Symposium Honors Freedom Fighters Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani and Baba Prithvi Singh Azad

The Shaheed Dr. Diwan Singh Memorial Trust, in collaboration with the Baba Prithvi Singh Azad Chair at Panjab University, Chandigarh, organized a Symposium today titled “Cellular (Kalepani) Jail: Experiential Narratives,” shedding light on the remarkable roles and experiences of Shaheed Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani and Baba Prithvi Singh Azad. Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), emphasized the pivotal role of Punjabis in India’s freedom struggle and called for their legacy to be duly honored.
Addressing a gathering of eminent intellectuals, scholars, and research students at the Shaheed Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani Museum in Siswan, Mohali, Professor Paru Bal Sidhu, Chairperson of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology at Panjab University and granddaughter of Diwan Singh Kalepani, shared a poignant account of her grandfather’s 17-year association with Cellular Jail, both as a Medical Officer and as a prisoner for 82 days during the Japanese occupation of the Andaman Islands. She recounted, “Dr. Diwan Singh was horrifically tortured for 82 days by the Japanese, and on the 83rd day, he achieved martyrdom in wing number 6 of the dreaded jail. His sacrifice for the people of Andamans remains unparalleled in the history of Colonial India. Not only was Dr. Diwan Singh a great freedom fighter, but he was also one of the great poets of the Punjabi language.”
SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed his support for the trust’s efforts in preserving the legacy of the great freedom fighter. He highlighted SGPC’s initiatives in documenting the role of Punjabis in the freedom struggle, including the release of the book ‘Kalapani: Punjabis’ Role in Freedom Struggle’ earlier this year. Dhami reaffirmed SGPC’s commitment to carry forward this important historical narrative, including a proposal to name an island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani.
Eminent journalist and author Jagtar Singh, who recently published a book on Cellular Jail, praised the significant role of Dr. Diwan Singh in Punjab’s history and urged the Punjab Government and SGPC to recognize his contributions at the state and national levels. He emphasized the need for further research into the period between 1943 to 1945 when the Japanese occupied the Andaman Islands.
Additionally, Professor Emeritus Varinder Kumar of Panjab University eloquently presented Baba Prithvi Singh Azad’s narrative of the freedom struggle, highlighting the historical connections between him and Mahatma Gandhi.
This symposium serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of these brave freedom fighters and their significant contributions to India’s struggle for independence.