Tributes paid: Riyasti Praja Mandal founder’s memory still fresh after 91 years

Bathinda: Tributes were paid to freedom fighter Sewa Singh Thikriwal on his 91st martyrdom day at his native Thiriwala village on Monday. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president and minister Aman Arora, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori represented the state govt in paying tributes to Sewa Singh, who was one of the founders of Riyasti Praja Mandal, an organisation advocating for greater civil liberties and political rights, founded in 1928.Cheema, Arora and Hayer talked about the various promises that were fulfilled by the AAP govt in the past four years, mainly pertaining to carrying out development works and initiating construction of a memorial at the site of freedom fighter's ancestral house. They also assured that they would fulfil the remaining promise of constructing a college in the village.During the previous Akali Dal-BJP govts, late chief minister Parkash Singh Badal reached Thikriwal to pay tributes on a number of occasions. Sewa Singh Thikriwala was a pioneer of the freedom movement in this part of Punjab. Fighting against the imperial forces, Sewa Singh laid down his life while in Patiala jail. Instead of bowing before the English, Sewa Singh started a fast unto death in jail and finally attained martyrdom on Jan 19, 1935. By founding Riyasti Praja Mandal, Sewa Singh brought together many freedom fighters to oppose the imperial forces. He was regarded as the torchbearer of the freedom movement in the Malwa region of Punjab and spent a lot of time in jail. Sewa Singh's martyrdom is observed as a three-day event at his native village from Jan 18 to 20. The first day is devoted to nagar kirtan, and political parties set the stage during the next two days. It provides a different type of platform for the political parties to air their respective viewpoints. Jan 19 is reserved for the ruling party, while separate time slots are allotted to various political parties on Jan 20, and almost the same set of villagers listen. Many times, paying tributes remains on the back burner, but lambasting opponents takes centre stage. Before he attained martyrdom in Patiala jail on Jan 19, 1935, for being on a fast, Thikriwala was called Garbi chor (utensil thief). ---------------------------------------- The interesting phase of the martyrdom day was witnessed on Jan 19, 2006, when Capt Amarinder Singh was the chief minister. When Capt Amarinder appeared at the martyrdom day event for the first time, Akali leader Jarnail Singh Bhotna, opposing him, raised slogans against Patiala royalty and Amarinder Singh while rising from the pandal. He was immediately taken out by the police. Pics: Aman Arora, Harpal Cheema, Meet Hayer at statue of Sewa Singh ThikriwalMSID:: 126677133 413 |