New Delhi, May 17, 2018: Director-General of the Border Security Force, Mr K K Sharma released ‘Discovery of Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s Pistol and his Ahimsa’, a book authored by journalist Jupinderjit Singh, in a gala ceremony at BSF Headquarters, New Delhi on Wednesday, May 16.
DG BSF appreciated painstaking efforts of Mr. Jupinderjeet Singh in locating the pistol used by Bhagat Singh in the incident of 17th Dec 1928 and of penning down the weapon’s journey encompassing the freedom struggle of India and post-independence era. Sh K K Sharma said that this book will be a good read for all age groups.
In the book, Jupinderjit has chronicled the 86 years journey of the US made .32 Colt pistol, which was used to kill British Police Officer JP Saunders on December 17, 1928. The pistol was lost in oblivion for 86 years before Journalist tracked it down in a BSF museum at Central School for Weapons and Tactics, Indore in November 2016.The book also focuses on how Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a stronger preacher of non-violence.
Jupinderjit Singh is an award winning journalist, writer and author with The Tribune and is based in Chandigarh, Punjab. He is the recipient of Prem Bhatia young journalist award for his stories and research on the “changing demography of Punjab vis-à-vis the inflow of migrants from eastern and central states to Punjab and outflow of Punjabis to western countries” in 2005. He is a Fellow with the Centre for Science and Environment on Forest Rights for the Tribal in Jammu and Kashmir
Talking about his book, Jupinderjit Singh said the pistol would not have been discovered without the total support of the BSF, which opened its doors to him for research.
“The idea of this book developed soon after I discovered the lost pistol of the great martyr in November 2016. The last written record of the pistol was in 1931 when a Lahore court handed over it to police for safe keep. As I held the gun before the BSF officers in Indore, I felt goose bumps and a lump in my throat. I was touching something which the great hero of India’s freedom struggle had carried with him,” said Jupinderjit.
This pistol .32 colt mentioned in the book is one of many treasures stored in the BSF’s trove. BSF has its proud possession since 1969 and now it is placed in the museum at Hussainiwala, Punjab for public viewing.
