A Visit to My Hometown Rekindled the Spirit of My Youthful Days
An Emotional Encounter with Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s Niece: A Homecoming Steeped in Joy and Sorrow
August 3, 2025:
A recent visit to my hometown, Rampura Phul, stirred vivid memories of my youthful, idealistic years. The occasion was the inauguration of the newly built Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Hall at the historic Public Library—an event that became deeply personal and emotionally profound.
On August 3, I had the privilege of meeting Bibi Gurjit Kaur Dhatt, niece of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, and her husband Harbhajan Singh Dhatt. It was my first interaction with her as a direct descendant of the legendary martyr—an encounter that was both joyous and sobering. We spoke in a warm, intimate setting, but the shadow of the past loomed large.
The new hall, conceptualized and initiated by historian author and Bhagat Singh researcher Prof. Chaman Lal—a fellow Rampura native and relative—now stands as a tribute to revolutionary thought. Chaman Lal also donated the hall’s entire book collection, a gesture rooted in the same ideological commitment we once shared during our youth in the leftist movement.
Yet, beneath the celebration lay a painful truth. While Bhagat Singh’s family bore the brunt of British oppression, his descendants suffered under the very machinery of free India. From the stage, Bibi Gurjit Kaur invoked Bhagat Singh and referred to India’s post-Independence rulers as “Kale Angrez,” a haunting reminder of her own family's tragic experiences.
Her brother-in-law, Kuljit Singh Dhatt, was abducted by police from his home in Hoshiarpur in 1989 and never seen again. Police Authorities claimed he had escaped custody, but the truth was darker—he had been killed.
Here is the English translation of the given Punjabi text:
"Ajit Singh Sandhu, who was then the DSP of Dasuya, was the key person involved in the abduction, torture and murder of Dhatt. He later became the SSP of Tarn Taran. He was also the main accused in the Jaswant Singh Khalra case, but in 1995, he died by suicide."
Let me know if you'd like it in a more formal/legal tone.
Despite a 25-year legal struggle, justice remained elusive. Only one officer received a light sentence of five years, of which he served just six months. In 2021, his remaining sentence was quietly remitted by the Governor during the Captain Amarinder Singh government, without informing the Dhatt family. Their subsequent appeals to the current administration have so far yielded no action.
I recalled these events at the gathering, drawing from my personal experience as a senior reporter with Ajit newspaper, where I had repeatedly covered the Kuljit Dhatt case in detail. Sadly, few in attendance were even aware of this grim chapter in Punjab’s history.
There was, however, a bright moment: I finally met acclaimed Punjabi author Baldev Singh (of Sadaknama fame) in person. Though we had spoken by phone and I had long admired his work, our first face-to-face meeting happened at the library, thanks to the efforts of librarian Yogesh Singla—an avid reader who arranged for Baldev Singh to preside over the event.
It was heartening to see that, even in today’s digital era, the library remains a beacon of literary engagement, especially for young students preparing for competitive exams. The library continues to thrive—against the odds—thanks to dedicated individuals who believe in the power of books.
My trip became even more meaningful as I donated two boxes of books from my personal collection, carried all the way from Chandigarh. However, it was also disheartening to see that Rampura Phul, like many Punjabi towns, still struggles with poor infrastructure—broken roads and inadequate drainage made even reaching the library a challenge.
I extend heartfelt thanks to Yogesh Singla, Mehar Chand Bahiya, Kailash Kaushik, Sunil Bansal, and Komal Singla for inviting me and keeping the book reading flame alive.
This visit was not just a journey home—it was a return to the ideals, struggles, and passions that once defined a generation.
August 3, 2025:
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By Baljit Balli, Editor-in-Chief, Babushahi Network, Tirchhi Nazar Media
tirshinazar@gmail.com
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