2074 Jalandhar, February 15 While expressing support and solidarity with the ongoing farmers protest all over the country, Professor Chaman Lal, Honorary Adviser, Bhagat Singh Archives, Delhi, has urged the farmers’ organisations and people in general to celebrate the 140th birth anniversary of great freedom fighter and peasant leader Sardar Ajit Singh on February 23, by declaring it a ‘Kisan Day’ and holding memorial meetings, lectures and processions and focusing on farmers demands to mark the day. Sardar Ajit Singh, uncle of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, was born on February 23rd, 1881 at Khatkar Kalan village, in a family of freedom fighters. Chaman Lal, who retired as a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said, Ajit Singh’s grandfather Fateh Singh was a part of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army and continuing the tradition, all three brothers Kishan Singh, Ajit Singh and Swarn Singh were a part of the freedom struggle, all suffering long jail terms and Ajit Singh remained exiled for 38 years and had returned to India only in March 1947 at the invitation of interim Prime Minister of India-Jawahar Lal Nehru. “Ajit Singh was known as a fiery peasant leader due to 1907 Pagdi Sambhal Jatta movement of farmers of Punjab against three black laws of that time and was sent on an exile first to Mandalay in Burma along with Lala Lajpat Rai and then to South America and other countries. Due to his powerful speeches, in 1907, all three black laws were withdrawn by the colonial government. The farmers’ movement of 2020-21 against present three black anti-farmer laws is inspired by Ajit Singh’s earlier 1907 Pagdi Sambhal Jatta movement. It will be an appropriate tribute to the great patriot and peasant leader by the farmers in organising various events on the day,” he said, adding that the Punjab Government should also organise events in schools, colleges and universities and declare the day as Kisan Day. TNS