Punjab Meets Here !

FEROZEPUR CITY

Ferozepur city situated right on the Indo-Pakistan border is well connected by road as well as rail with Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Delhi, Chandigarh and the rest of the country.

There are a number of holy shrines, historic places and memorials in and around Ferozepur.

Ferozepore is an ancient city situated close to the present day Indo-Pakistan border. It is believed to have been founded by Ferozeshah Tughluq in the 14th century. Another version claims that it was founded by a Bhatti chief called Feroze Khan. However, the first version is more widely accepted as Ferozeshah Tughluq had a passion for building new cities and renaming old ones especially after his own name. He claimed, "Among the many gifts which God bestowed upon me, His humble servant, was a desire to erect public buildings. So I built many mosques, colleges and monasteries, that the learned and the elders, the devout and the holy, might worship God in these edifices and aid the kind builder with their prayers."

Ferozepore's strategic position in the northwest of the country has resulted in its being part of many military expenditions in the area. During the first Anglo-Sikh war in 1845, it due to the negligence of the British commander at Ferozepore that the Khalsa was able to cross the Sutlej unopposed. When Lord Hardinge declared war on the Sikhs, the first battle was fought at Mudki, 20 miles south-east of Ferozepore. In 1838, Ferozepore was the centre from where British troops advanced to Kabul during the rist Anglo-Afghan war.

Three heroic martyrs of India's freedom struggle—Bhagat Singh and his associates Rajguru and Sukhdev—have their final resting place on the banks of the river Sutlej in Ferozepur. On March 23, 1931, despite popular protest, these three heros were executed in Lahore and were stealthily cremated in the dead of night near Ferozepore. They were killed for raising the flag of revolutionary terrorism against the British, displaying their deep patriotism and defiance for the foreign rulers till the very end.

Today, a Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial marks the spot and every year on March 23, thousands of people gather to pay homage of these noble heroes.

Ferozepore has another historical memorial, the Saragarhi Gurudwara, commemorating the sacrifice of 21 Sikh soldiers who perished at Saragarhi in Baluchistan. On 12 September, every year, people gather here to pay tribute to the heroic soldiers and celebrate Saragarhi Day. The memorial service also provides an occasion for exservicemen to have a reunion.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial : Dead bodies of the hero-martyrs, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, who had been executed at Lahore on March 23, 1931 by the British Goverment for raising a revolution against the British Government were cremated stealthily in the darkness of the night here. Every year on March 23, a fair is held when thousands of people gather to pay homage to the great martyrs.

Saragarhi Memorial Gurudwara : Commemmorates the battle which took place on Samana Ridge of the Hindu Kush and Sulleiman Ranges in 1897 when 21 soldiers of the 36 Sikh (later 4 Sikhs) regiment had died died fighting to the last man against a several times greater force of the local tribal chiefs. The history of the battle is taught in French schools and forms part of the 8 narratives of collective bravery published by UNESCO. On 12th September every year thousands of people and ex-servicemen pay homage to the celebrated heroes here.

Jain Swetamber Temple : Zira was founded in 1890 A.D. Additions were made in 1913-14 A.D. The paintings on the walls depcits the ancient Jain culture and history. The main idol, believed to be one of the most sacred and ancient, was brought from Palitana Sidhgri in Saurashtra. There are also brass idols, some of which are older than twelve hundred years.

Anglo-Sikh War Memorial Ferozeshah : Was set-up here in 1976 A.D. The portraits of important historical personalities and battle scenes executied by artists, Jaswant Singh and Kirpal Singh and some of the weapons used in those days are on display here.

Couplets from the epic of Shah Muhammad embossed on the walls bemoan that Punjabis won battles but lost the war only because Sarkar Ranjit Singh was no more.

Sirhind (A Mughal Legacy) : Sirhind is a city where the Mughals still live on in the magnificent architectural legacy they have left for the future generations. The origin of the city is not known but probably dates back to the 10th century. In 1360, Ferozeshah Tughluq used Sirhind as his regional headquarters and built many edifices including the Ferozeshah Fort. However, Sirhind achieved it zenith under the Mughals as it received the personal attention of emperors like Akbar and Jahangir. Many Afghan rulers over the ages claimed Sirhind as their territory and there are many monuments in the city which illustrate the Afghan links of this city.

A prominent Mughal monument is the Aam Khas bagh which was built by Akbar and later developed by Jahangir and Shahjahan. As the name denotes, the garden was meant both for the public and royalty. The royal part includes a large water tank, a palace with beautiful walls and elaborate fountains. Another monument is the Rauza Sharif of Hazrat Mujadid-Alaf-Saani, Sheikh Ahmed Farooqi of Sirhind, a contemporary of Akbar and Jahangir. His mausoleum is regarded as the second Mecca by Sunni Muslims all over the world as the Sheikh is considered second to the prophet, Hazrat Mohammed. The annual Urs is celebrated with zest by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who gather here in large numbers. Next in the mausoleum is the cenotaph of Shah Zaman, the Afghan ruler.

Sirhind has also witnessed many important events in the evolution of the Sikh faith. It was here in the ancient fort of Sirhind built by Ferozeshah Tughluq that the two young sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji were bricked in by walls and suffocated to death for refusing to embrace Islam. The Gurudwara Fathegarh Sahib built on the spot commemorates the victory or 'fateh' of the two noble souls who refused to abandon their faith under severe duress. Near the Gurudwara is the Burj of Mata Gujri in the memory of the sorrowful grandmother who died of shock seeing the martydom of her minor grandsons. The Gurudwara Jyoti Swarup marks the spot where all these were cremated. Every December, thousands gather here during the Jor Mela to pay homage and express their devotion.

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