Bhagat Singh's jail diary to be released on Mar 23

Ferozepur, Mar 7: The manuscript of the jail diary written by Shaheed Bhagat Singh during his internment in the Central Jail, Lahore will be released for the first time in the form of a book, on March 23, to mark the day of his martyrdom.

The 400-page ''Shaheed Bhagat Singh's Jail Diary'' in running English script, will have a typed version in English facing each page, the martyr's nephew Abhay Singh told UNI here.

The book is being published by New Delhi's Hope India Publications, he said.

Mr Yadwinder Singh Sandhu and Manjula Sandhu, childern of Babbar Singh, the son of Bhagat Singh's brother Kulbir present, stated that their father and Prof (retd) K C Yadav of Kurukshetra University, had played a major part in getting the jail diary published. Mr Babbar Singh, died recently.

The martyr's kin said they had requested President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for releasing the jail diary.

Mr Abhay Singh regretted that no progress has been made in construction of the museum in martyr's memory at Khatkarkalan in Nawanshahar, the foundation stone of which had been laid by the then Punjab tourism minister Jagmohan Singh Kang on Shahid-e-Azam's birth anniversay last year. He urged the State and Central governments to ensure that the project was completed by September 28, 2007, the birth centenary of the martyr.

Mr Singh said that he planned to launch Shaheed Bhagat Singh National Brigade of young volunteers in about two months with an aim of spreading the message of nationalism throughout the nation, specially among the youth.

Ms Manjula Sandhu decried the way the films were being made in the name of her grandfather's illustrious brother and said she would take up the issue with Information and Broadcasting minister P R Dasmunsi.

''Their aim seemed just minting money by indulging in sensationalism and obscenity,'' she said, advising the Bollywood film producers to do proper research and have prior consultations with the family before launching any film connected with the life of great martyr.

UNI