Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann marked the 110th martyrdom anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Kartar Singh Sarabha with significant announcements for his ancestral village. The CM declared development projects worth Rs 45.84 crore for Sarabha village in Ludhiana district during his tribute visit on Sunday.
Honoring a Revolutionary Legacy
Mann paid floral tributes at the ancestral home of Kartar Singh Sarabha in Sarabha village, which stands as a protected heritage property. The Chief Minister emphasized that the substantial development package would serve as a true tribute to the martyr who sacrificed his life for India's freedom at the young age of 19.
In his homage, Mann also remembered Sarabha's companions who faced execution on the same day, including Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, Bakhshish Singh, Jagat Singh, Surein Singh (Senior), Shaheed Harnam Singh Sialkoti and Surein Singh (Junior).
The Extraordinary Life of Kartar Singh Sarabha
Kartar Singh Sarabha's story remains one of the most inspiring in India's freedom struggle. He moved to the United States in 1912 for higher studies at the prestigious University of California, Berkeley. During his time abroad, he became actively involved with the Ghadar Party, a revolutionary organization working for India's independence.
Demonstrating exceptional commitment to the cause, Sarabha returned to India to join the rebellion against British rule. His revolutionary activities led to his arrest and eventual execution at Lahore Central Jail on November 16, 1915. What makes his sacrifice particularly remarkable is that he was only 19 years old when he was hanged by British authorities.
Transforming Sarabha into a Model Village
The development projects worth Rs 45.84 crore announced by Chief Minister Mann aim to provide comprehensive infrastructure upgrades for Sarabha village. The package includes provisions for basic infrastructure, clean drinking water facilities, sports amenities, and defense training infrastructure.
Mann declared that the state government would leave no stone unturned to develop Sarabha as a model village, ensuring that the legacy of the young martyr receives the recognition and honor it deserves through tangible development of his birthplace.
The Chief Minister highlighted Sarabha's exceptional intellect, noting that securing admission at Berkeley University was an extraordinary achievement even by today's standards. "Sarabha was so sharp and bright that more than a century ago, he had secured admission at a university in Berkeley. Even today, it is a herculean task to get admission in that university, which he did then," Mann remarked during his address.
