Independence Day may finally liberate Sukhdev's birthplace in Ludhiana.

Time of India

3 days ago

Ludhiana: A 13-year struggle to open direct access to the ancestral home of freedom fighter Sukhdev Thapar, who died on the British colonial gallows alongside Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru, may soon end after the city's finance and contracts committee (F&CC) approved ₹33 lakh for a key land acquisition.
The payment will secure 44.5 sq-yds that have long blocked entry to the house in Naughara Mohalla. The move follows years of bureaucratic delays and legal hurdles, though a second proposal to acquire an additional 8 sq-yds remains pending. The land award, announced by the Ludhiana East subdivisional magistrate (SDM) in March and approved by the state's local bodies department in April, will be paid from the municipal corporation's own funds.
The F&CC's green light clears the final financial hurdle for this portion of the project.
Ashok Thapar, chairman of the Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust, requested authorities concened to remove the obstructing structure promptly and lay a foundation stone on Independence Day. "We have waited a long time for this day," he said, adding that the smaller pending acquisition must also be fast-tracked. Senior deputy mayor Rakesh Prashar said the process had been stalled by departmental delays but promised no further holdups.
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He confirmed the second proposal would also be approved.
Efforts to secure direct access began in 2012, but plans faced resistance when authorities tried to dismantle encroachments. Disputes over compensation dragged the process out for more than a decade. Under the Smart City Mission, the civic body recently renovated the exterior of the home of freedom struggle's hero, but visitors must still reach it via a narrow, indirect route.
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