LAHORE, Sep 28: The 119th birth anniversary of revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was commemorated in Pakistan’s Punjab on Monday, with lawyers, civil society members and admirers gathering in Lahore to honour his legacy.
The Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan organised a cake-cutting ceremony at the Democratic Lawn of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. The gathering focused on the revolutionary’s role in the subcontinent’s freedom movement and the historical significance of his association with Lahore.
Foundation chairman Imtiaz Rashid Qureshi said Bhagat Singh’s struggle represented an important chapter in the region’s history. He highlighted the revolutionary’s courage, political understanding and sacrifice, saying these aspects of his life continued to hold significance for younger generations.
Qureshi described Bhagat Singh as part of the shared historical heritage of the Indian subcontinent rather than the legacy of any single region or community.
He also called for greater efforts to familiarise young people with the freedom movement through historical locations, archival documents, judicial records and other heritage material. He said such resources should complement textbook accounts and be preserved for future generations.
Lahore, he noted, has a special connection with Bhagat Singh because the city was associated with his trial and execution. The participants therefore stressed the importance of preserving records connected with the revolutionary’s life and legal proceedings in the city.
The gathering adopted a resolution urging the Pakistani government to consider awarding Bhagat Singh the Nishan-i-Pakistan for his contribution and sacrifice during the struggle against British rule.
The resolution also appealed to the Indian government to consider awarding him the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour.
According to the participants, official recognition of Bhagat Singh’s historical legacy in both countries could help highlight the shared heritage of Pakistan and India and encourage greater cultural understanding, mutual respect and people-to-people contacts.
The attendees also paid homage to Bhagat Singh and his associates Rajguru and Sukhdev, along with others who gave their lives during the freedom movement.
Bhagat Singh was executed by the British on March 23, 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev. He had been convicted in a case involving an alleged conspiracy against British rule.