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FAISALABAD/LUDHIANA: In the hostile atmosphere between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri terror attack, there is a common thread which holds people of two countries together - love for the freedom fighters. Many social and cultural organizations have come together to celebrate 109th birth anniversary of revolutionary Bhagat Singh by organizing a fair at his ancestral house in Bangay village under Jaranwala tehsil of Faislabad district on Wednesday.

The event is being organized by Punjab Lok Sujag and Kuknas, in collaboration with Punjabi Waves and Art Home Media Agency. Rizwan Safdar, one of the main organizers and regional manager of Lok Sujag, said, "This is the second time that we are organizing this event. My organization and Kuknas are civil society outfits working to promote Punjabi language and heroes of this part of the world. Bhagat Singh's struggle was beyond the boundaries of religion or country. He wanted freedom for all. Whole Jaranwala is proud of him that he fought against British imperialists and he is our hero."

As the relations between India and Pakistan turned acrimonious after the Uri Attack with clamour getting louder for war, Safdar said, "If Pakistan and India want to progress and end all evils like poverty, we must be peaceful. War is not a solution. Peace is our message. Common people don't want fight, they want peace."

The organizers said last year whole village was there to celebrate Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary and this time they were expecting around 800-1,000 people to participate in the event.

Apart from singers like Jassi Lakhpuria, Sanwal Dhillon and Aslam Lohar singing local songs, music and trailer of short film 'Swaraj', made by some of the students of Government College University, Faisalbad, would be released during the event.

Head of Kuknas Tohid Chatha said "We, the people of Lyallpur, love our history and our heroes. So we celebrate them. We salute the struggle of Bhagat Singh."

Some of the organizers said freedom fighters contributions were not area-specific but had a wider reach. Programme manager at Punjab Lok Sujag Amir Butt said, "We believe that Bhagat Singh is a true son of the soil and a freedom fighter. He didn't fight for a specific religion or region. He fought for the freedom of the subcontinent. I believe that history of any region or country is not a history of people belonging from one specific religion. State narrative needs to change now."

Makers of 'Swaraj' said it was a great honour for them that the art work of their short film was being released on Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary at his native village.

Meanwhile, Indians also appreciated the event being organized in Pakistan. "We cannot deny the fact that we have a common past. Tension between India and Pakistan will rise and fall but we do share our history and freedom fighters. It is really a good news that in this hour of rising tension between two countries, some organizations are rekindling the light of friendship," said writer Kewal Dhir, who is frequent visitor to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador.

"I must appreciate the villagers who have beautifully maintained the belongings in his native village as I had seen that during my visit there around 4-5 years ago," he added.

COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA