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This is an archive article published on May 9, 2011

Freedom Trail to celebrate signposts of struggle for Independence

Punjab has been at the forefront of India’s freedom struggle,and the role played by the frontier state is going to be one of its unique selling points to draw both domestic and international tourists.

Punjab has been at the forefront of India’s freedom struggle,and the role played by the frontier state is going to be one of its unique selling points to draw both domestic and international tourists. Courtesy a grant of Rs 8 crore by the Ministry of Tourism,the state is building the country’s first ‘Freedom Trail’ — a tourism circuit through the major sites of the freedom struggle in the state.

Punjab has been home to some of the most influential revolutionaries of India’s Independence movement,such as Lala Lajpat Rai,Bhagat Singh,Sukhdev and Udham Singh. It is also the land of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Then there is the Jaito movement of the Sikhs,which inspired the famous Satyagraha. All these milestones in the country’s fight for Independence are going to be part of the Freedom Trail.

Talking to The Indian Express,Principal Secretary,Tourism,Geetika Kalha said from the time of the Sikh Gurus,Punjab had protected the people of the country and the culture of the land. “In each part of Punjab,there are heroic tales of people fighting for freedom with their life and blood. We now want to celebrate these signposts and bring into focus the unique bravery of the people here.”

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With the help of the grant given by the ministry,the department will provide suitable tourist infrastructure at major sites,like the ancestral homes of Lala Lajpat Rai,Udham Singh,Kartar Singh Sarabha,Sukhdev,Bhagat Singh,Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and others; the Kuka memorial in Malerkotla; the memorial of the martyrs at Hussainiwala border in Ferozepur; the Saragarhi memorial; and Gurdwara Angitha Sahib,associated with the Jaito movement.

While some of these faces and sites are popularly known,the Freedom Trail will also celebrate the contribution of some of the lesser known people,and the sites associated with them. These include the Hira Singh memorial and Ripudaman Park in Nabha,the Quila Nabha Chowk,the Kaliyanwala Khoo in Ajnala,Old Jaito Thana and Gurdwara Gangsar.

The tourism department is working on a detailed brochure on the Freedom Trail to enlighten tourists about major places of interest. Kalha said the trail would not follow any particular route,and tourists could visit any site as per their convenience.

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