Punjab seeks UK help to access Bhagat Singh trial archives

The Punjab government has approached the United Kingdom seeking access to archival material related to the trial proceedings of freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his associates , Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said.

In a letter dated January 9 to British Deputy High Commissioner Alba Smeriglio , Mann requested assistance in procuring films, tapes and other archival documentation linked to the trials of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar and Shaheed Shivaram Hari Rajguru . The chief minister said it has been learnt that original audio and video recordings, along with related legal records, are currently held by authorities in Scotland and preserved in a museum or institution that maintains historical legal archives from the colonial period.

The chief minister noted that the records hold “profound historical and emotional significance” for the people of Punjab and for scholars of history and human rights worldwide. He said the documents provide first-hand evidence of the colonial justice system and the conduct of the trials, enabling historians to examine the fairness of British-era laws and legal procedures. Mann added that the material also has strong educational value, allowing authentic documentation of the freedom struggle to be preserved, studied and showcased for future generations, while reinforcing India’s collective historical memory and national heritage.

The Punjab government has sought copies of the archival material for academic research, digital preservation and public exhibition at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Heritage Complex in Khatkar Kalan, in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district . According to Mann, making these records accessible to the public would deepen understanding of the freedom movement and the sacrifices made by its revolutionaries.

The UK is being urged to return or share such materials as they form a vital part of India’s heritage and historical memory. Access to these records allows a fair re-examination of colonial-era trials, honors the sacrifices of revolutionaries, and provides valuable resources for researchers, students, and public exhibitions. Sharing such material also reflects global principles of historical justice, cultural cooperation, and respect for universal values of justice and human dignity.

Appealing to what he described as the “universal ideals of justice, sacrifice and human dignity” , the Aam Aadmi Party leader urged British authorities to facilitate the sharing of the material in a spirit of historical responsibility and cooperation.

Bhagat Singh was executed at the age of 23 on March 23, 1931, along with Sukhdev and Rajguru , for the murder of British police officer John Saunders in the case known as the Lahore conspiracy case . Their execution remains one of the most significant and emotive episodes of India’s freedom struggle.