Ludhiana: On Friday, the nation marks the birth anniversary of Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the hero who valiantly and single-handedly defended the Srinagar Air Force Base against a Pakistani air raid during the 1971 war. Although his skill as a pilot and courage made him a legend for posterity, residents of his native Issewal village feel his legacy has been neglected.According to them, the village the Param Vir Chakra recipient belonged to deserved more. They said that despite repeated representations to authorities over the years, several demands for development remain pending. They also pointed out the absence of major infrastructure or institutions named after the country’s sole Param Vir Chakra recipient from the Indian Air Force.Among those voicing concern is Sekhon’s 42-year-old nephew, Amardeep Singh, who lives in Rajguru Nagar with his mother, Jagnandan Kaur. Amardeep is the custodian of his uncle’s Param Vir Chakra medal.Speaking to TOI, Amardeep said that while the Centre has remembered and honoured Sekhon’s sacrifice, more could be done at the state level to preserve his legacy.“Though the central govt has remembered my uncle’s sacrifice, the state govt has not done much. The village should have infrastructure named after him, but that has not been done,” he said.Former village sarpanch Gurjit Singh echoed the concerns. He said the village panchayat had repeatedly submitted a memorandum containing a list of 15 demands to authorities but there was little progress.“We have been submitting a memorandum of 15 demands to authorities concerned, but not much has been done,” he said.One of the key demands, according to Gurjit Singh, is the naming of the Govt Senior Secondary School after Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon. He said the village had passed a resolution in this regard, but it was yet to be implemented.“We passed a resolution for naming the govt senior secondary school after Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, but that has not been done till now. As a result, students don’t get necessary documents in the name of the great martyr,” he said.He added that the village deserved a visible tribute to the war hero’s memory.“The village should have something after the martyr, but it is unfortunate that this has not been done,” he said.Apart from recognition, residents also raised concerns about basic infrastructure. Gurjit Singh said the village did not receive adequate funds for development.Current sarpanch Gurpreet Singh said this was why efforts to clean the village pond had been stalled.“We started work on cleaning the village pond and contributed money on our own, but as we didn’t get funds, the work was stopped,” he said.He added that a sewerage project in the village had also been delayed.“Around 20% work related to laying of the sewerage system has been stopped for around six months due to lack of funds,” he said.According to the sarpanch, the village recently received a grant of Rs 5 lakh, but the amount is earmarked for installation of streetlights.While the sarpanch maintained that road conditions in the village were satisfactory, TOI found potholes at several locations.Responding to the concerns, AAP Halqa in-charge K N S Kang said villages, including Issewal, were receiving grants from the state govt. He also highlighted his personal connection with the martyr’s legacy.“Shaheed Nirmaljit Sekhon was my father-in-law’s roommate as he too was a pilot and we respect his sacrifices for the nation,” Kang said.He claimed that during a visit to Issewal, Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains asked the village panchayat to submit proposals for development works.“During his visit to the village, minister Harjot Singh Bains asked the village panchayat to give proposals for development works, including construction of a memorial in Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon’s name on the road outside the village, but they haven’t given it,” he said.As residents prepare to remember the war hero on his birth anniversary, many say the greatest tribute would be visible development in his native village and a stronger effort to preserve his legacy for future generations.BOX 1 | School remembers martyr, DC backs naming proposalPrincipal, Govt Senior Secondary School Bhupinder Kaur said special prayers are held every year to mark the birth anniversary of Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon. She said students are also educated about the martyr’s sacrifice and contribution to the nation. Deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain said he has taken up the matter of naming the govt school in Issewal after the martyr.BOX 2 | At Sekhon’s ‘Nanke’Residents of Rurka, the maternal village of Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, continue to honour his memory.Villagers have installed his photograph on the wall of a religious place in the village.Sukhwinder Singh, an AC repair mechanic, said: “The village is Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon‘s ‘nanka‘. We will always keep his memory alive.”Jagjit Singh, husband of village sarpanch Kamaldeep Kaur, said the village has a club named after the martyr that organises sports competitions.He added that Rurka has a high-tech sports ground and a govt high school named after Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon.“We are proud that Rurka Kalan’s name is associated with Shaheed Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon,” he said.
