Freedom fighter’s family gets help, too late, too little

Families of the martyrs who laid their life for the country are leading uncared and poor lives, ignored by the State and even the people.
Grand son of the national hero, Shaheed-e-Azam Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O Dwyer, Governor of Punjab when the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre was ordered in 1919, is living the life of a labourer earning meager amounts for his daily bread.
Till this day, Jeet Singh, grand son of Udham Singh, alonwith his family, is surviving on wages that he earns working at private construction sites in Sangrur district, carrying bricks on his head.
Promised help by former President Gaini Zail Singh besides a host of politicians and chief ministers of Punjab, Jeet had not found his fortune change. He was living a life in utter poverty and neglect.
But for writer, Shivnath Jha, who has written an explosive yet simple book, ‘Forgotten Indian Heroes and Martyrs: Their Neglected Descendants’, it was a sordid tale that brought tears to his eyes.
“I was really moved seeing Jeet Singh working as a labourer. When I set out in search for the families of our freedom fighters, I had never imagined that I would see this. As an Indian I felt ashamed that the families of the martyrs were so neglected,” says Jha at the launch of his untiring effort.
“I traveled from Mumbai to Punjab like a beggar. I had no money and yet I carried on. My life was like that of a dog. Have we stopped caring? Today, when I look back, I feel that India has really not cared about the families of the martyrs,” Jha said with tears rolling down. From a newspaper boy to a writer, Jha has come a long way as he penned his book.
However, Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda, moved by the plight of the families donated Rs 11 lakh to Jeet Singh.
Senior journalist Ajay Jha, who wrote the preface of the book says, “I hope people of the country and the government of India wake up to help the families of the martyrs and heroes.”
Jeet Singh, accepting the cheque from Darda, said, “I am thankful to all and specially Jha and Darda for helping us out. I have hope and will not have to work as a labourer to make my ends meet.”