Ignoring  Martyr Sukhdev Thapar is unfortunate (15 May 1907 – 23 March 1931).Birth Anniversary Tribute –Brij Bhushan Goyal  

Ignoring  Martyr Sukhdev Thapar is unfortunate (15 May 1907 – 23 March 1931).Birth Anniversary Tribute –Brij Bhushan Goyal  

All India Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust (Regd.) has been  relentlessly struggling for many years to prevail upon the successive state governments to give much desired attention for a befitting  facelift and recognition to the birthplace site of Martyr Sukhdev. Promised direct access to the place from Ludhiana’s Chaura Bazar side which is only a few yards from the Nau-Ghara Area birthplace of Sukhdev is still awaited. Neither state government nor local administration has ever tried sincerely to give awareness to people about Martyr Sukhdev’s birthplace, his life and the stellar role he played in the freedom struggle. Sukhdev trust feels that place is no less important than Khatkar Kalan. Here are some important facts about Sukhdev:

Sukhdev’s birth in Ludhiana

Sukhdev was born in a house Nau-Ghara, Ludhiana to parents Mother Rali Devi and father Ram Lal.

With his younger brother Mathura Dass Thapar, Sukhdev   lived in this house for about 5 years. After the sudden death of his father, his uncle Lala Chint Ram (Taya) took Sukhdev’s family to Lyallpur (Now in Pakistan) for upbringing of children where he had a Flour Chakki. All lived in the joint family which was well knit through every thick and thin.

Sukhdev’s childhood & school times

There is a document about Sukhdev written by brother Mathura Das titled as ‘Mera Bhra Shaheed Sukhdev’. It tells about Sukhdev’s respect for the downtrodden people who visited their home for various chores right from childhood. Sukhdev bought portraits of ‘Jhansi Ki Rani-1857 freedom movement icon’ with Diwali festival money he got. He was very thoughtful and agile. Once a child accidently fell into a well. While other children were only on lookers, Sukhdev immediately rushed to his house and brought a thick Rassa to pull and save that child. Sukhdev studied in Sanatan Dharam School. But, when he learnt that Dalit children are deprived of schooling in his as well as government schools, he started teaching small kids in a colony in a nearby village. Once, he was visibly upset on seeing a native rikshawwala being slapped by a British man. Sukhdev remained in the forefront in 1918 in serving the people who suffered very badly due to the 1918 influenza pandemic. While others in the family temporarily shifted elsewhere, Sukhdev’s mother could not go due to Sukhdev’s determination to stay put and serve the sick. Sukhdev was a good wrestler, besides doing pushups and long races. No wonder, he was popular as a ‘Villager’ in his circles for his rustic style. Sukhdev’s uncle and Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s father were friends and visited each other’s house. Both children played together and lent a keen ear to what these elders were discussing about Britishers’ rule and activities of revolutionaries.

On 15th April,1919 the whole of Punjab was put under Martial Law against Punjabis’ protesting against the Jallianwala Bagh Baisakhi Day incident in Amritsar. Sukhdev too was impacted. In his school, as a protest he refused to give ‘Salami’ to a British Army Officer. Sukhdev was beaten, but he did not relent and refused to wish the officer as teachers had repeatedly desired.

Sukhdev’s college times:

Post matriculation, Sukhdev joined National College, Lahore where Bhagat Singh had already got admission. Nationalism and revolutionary sentiments were key takes from this college. They lived in a rented room and often visited libraries for books on revolutions. Their cupboard was always replete with books. Friends discussed for hours. Shiv Verma, one of their freedom movement friends, wrote that it was only Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev who had complete clarity about socialism and both always remained upbeat to bring revolution for freedom from britishers.

Saundres killing & Delhi Assembly bomb throwing

Lala Lajpat Rai died after some months when he was brutally beaten in protests against the Simon Commission of 1927. John Saunders was killed on 17 Dec,1927 in retaliation by these revolutionaries’ group in a case of mistaken identity for Gen Dyer (infamous for Jallianwala Bagh Killings), but they announced avenging Lala Lajpat Rai’s death. All fled. Later, in April 1929, Bhagat Singh and B K Dutt threw two bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly at Delhi to mark their protest against British laws. Their intentions were not to harm anyone but only to publicize their struggle. They were caught raising slogans ‘Inquilab Zindabad As they did not flee.

Sukhdev’s key role: The case “Crown versus Sukhdev and others”

The verdict of hanging the famous trio of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in 1931 was a conclusion of the case “Crown versus Sukhdev and others”. Sukhdev, was pinned to be considered as a mastermind strategist of all the activities of their group Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Sukhdev was taken as key accused at Sr No 1, Bhagat Singh at Sr No 12th and Rajguru at Sr.No 20^th among the 25 young associates booked.

Unfortunately, political and communal agendas belittling  their sacrifices when they are discriminated against even in remembrance by the governments of the day.

It is better if CM Punjab revisits his decision and places a joint pic of Martyr Trio in his office in his chair backdrop and also in other offices as ordered by him instead of only of Bhagat Singh as martyrs sacrificed their lives in unison.

Sukhdev’s brother Mathura Dass Thapar who remained closely associated with him and was persecuted by the British police knowing Sukhdev ‘s association with the revolutionaries of the times. After partition in 1947 the family chose to return to India in Ludhiana.

Mathura Dass breathed his last in 1999, but he kept raising voice against indifference of the State/Central governments for deliberate neglect of the birthplace of Sukhdev.

It is better if CM Punjab revisits his decision and places a joint pic of Martyr Trio in his office in his chair backdrop and also in other offices as ordered by him instead of only of Bhagat Singh as martyrs sacrificed their lives in unison.

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 — Brij Bhushan Goyal, A Sr. Citizen & a social activist .

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