KHATKAR KALAN MUSEUM - A MEMORABLE MONUMENT OF MARTYR BHAGAT SINGH

By: Harpreet Sandhu, Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court
Today, 28th September, 2018, on the eve of 111th Birth Anniversary of the revolutionary freedom fighter Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, people of Punjab specifically the youth must value the sacrifice of this martyr who marked the beginning of India”s independence, as it charged the youth and leaders of India with new energy and inspiration to attain their right of freedom from the British Raj and also visit the museum of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh situated in his ancestral village Khatkar Kalan (SBS Nagar) being an inspiration for youth to read the significant words Bhagat Singh penned for his friends and passion for his country which are embossed on the statue of this great martyr outside the museum. Rather the burnt Tribune Newspaper on Bhagat Singh’s execution given by his family members, Copy of ordinance in Lahore Conspiracy case signed by the President of the Tribunal and pen which was used by the executioner for signing the death sentence of the three supreme martyrs Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, inscribed on the broken nib of original pen is the name of manufacturer, “The Latem, Hinks Wells & Co. Registered, Birmingham, United Kingdom” has also been displayed in this museum, along with two original pages of the Jail diary in which Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh took notes of the books he studied in the Jail. A copy of Judgment of the 1st Lahore Conspiracy case in which Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was sentenced to death with Shaheed Bhagat Singh's scribed notes in his own handwriting on this copy is also a notable exhibition and the museum displays the memorable belongings of the revolutionary martyrs of the Punjab. This museum gallery also display few remains of the martyrs and quotes from various Indian leaders on this irreplaceable loss to the nation. This is the space for introspection entering into light and whiteness from the darkness of the past. Every Indian must pay tribute in memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev and thank them for guiding the path for India’s Independence. Infact Bhagat Singh was a phenomenon that requires an understanding of the circumstances in which he was born. The early twentieth century socio –politics and revolutionary moments in Punjab impacted his thinking and persona, depicting salient events from Punjab around the time Bhagat Singh’s childhood including scenes of the oppressive British rule, arrogance of its officers and horrific incidents such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he inspired thousands of youths to assist the remainder of the Indian Independence movement. Today after visiting the museum, I personally felt the silent reminders of the supreme sacrifices of this martyr for his mother land after visiting the museum and the ancestral house of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, rather the schools and other educational institutions of Punjab must organize visits of students to this historical museum so that zeal of patriotism for the nation is imbibed within their minds.