Fateh Burj, built in honor of Banda Singh Bahadur and the first Sikh state in IIndia

Chappar Chiri Fateh Burj (victory Tower. en.wikipedia.org

The Fateh Burj meaning the ''Victory Tower'' is the tallest minar in India built in the historical village of Chappar Chiri in the SAS Nagar district, Punjab. Dedicated to the establishment of the Sikh state in India in 1711, the 328 ft tall tower is along the Kharar-Banur Road, now officially named Banda Singh Bahadur Road, just outside Mohali, a few kilometres from Landran and 20 km from Sirhind. It was here in 1710 one of the greatest and highly respected Sikh warriors Banda Singh Bahadur, won a decisive battle against Wazir Khan, commander of the Mogul army who tried hard to stop the the march of the Sikh army led by Banda Singh Bahadur to Sirhind. For the great Sikh leader, there was no turning back and ultimately he built a capital at Lohgarh (Haryana).

Fatah Burj, Chippar Chirri. Punjab. en.wikipedia.org

Fatah Burj, Chippar Chirri. Punjab.

On 30 Nov. 2011 Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal inaugurated 'Fateh Burj', the tallest victory tower in the country, commemorating the victory of Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur over Mughal governor Wazir Khan. The tower is taller than Qutub Minar at Delhi and was built in honor of
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. It is an octagonal structure and there is a dome atop the tower with Khanda made of stainless steel.

This imposing memorial spread over 20 acres, was open to public by the Punjab CM in the presence of Arunachal Pradesh Governor and former army chief J J Singh and over 20,000 decorated ex-servicemen who paid homage to the Sikh warrior on the battleground of Chappar Chiri.

There were also present five high priests and senior leaders of Sikh clergy, Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, former BJP president Rajnath Singh, Uttrakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and in their presence CM Badal unveiled the inaugural plaque after the Ardas (prayer). He also later unveiled the statue of Banda Bahadur and dedicated the 'Fateh Burj' to the nation.

Many leaders, including the Pubjab CM extolled the gutts and wisdom of Banda Singh who was a true socialist in the correct sense and who abolished the untenable zamindari system that reduced countless farmers to penury and made the tillers and cultivators the actual owners of the land and issued coins and seals in the name of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh. CM Badal also mentioned with reservation that "More than 90 per cent of the Sikhs are not aware of the heroic deeds in the Sikh history" said.

The unfortunate fact is in many Indian History School books there is no mention of the exploits of Sikh warrior Banda Singh. Former BJP chief Rajnath Singh announced that he would urge the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to include the history of these memorials in the school syllabus. The NCERT and CBSE text books, it is said, do not have any chapter on this great Sikh Commander and the rich legacy of Khalsa Panth, former BJP chief Rajnath Singh mentioned. In South India, in particular, almost the entire Tamil-speaking people have no idea whatsoevr about Banda Singh Bahadur. Nor are they aware of this Victory Tower Fateh Burj, a memorial glorifying the heroism of the Sikh soldiers during the difficult Mogul rule.