Rs 1.5 cr tourist centre to come up at Saragarhi Memorial

A tourist facilitation centre (TFC) will come up at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore at the Saragarhi Memorial, depicting the bravado of 22 Sikh soldiers, under centrally sponsored “Swadesh Darshan” scheme mooted for the integrated development of Heritage Circuit in the state.

the artwork depicting the cultural heritage of Punjab would be displayed at the TFC. “The centre will provide information about the Battle of Saragarhi, besides offering various facilities for the comfort of tourists.

A light and sound show would be started at the memorial and a leisure valley would come up in the ground adjacent to the site.

The memorial was constructed to pay tribute to the 22 soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army who died fighting over 10,000 Afridis during the Battle of Saragarhi on September 12, 1897, in North-West Frontier Province, now in Pakistan.

The Battle of Saragarhi was a last-stand battle fought before the Tirah Campaign on 12 September 1897 between the British Raj Sikh Soldiers and Afghan tribesmen.

On 12 September 1897, an estimated 12,000 - 24,000 Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen were seen near Gogra, at Samana Suk, and around Saragarhi, cutting off Fort Gulistan from Fort Lockhart. The Afghans attacked the outpost of Saragarhi where thousands of them swarmed and surrounded the fort, preparing to assault it.

Led by Havildar Ishar Singh, the soldiers in the fort—all of whom were Sikhs—chose to fight to the death, in what is considered by some military historians as one of the greatest last stands in history.The post was recaptured two days later by another British Indian contingent.

The British Army commemorates the battle every year on 12 September, as Saragarhi Day; the Indian Army's 4th battalion of the Sikh Regiment also observes the same.

About Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

Tourism Ministry launched the scheme.

Objective: to develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country. These tourist circuits will be developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.

Features of Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

100% centrally funded for the project components undertaken for public funding.
To leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and corporate sector.
Funding of individual project will vary from state to state and will be finalised on the basis of detailed project reports prepared by PMC (Programme Management Consultant). PMC will be a national level consultant to be appointed by the Mission Directorate.
A National Steering Committee (NSC) will be constituted with Minister in charge of M/O Tourism as Chairman, to steer the mission objectives and vision of the scheme.
A Mission Directorate headed by the Member Secretary, NSC as a nodal officer will help in identification of projects in consultation with the States/ UTs governments and other stake holders.