![]() |
|
Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh was born in Village Banga, Chak No 105, G.B. in the Lyallpur District (now in Pakistan) on 26th September, 1907, The grandmother of S. Bhagat Singh used to call him 'Bhaganwala' (lucky) because the news of release of his uncle Ajit Singh from Mandlay Jail and his father Kishen Singh from Lahore Jail had coincided with Bhagat Singh's birth.
Bhagat Singh got his primary education at Banga (District Jalandhar). He came into
contact with well-known nationalists such as Mehta Anand Kishore, Lala Pindi Dass, Sufi Amba Parshad
and Lala Lajpat Rai. He also came in touch with Gadar heroes, Kartar Singh Sarabha and
Ras Bihari Bose who used to visit his father. As a child, Bhagat Singh would listen to
their 'talks' and 'plans'. The martyrdom of Kartar Singh Sarabha who laid down his life
on November 16, 1915 left a deep impression on the young mind of Bhagat Singh who was then
barely eight year's old. This infused in him the burning desire to serve his motherland.
The impact of Kartar Singh Sarabha's martyrdom on Bhagat Singh can be judged from the fact
that when he was arrested, a photograph of Saheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was found from his pocket.
In the Museum at his village Khatkar Kalan, these half-burnt bones and blood-stained sand
along with the blood stained newspaper on which these were collected are well preserved and
displayed. A copy of the judgement of the 1st Lahore Conspiracy case in which
Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha was sentenced to death is also a notable exhibit.
S. Bhagat Singh's scribed notes (in his own handwriting) on this copy of judgement,
a copy of the Gita with his autographs which was presented to S. Bhagat Singh while he was in
Lahore Jail and other personal belongings are also on display. The photographs of the
revolutionaries and Ghadarites who inspired Bhagat Singh to wage freedom struggle have been
displayed in the Museum. These exhibits are silent reminders of supreme sacrifices these martyrs
made for the motherland. They shall inspire the generations to come.
|