Statues of Sikh Heroes Unveiled in New Delhi
Statues of Baba Baghel Singh, Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Baba Jassa Singh Ramgarhia have been installed
New Delhi’s history has a very important chapter which has been long forgotten and ignored. With the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee (DSGC), the statues of Sikh heroes Baba Baghel Singh, Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Baba Jassa Singh Ramgarhia have been installed in Delhi. They have been installed in a park opposite Subhash Nagar metro station, in West Delhi.
It was these three Sikh Generals who had won over the Red Fort and installed a Kesri Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag atop it on 11th April 1983, defeating Shah Alam. The statues of trio who led the Sikh forces to a victory over Mughal emperor Shah Alam-II in March 1783, have been installed with due permissions from PMO and Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Culture, to whom the case was finally referred to.
The statues have been prepared by Gwalior-based Prabhat Murti Kala Kendra led by the master sculptor Prabhat Rai. The bronze statues are 12 ft high and weigh 1200-1400 kg. The centre has also been accredited of developing the six statues which stand at the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial at Chappar Chiri village in Mohali. This project aims at reviving the glorious contribution of Sikhs to the country and its people.
The Delhi people are totally unaware of how Sikh heritage is engrained in the history of Delhi. The very famous Tees Hazari courts are named after Baba Baghel Singh’s 30,000 men army which conquered Delhi. The army of 30,000 men camped at the site where the court complex stands today. The very famous Pul Mithai got its name from the same historical incident. Baba Baghel Singh distributed sweets on that bridge whe the Khalsa Fauj won the Red Fort.
Hence it came to be known as Pul Mithai. Mori gate got its name from a breach the Khalsa Fauj made in the walls of Red Fort to conquer it. ‘Mori’ is Hindi/Punjabi for hole. The troops entered the Red Fort through this breach. It is time the nation gives due respect and credit to the Sikh heroes of Independence struggle and this is a right step towards it.