Bhagat Singh's Martyrdom Anniversary: Country has forgotten his hideout Nalgarha village

Once a marshy land between the Hindon and Yamuna river surrounded by wilderness, Nalgarha in Greater Noida is now a part of Sector-145 and is surrounded by swanky residential towers and a six lane Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.

Nalgarha village used to be an important hideout for Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries during India’s freedom movement. The village that deserved a heritage status was never recognised for its importance. 

Total recall

In 1927, when Bhagat Singh killed a British officer, Saunders, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, British government introduced a draconian law, by which anyone could be arrested on a mere suspicion, and thus he and his team needed a good hideout.

Singh along with Chandra Shekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra bose, Col Karnail Singh and few other revolutionaries escaped to Nalgarha for two long years and planned their attacks from this village. However, the village carries no mention of Bhagat Singh, as there are no signboards nor is there any memorial depicting the relevance of the place, but a ramshackle board that reads, ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Vyayamshala’ that has been put up by a gym owner. But the residents still remember the freedom fighter’s lore passed down from elderly of the villagers.

Sixty year old Manjeet kaur, daughter-in –law of Colonel Karnail Singh, member of Azad hind Fauz, has been living here since 1963. Karnail Singh was the first person to set up a home in this village.

Manjeet speaking with iamin says, “My father–in-law brought us here after independence. We used to tell him and would often argue that there is nothing to do here and why can’t we live somewhere else,” recalls Majeet and adds, “He would say that, this place is historically significant. He believed that this was the place from where the country got independence. (Ye mera jaddi gaon hai yahan se hamne desh ajad kia hai). He even requested us to never leave this place.”

However, for those who want to revisit history, there is a huge rock on which the comrades would place the ammunition and materials to make the bombs.

“The rock now has been kept in the Gurdwara. This is the rock on which Bhagat Singh and his companions made the bomb and conducted the historic bombing of the Delhi Assembly while hiding in Nalgarha. The rock has two depressions created to stir the mixture," explains, Harvinder Singh, Priest at Gurdwara.

Sahab Singh, grandson of Karnail Singh told iamin that Bhagat Singh and his companions had a coin producing machine as well. “Dadaji also told us that they could produce counterfeit coins. They used it to withdraw money to buy ammunition to make bombs. When they left, the machine was dumped into the river. ”

Manjeet kaur has many stories to tell that were shared by Karnail Singh. “He would tell us stories about how they used to live here and survive by just eating leaves. They had a small house here which has been demolished now where they all lived and planned their moves. They would work at night and if they had to travel to Delhi, they would walk all the way.”

She adds, “Every time they had to move out, they would change their looks to deceive the officers who are on their lookout.”

Rare collection of photographs

Apart from the stories, Manjeet has treasured a bundle of rare photos of that time given to her by Karnail Singh and also a conical bomb mould, which they now use as an incense stand.

Historical importance neglected by authorities

India celebrated its 68th Independence, last year, but the tricolour was nowhere to be seen in Nalgarha. Like every year, this year again, the authorities had promised to set up a memorial in the memory of martyr Sardar Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Multi-storeyed houses have come up where Bhagat Singh’s hut was. Although the authority has recently made a boundary of the area, for the memorial, but the residents have no hopes left for any development whatsoever.

A resident of the village, Jaspal Singh, also mentioned that few years back a foreigner came to make a documentary of this place and was shocked to see the rock on which Bhagat Singh made bombs.

Unfortunately, the younger generation has almost no knowledge about the significance of the place. Apart from few kids from the village, majority have no clue that the place holds historical significance. Bhagat Singh’s hideout during the crucial years has been forgotten by the people and the country.

For the longer version of the report, click here