Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s niece inaugurates Memorial hall at Rampura Phul Library, emphasizes need for libraries
Govts using Shaheed Bhagat Singh's name, not his ideals: Niece Bibi Gurjit Kaur at Rampura Phul Library event
Kuljit Singh Dhingra/Suresh Garg
Rampura Phul, August 4, 2025: Governments across the country continue to invoke the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh for their own political gain but have failed to promote his revolutionary ideas, said Bibi Gurjit Kaur, niece of the legendary freedom fighter.
She was speaking at the inauguration of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Hall on the second floor of the Public Library at Main Chowk, Rampura Phul.
The event was organized under the supervision of Library President Yogesh Singla and presided over by renowned Punjabi writer Baldev Singh Sadaknama. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Chaman Lal, former JNU professor and author of over fifty books. Prominent journalist and critic Baljit Balli also attended.
Bibi Gurjit Kaur praised the library, which has been serving the Rampura Phul community since 1939, and emphasized the importance of libraries in nation-building. “If there is one good deed that can truly shape the country’s future, it is the building of libraries,” she said.
She stressed that governments must go beyond opening schools and focus on establishing libraries in every village, town, and city while ensuring the recruitment of trained librarians.
Professor Chaman Lal urged the audience to maintain a strong connection with books despite the rise of digital media. “Books are irreplaceable. They remain essential to building a thoughtful and informed society,” he said.
Baldev Singh Sadaknama expressed concern about the younger generation's growing disconnect from books and reminded the audience that reading is key not only to understanding the past but also to shaping a better future.
Library President Yogesh Singla shared that the Rampura Phul Public Library currently houses 17,894 books in Punjabi, Hindi, and English, along with 1,900 books in Urdu. He also announced that Professor Chaman Lal had generously donated 2,400 books to the library’s collection.
The event was attended by Library General Secretary Kailash Kaushik, Treasurer Mehar Chand Bahia, former President Shivchand Bansal, Sunil Bansal, Shashi Singla, Komal Singla, industrialist Deepak Saraf, Bhushan Bansal, Deepak Goyal, K.M. Singla, Librarian Meenakshi, and a large number of local intellectuals and dignitaries.