Muzaffarnagar: Thousands of local residents gathered in Purkazi town of Muzaffarnagar on Friday night on the 87th anniversary of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom, sang patriotic songs and sought national heritage for the town’s Sooliwala Bagh.For over a century, Sooliwala Bagh in Purkazi town has been fighting for the recognition of its rich history. As the name suggests, the ill-fated Bagh witnessed hanging of over 500 people from Meerut, Shamil and Muzaffarnagar who participated in the 1857 revolt.Since the British officials wanted to make an example of those who joined the revolt, the hangings were made in public. However, despite repeated demands by local leaders and residents, the park never got a memorial for the unsung heroes.According to Baba Masita, a 102-year-old resident of Purkazi, “I clearly remember there were two stone structures in the middle of this park, which my ancestors had told me, were used to hang freedom fighters of 1857. Some 30 years ago, those structures were removed from here. Also, hundreds of trees that lined the Bagh and were used to hang the martyrs have also disappeared.”Shakeel Ahmad, a local trader whose ancestor too was hanged in Sooliwala Bagh, said, “My ancestor, Abdul Raheem Khan, who used to live in the same house where I do now, was hanged here in 1857. Hundreds of them from Shamli, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar were hanged in this Bagh.”Town’s chairman Zaheer Faruqi said, “Thousands of people who live here want the park to have a memorial and be declared as part of the town’s heritage. I will continue to fight for this.”When asked, Muzaffarnagar additional district magistrate Harish Chand said, “We know the residents want the Bagh to be declared a national heritage site. We will see what can be done.”

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