The CM made several announcements during the state-level Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara Jayanti celebration
Baba Lakhi Shah Bawdi in Ishargarh village, Kurukshetra, will be beautified
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while paying rich tributes to Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara, announced that the state government will beautify Baba Lakhi Shah Bawdi located in Ishargarh village of district Kurukshetra. In addition, a community center will be constructed in his name in the village, and a statue of Baba Lakhi Shah will be installed.
For this, he announced to give Rs 31 lakh and Rs 11 lakh each on behalf of Cabinet Minister Sh Krishan Lal Panwar and Kumari Aarti Singh Rao. He also announced that, with the consent of the community, one chowk (roundabout) and one road in the state will be named after Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara. Additionally, a community center will be constructed in his name.
Saini made these announcements while addressing the state-level function organized at his residence Sant Kabir Kutir here today on the occasion of Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara Jayanti. On this occasion, the Chief Minister paid floral tribute to the portrait of Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara and offered his respects. He assured that he will never let the honour and respect given to him by the Vanjara community by making him wear the turban diminish and will always work to increase this honour.
While extending heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara Jayanti, the Chief Minister said that Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara was a great sacrificer, a true devotee, and a brave warrior who etched an immortal saga in history through his sacrifice. He stated that when we speak of India’s rich culture, diversity, and tradition of sacrifice, the memory of many great heroes comes to mind - those who gave everything to protect the nation and religion. Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara was one such hero. He was a devoted Sikh who set an extraordinary example of Guru Bhakti and courage, one that will be remembered for generations.
The Vanjara community, a resilient, hardworking, and dignified community
The Chief Minister said that the sacrifices of Baba Lakhi Shah Vanjara are written in golden letters in Sikh history. He bravely fought against the Mughals and made extraordinary sacrifices to protect the religion. This is believed to be the first recorded incident in Indian history where more than 112 members of a single family were martyred. He added that the Vanjara community is a resilient, hardworking, and self-respecting community that has not only contributed significantly to the country’s economy through trade and commerce but has also played a vital role in national defense.
Saini stated that great men do not belong to any one religion or caste, they belong to all of humanity. It is our collective responsibility to preserve and honor their legacy. In this spirit, the government is working to spread the teachings and messages of saints and great personalities through the Sant-Mahapurush Vichar Samman and Prasar Yojana. He added that, to uphold the ideals of equality promoted by these great figures, the government has introduced several welfare schemes aimed at improving the standard of living for the poorest sections of society. The Vanjara community is also benefiting from these initiatives.