Meeting the long-pending demand of Sikh masses, the foundation stones of two historical gates — Darwaja Ramgarhia and Darwaja Ahluwalia — named after two great Sikh warriors, Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, would now be laid on November 12 and November 19, respectively.

The foundation stone of Darwaja Ramgarhia would be laid by Mr Harjinder Singh Thekedar, MLA and chairman, Horticulture and Forest Department, while that of Darwaja Ahluwalia would be laid by Mr Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA and chairman, Amritsar Improvement Trust. The two gates would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh each. The local Municipal Corporation had given its green signal for the construction of the gates by passing a unanimous resolution in this regard on January 17, 2003.

The two gates were believed to have been demolished after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The rich heritage was vandalised when the Sikh leadership was totally demoralised after the annexation of Punjab by the British following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Though the British administration had tried to re-construct some of the historical gates, most of the sites were named after English administrators.

A map of the Municipal Committee, Amritsar, published before the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh depicts 12 historical gates, including Darwaza Ramgarhia and Darwaza Ahluwalia. On the basis of the clues found in the two old maps of Amritsar Corporation (1849 and 1947), Mr Onkar Singh Sandhu, patron of the Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation, and his team presented to the Mayor the proof that the gates were in good condition before Partition. Moreover, history books point out that the Chattiwind and the Ghee Mandi gates were named after Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, respectively.

The two associations — Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia Federation and Sultan-ul-Quam Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Memorial Society — had joined hands for the construction of these two gates, which used to protect the city from invaders during the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Mr Onkar Singh Sandhu, patron of the Ramgarhia federation, said that thanks to the research and persistent efforts of the federation, the names of Chatiwind Gate and Gheo Mandi Gate had been changed to their original and historical names — Ramgarhia Gate and Ahluwalia Gate — as per the unanimous decision of the Municipal Corporation. He said that Mr Sunil Datti, Mayor, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, former minister and Akali leader, had also consented to participate in the event.

Mr Sandhu urged the Sikh masses to participate in the function.