monuments. Another Jang-e-Azadi Memorial is also under construction at Kartarpur (district Jalandhar). The CM said that the Namdhari sect also has a deep connection with Bassian Kothi.

Retired Justice Mr Avtar Singh Gill was also honoured by the Chief Minister for writing four books on Maharaja Dalip Singh.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Dr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Tourism Minister Mr Sohan Singh Thandal, , former MLA Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Akali leader Mr Bikramjit Singh Khalsa and Maharaja Dalip Singh Trust chairman Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill also addressed the gathering.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Irrigation Minister Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas, MLA’s Mr Manpreet Singh Ayali and Mr SR Kler, Advisor to CM Mr Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Mayor Mr Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, Punjab S S Board chairman Jathedar Santa Singh Umedpuri, Verka Milk Plant chairman Mr Ajmer Singh Bhagpur, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mrs Anjali Bhawra, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr KJS Cheema and Dr S K Raju, SGPC member Mr Jagjit Singh Talwandi, Deputy Commissioner Mr Rajat Agarwal, Mr Amandeep Singh Gill, Mr Parminder Singh Jatpuri, besides several others.