The memorial was inaugurated in November 2011

MOHALI: The tallest ‘Minar’ of India, Fateh Burj, at Chappar Chiri village off Mohali commemorates Sikh leader Baba Banda Singh Bahadur historic victory over the Mughal army. The battle paved the way for establishing of Sikh misls (groups) and the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1799.

The Fateh Burj, a 328-ft (100 m) tower memorial to brave Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and the lone heritage monument in Mohali, is in a state of disrepair today. The memorial was inaugurated in November 2011 by then Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, but with the passage of time, the grand victory tower has been forgotten. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority’s still hasn’t set up a lift in the tower, even though it was part of the plan.

The Burj marks three battle wins: one in Samana at 67 feet, at Sadhaura at 117 feet and that in Chappar Chiri at 220 feet.

The 20-acre memorial also comprises six mounds with statues of Banda Singh Bahadur and his five generals atop, and these too appear to be losing their shine.

It is tough for the visitors to get to the memorial. The Burj is in a bad shape, the road encircling the memorial has become non-motorable and the lone road leading to the village -- used by commuters travelling to Kharar from Mohali -- is in a rundown state while the one leading to the memorial is pothole-ridden.

Chappar Chiri village is located along the Kharar-Banur Road, now named Banda Singh Bahadur road. Located few kilometres from Landran and 20 km from Sirhind, the village has 50-60 houses and 1000 inhabitants.

Sudhir Sharma, an employee of a private company in Mohali, rues that the Mohali administration has failed to repair the road despite repeated requests from villagers.

A panchayat committee comprising Balwant Singh, Dalip Singh, Zora Singh, Prem Singh, Daljit Singh, Harnek Singh and a few others run the village gurdwara. Zora Singh and Prem Singh say, “The previous government set up the memorial here, giving a fillip to our village, but the present regime is paying no heed to Sikh history and culture. The memorial is dying a slow death.”

