Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

104ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSREVIEWSMAIN CURRENTS OF FREEDOM STRUGGLEIN PUNJABA REVIEW BY GURMIT SINGH*Author : Prithipal Singh Kapur.Publisher : Director, Information & Public Relations Department, Govt of PunjabPages : 213+; Price : not mentionedIt is said that if you want to eliminate the identity of a people,then push them out of the pages of history. This subtle technique isbeing used in India against the Sikh people by distorting their historyand denying their contribution to the struggle against the British. Thebook under review is a good effort to put the record straight bynarrating the valuable contributions made by the Sikhs in this regard.According to the author, the freedom-loving Punjabis started thestruggle from the day Punjab was annexed by the British in 1849. Itspecially mentions the names of those who adorn the pages of historyas pioneers of this struggle. The first freedom fighter of Punjab wasMaharani Jind Kaur, the youngest consort of Maharaja Ranjit Singh,who was a woman of extraordinary courage and determination. Atthe time of annexation of the Punjab, she was the guardian of herminor son, Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Sikh ruler. When theBritish Government in India made a suggestion to her that the Britishforces should be stationed at Lahore during the minority of MaharajaDuleep Singh, she demanded “The forces be confined to just tworegiments of infantry, one of cavalry and a battery of artillery formaintenance of Public order.” However, she was allegedly involvedin the ‘Prema conspiracy case’ which was aimed at killing of theBritish resident at Lahore and his stooge, Lal Singh, who was* Dr, # 701, Phase 2, SAS Nagar, Mohali