ANGLO-SIKH WAR MUSEUM AT FEROZESHAH REVAMPED, OPENS TO PUBLIC

Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur

The renovated Anglo-Sikh War Museum at Ferozeshah was opened to the public on Sunday after a Rs 10-crore revamp, offering visitors a modern presentation of the Anglo-Sikh wars and the valour and sacrifices of Sikh soldiers.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who formally opened the museum, said the nearly five-decade-old memorial had been renovated to preserve its historical legacy and present it in an engaging manner for youngsters and tourists.

The three-storey museum has been designed as a continuous historical journey, divided into three sections — ‘Rise’, ‘Conflict’ and ‘Legacy’. It traces the rise of the Sikh Empire and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Anglo-Sikh wars and their aftermath.

The battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, Sobraon and Chillianwala have been presented through murals, animated maps and audio-visual displays. Three-dimensional maps and projections depict the changing political landscape, while a special presentation on the Lahore Darbar takes visitors into the era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Four historical paintings by renowned artist Kirpal Singh have been preserved and integrated into the new presentation. Works of Shah Mohammad and references from Cunningham’s ‘History of the Sikhs’ have also been incorporated.

Touch panels, information kiosks, digital displays and audio-visual content have been added to make the historical narrative more interactive and accessible.

Sond urged youngsters to visit the museum and said history should not remain confined to books but should also be experienced at historical sites.

Ferozepur Rural MLA Rajnish Kumar Dahiya said the renovated museum would emerge as an important attraction for history enthusiasts, students, researchers and tourists and further highlight the historical heritage of Ferozepur.

Ferozepur MLA Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Guruharsahai MLA Fauja Singh Sarari, AAP district president Harjinder Ghangha, Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma, Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu and SDM Ferozepur Abhishek Sharma were also present.