ACROSS THE BORDER: Pak-based Foundation remembers Punjab’s ‘Robin Hood’ Dulla Bhatti
ACROSS THE BORDER: Pak-based Foundation remembers Punjab’s ‘Robin Hood’ Dulla Bhatti
Ferozepur/Lahore, March 26, 2024: Pakistan-based Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation, Chairman Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi along with Malik Ehtisham ul Hasan Sr.Vice Chairman, Syed Shamshad Hussain Qadri Organizing Secretary and Haroon Ahmed Rajput Executive Member visited the ‘mazaar’ of Dulla Bhatti in Lahore, on Tuesday, on 425th martyrdom anniversary and paid floral tributes and prayers with singing “Sundar mundariye, hoe! Tera kaun wichara, hoe! Dulla Bhatti walla, hoe! Dulle di dhee vyayee, hoe! Ser shakkar payee…!”, Dulla Bhatti Wala Ho!
Dulla Bhatti’s grave is situated in the historical graveyard of Miani Sahib in Lahore, the city to which Akbar moved his capital from Fatehpur Sikri during the peak of Dulla Bhatti’s rebellion against him. In Punjabi folk tradition, Dulla Bhatti’s role in rescuing innocent girls from the clutches of lecherous men is enshrined in folk poetry that is sung during the winter festival of Lohri. Dulla Bhatti is revered as the ‘Son of Punjab’ for his unparalleled bravery.
Qureshi Chairman, in his message, said, in pre-partition Punjab, Dulla Bhatti emerged as the ultimate symbol of the Punjabi culture – a Muslim landlord who fought for the honour of Brahmin girls, saving them from the Mughal emperor. He gave equal status to the poor and women community but it is very unfortunate that now the Pakistan government has forgotten him.
He said that Dulla Bhatti was a great leader of Pakistan and India. Great people like Dulla Bhatti are born after centuries. The Mughals, in the passion for power, hanged Dalla Bhatti’s father first and then his grandfather too. They were hanged and their bodies were hung on the Shahi Fort for four days to teach them a lesson. On March 26, 1589, Dulla Bhatti was also hanged in Milad Chowk, Delhi Darwaza, Lahore, for raising his voice against the Mughals. We demand from Pakistan that the incident of courage and bravery of Dulla Bhatti should be included in the educational curriculum, his commemorative stamps and coins should be issued and a beautiful tomb should be built in his memory, besides declaring a holiday on this day.
