The Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Jangi Yaadgaar in a remote village of Mohali district remained closed on the 315th anniversary of Sirhind Fateh Diwas on Monday, sparking anger among locals and visitors. The monument, dedicated to the Sikh warrior who defeated the Mughals in the historic Sirhind battle, is taller than the Qutub Minar by 28.64 meters.
Sirhind Fateh Diwas is observed to commemorate Banda Singh Bahadur’s victory over the Mughals and the avenging of the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas and Guru Gobind Singh’s mother. However, despite the significance of the day, the memorial was not open to the public.
The tallest monument of India not only honors Sikh heritage and bravery but also serves as a symbol of the Mughal defeat that changed the course of Punjab’s history. Despite the monument’s importance, the road leading to the memorial is in a poor condition, with the link road described as almost non-existent.
In response to growing concerns, the state government had earlier announced plans to upgrade the road to the memorial at an estimated cost of Rs 3.77 crore. However, the villagers, frustrated by the authorities’ indifference, had already started repairing the road themselves, using mud and gravel to make it passable ahead of the anniversary.
A villager expressed disappointment over the closure of the monument, stating that it should have been open for visitors on such an important day. Gurmukh Singh, an elderly villager, pointed out that not only should the monument have been open, but an event to commemorate Banda Singh Bahadur should have been held.
Rupinder Kaur, a local schoolteacher, also criticized the government’s focus on advertisements for the day while failing to ensure that the monument was accessible to the public on the anniversary.
The Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial was dedicated in 2011 by then-Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Built over 20 acres in Sector 91 of Greater Mohali, the memorial cost Rs 35.4 crore and was completed in a record 11 months. It is one of five Sikh memorials constructed by the Badal government to preserve Sikh history and heritage. The memorial’s height of 100 meters makes it the tallest monument in India, surpassing the Qutub Minar at 71.34 meters.
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