Chandigarh
11 March 2020
DIVYA AZAD
The President of Canada Based Prof. Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, Mr. Sahib Singh Thind today demanded from Government of India to change the name of Dalhousie town of Himachal Pradesh named after brutal administrator of colonial days, and rename it after Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh’s uncle and freedom fighter Sardar Ajit Singh, who had spent last days of his life at Dalhousie and passed away on 15th August, 1947, the day of Independence of India.
Addressing the media at Press Club Chandigarh, Thind said that Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh was named after the British Administrator, Lord Dalhousie during the British rule. He said it is strange that an administrator who was known for his brutalities on Indians is still given respect by remembering him every day. He urged the central government to curb the British legacy and rename such cities after freedom fighters who laid lives for the motherland.
Speaking about Prof. Mohan Singh memorial Foundation Thind said the NGO has been working for over 30 years with governments of different countries worldwide to address the matter of official parliamentary apologies and colonial name changes for historical wrongs committed by colonial powers and their proxies. He thanked Modi government for renaming three islands of Andaman and Nicobar after freedom fighters of Indian independence movement. “In November 2016 our foundation started a movement to provide justice to the Indian freedom fighters lodged at Andaman and Nicobar jails while fighting against the brutal British colonial rule in which Gadharites and other revolutionaries from across the subcontinent also played a crucial role,” Thind said. During his visit to Andaman and Nicobar in 2018 the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered to change the names of islands. Later on the names of 3 islands namely Ross, Neil and Havelock were changed to Netaji Subash Chandra Island, Shaheed Island and Swaraj Island respectively.
“Now again I have approached and written to Hon’ble President of India Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah, BJP National President Mr. JP. Nadha, Congress National President Ms. Sonia Gandhi, and also the Chairperson of National Human Right Commission, to convey my concern over prominence given to the brutal British administrators, particularly to Lord Dalhousie. I am sure that my effort will bear fruit very soon” said Thind.
Speaking about Dalhousie’s role in Indian context, Thind said, “After appointment as Governor General of India in 1848 he introduced doctrine of lapse that led to Indian mutiny of 1857. He was behind annexation of Punjab from the Sikh rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. However, the contribution of Sardar Ajit Singh as a patriot and role for independence of India can’t be ignored. He was a revolutionary and a nationalist who became inspiration for Shaheed Bhagat Singh who laid foundation of free India. Alongwith Lala Lajpat Rai he was among the first who challenged British rule in Punjab and his fight for rights of peasants by opposing Punjab colonization act of 1906 led to a mass movement against the colonial rule. The hill town was set up in 1854 and was named after Governor General Dalhousie, but the contribution of Sardar Ajit Singh has not been recoganised the way it should have been,” said Thind.
Thind adds, “As the matter concerns state government of Himachal Pradesh I had also written to Himachal Chief Minister Mr. Jai Ram Thakur, Leader of Opposition Mr. Mukesh Agnihotri, and Congress state president Mr. Kuldeep Rathore”. Thind said he had met BJP state president Mr. Rajeev Bindal who promised to take up the cause with the Himachal and Government of India.
