'Sacrifices not acknowledged': SGPC to publish history of Sikhs martyred in freedom struggle

Amritsar, April 16

To commemorate the country’s 75th Independence Day anniversary, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to publish the contributions of the Sikhs during the freedom struggle.

Addressing mediapersons after holding a meeting of the Sikh History Research Board here today, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said over 80 per cent of the freedom fighters martyred during the freedom struggle were Sikhs. But it was unfortunate that their sacrifices were never acknowledged, he said.

“So, the SGPC has decided that the role of Sikhs in the country’s Independence struggle should be published to educate and inspire the future generations. Similarly, a collection of the Sikhs tortured in the Andaman Cellular Jail, also called Kalapani, will soon be handed over to the Sikh community. The work on this is almost complete and has been approved by the Sikh History Research Board. But, it will be published after further examination by experts,” he said.

To commemorate the Shaheedi Saka Panja Sahib, centenary of the massacre that took place at Gurdwara Sri Panja Sahib (in Pakistan), on October 30, 1922, the Sikh History Research Board conducted research on various aspects of the massacre and compiled a collection.

Dhami said the family members of Shaheed Bhai Karam Singh and Shaheed Bhai Partap Singh, martyred during the massacre, would be felicitated during the programme to be held on October 30.