Chandigarh -The three-day Akhand Path being organized at the Gurdwara, Sector 34 in memory of the Punjabi Sikh soldiers who died for the British Army in Belgium during the First World War ended with Bhog. This 48-hour long path was organized by the In Flanders Field Museum, Ypres, Belgium, and the Sikhya Seekers, Chandigarh to mark the occasion of the 325th anniversary of the Khalsa Sajna Diwas in both the countries.
The families of these deceased soldiers, General KJ Singh, former GOC-in-Chief of the Western Command along with ex-servicemen, war veterans and Gurdwaras’ representatives witnessed the proceedings and paid rich tributes to the fallen soldiers. Meanwhile, in Belgium too, innumerable people gathered on this occasion as Museum’s Director Dominiek Dendooven expressed his gratitude for the role of Indian soldiers on this occasion. Indian soldiers fighting for England bravely fought the attack against the combined Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire during the first world war. Belgium prevented the German occupation and in the end the Belgian faction of the Allied countries won the war.
On the concluding occasion, Col Perminder Singh Randhawa, founder of Sikhya Seekers, informed about the similar special tribute program organized for the Indian soldiers of Sikh Regiment and Gurkha Rifle in New Zealand. recently He called upon the families of the deceased war veterans to adorn the medals of their forefathers and feel proud of their hidden achievements during the public events likewise in New Zealand. Col Randhawa's grandfather Sardar Surian Singh Randhawa fought in the First World War and his father Balwant Singh Randhawa fought in the Second World War, while he himself retired from the Indian Army with the rank of Colonel.
Present on the occasion, Gurender Singh Mahal, who came from Sultanwind, Amritsar, said that 135 soldiers from his village fought in the First World War, out of which seven were martyred there. He is the coordinator of 'Vishwa Yudh Pahalan Ate Duja Martyrs Welfare Society' and expressed regret over the indifferent attitude of the government towards the families of those who died in World Wars. He lauded that the Govt should show its strict stance on the occupied properties granted by the British Govt built in the memory of those soldiers, which would be a real tribute to these martyrs.
Major Karnail Singh, Senior Vice President of Sector 34 Gurudwara, expressed satisfaction over the event and assured to organize this Akhand Path as an annual feature in the memory of soldiers. Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Kahlon, President of Punjab Chapter of All India Defense Brotherhood and Pawan Pyush Mahajan of Sikhya Sikh also expressed their views.