The majestic haveli at the border village of Narli where Shaheed Bhagat Singh took shelter many times.

The revenue record, which shows some agricultural land in the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, historical documents like “Buried alive” - an autobiography of Sardar Ajit Singh (his paternal uncle) and history narrated by village elders establishes beyond doubt that Narli - a border village on zero line belongs to his (Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s) ancestors, who later shifted to Khatkal Kalan in Nawanshahr district.

A visit to the border village revealed that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a frequent visitor to his ancestral place and used to take shelter during his underground life. The village is strategically located, a few kilometres from Lahore. Bibi Paritam Kaur (85), a resident of the village, claimed that she had a chance to see Bhagat Singh when he visited Narli, a couple of years before his hanging.

However, due to ignorance neither the state government nor the Centre has included the village for organising any function to mark the centenary celebrations of the great martyr, which will start from September 27.

A resident of this village, Shavinder Singh Sandhu, gave a copy of the revenue record showing 6 kanals of agricultural land in the name of the martyr. Principal of Springdale School Manveen Sandhu says that the historical evidence reveals that the residents of this village were “cultured, well educated and peace-loving people” but they always fought against foreign invaders.

In the chapter “Ancestry and early life”, Sardar Ajit Singh wrote, “A member of the family of my ancestors who lived in the district of Lahore (now Tarn Taran) in a village called Narli during the Mughal period…” However, the ancestor left his village in his youth for the purpose of carrying the ashes of the members of the family cremated at Narli to Hardwar. On his way he reached a big fortress of a feudal chief (now Khatkal Kalan) and spent a night there. The young man got married to the daughter of a feudal lord and settled there. “It is from this couple that our family descends,” writes Sardar Ajit Singh.

Narli is a village dominated by Sandhus - the clan of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Notwithstanding the official indifference, S.S.Sandhu and his wife Manveen Sandhu have decided to arrange a light and sound show directed by Kewal Dhaliwal in the majestic haveli of Narli, which was frequented by Shaheed Bhagat Singh. This magnificent structure belongs to five brothers Heera Singh, Hari Singh, Dheera Singh, Darbara Singh and Hazara Singh.

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