Ferozepur: Punjab observed the 80th Independence Day with ceremonies across the state, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann leading the celebrations in Ferozepur and paying tribute to the region’s deep connection with India’s freedom movement and the Partition.
Mann unfurled the national flag at the Cantonment Board Stadium in Ferozepur after visiting the Martyrs’ Memorial at Hussainiwala with his wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said Punjab had made an extraordinary contribution to India’s freedom struggle but also endured one of the worst consequences of the Partition.
Mann recalls Punjab’s Partition trauma
Speaking about the events of 1947, Mann said Punjabis bore a particularly heavy burden during Partition, when an estimated one million people lost their lives.
He described Partition as more than the division of territory, saying it also separated families, memories and communities. The Chief Minister noted that the emotional connection with places of historical and religious significance across the border continues to remain strong among Punjabis.
He said the sacrifices made by Punjab’s people during the freedom movement remain a source of pride and continue to inspire the fight against injustice and oppression.
Tribute to Saragarhi heroes
The Chief Minister also remembered the 21 Sikh soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Saragarhi.
Mann said Ferozepur occupies a significant place in India’s history of sacrifice and resistance. He pointed to the presence of Gurudwara Saragarhi as a reminder of the soldiers who laid down their lives in the battle.
He also paid tribute to freedom fighters associated with the region and saluted residents living in Punjab’s border areas for their resilience and service to the nation.
Rs 25-crore memorial complex at Hussainiwala
Mann said a martyrdom complex costing ₹25 crore is being developed at Hussainiwala as a tribute to those who made sacrifices for the country.
The Chief Minister said preserving the memory of martyrs was essential to ensuring that younger generations remain connected with the country’s history and the sacrifices that shaped independent India.
25 police personnel to be honoured
As part of the Independence Day programme, 25 police personnel are also set to be recognised for acts of bravery and meritorious service.
The honours are aimed at acknowledging the contribution of police personnel who have demonstrated courage and commitment in the line of duty.
‘Vande Mataram’ at state government function
Another feature of the day’s celebrations was the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ at a Punjab government Independence Day function, marking its first such inclusion at the state’s official ceremony on the occasion.
Celebrations held across Punjab
Independence Day programmes were organised at different locations across the state.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema hoisted the national flag in Ludhiana, while Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria led the celebrations in Chandigarh.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak unfurled the Tricolour in Pathankot, while Minister Mohinder Bhagat presided over the Independence Day function in Jalandhar.
PM Modi highlights Ludhiana’s industrial potential
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, referred to Ludhiana while speaking about India’s manufacturing ambitions.
PM Modi called on the country’s MSME sector to use India’s expanding access to global markets and focus on producing goods that can compete internationally.
The reference placed Punjab’s industrial hub in the broader national conversation around manufacturing, exports and the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
For Punjab, however, the day’s central message remained closely tied to its historical legacy, with tributes at Hussainiwala and references to the freedom struggle, Partition and the sacrifices of soldiers and martyrs shaping the state’s Independence Day observances.
