The 20th Veerangana Balidan Mela will be inaugurated on Monday. The Mela will be inaugurated with the institution of the Martyrs’ Torch which will be brought from Jhansi. The birthday of Rani Laxmi Bhai, the Queen of Jhansi is observed as Martyrs’ Day in the region.
Speaking to the media persons, Jaybhan Singh Pawaiya, former cabinet minister and the founder of the Mela said that the sacrifices of the martyrs will not go in vain and added that the Veerangana Balidan Mela is an occasion to honour those who gave their lives for the country.
Pawaiya said that a kavi sammelan as well as a symposium on the life and struggles of Rani Laxmi Bhai will be held during the two day Mela.
He added that relatives of martyrs from the region will be honoured and presented with National Veerangana Samman. Participants of the kavi sammelan to be held on the June 18, include Surendra Dubey from Raipur, Soma Takkur from Agra, Vinit Chauhan from Alwar, Bajpai from Lucknow and Shambhu Shikkar from Delhi.
Pawaiya further said that this year’s National Veerangana
Award will be given to Sunita Godara, the gold medal winner of the 1992 Asian Games.