10 yrs after he brought glory: Roundabout with Ishmeet Singh’s trophy inaugurated in Ludhiana
The trophy’s replica made of fibre has been placed in coordination with Ludhiana Municipal Corporation by the company, Avon Cycles, who has spent Rs 1.5 lakh on it
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Gurpinder Singh, father of Voice of India’s first winner Ishmeet Singh, at the chowk built in his name in Ludhiana. Gurmeet Singh
IT WAS on November 24, 2007, that a young man, Ishmeet Singh, aged 19, had brought nationwide glory for Punjab, especially Ludhiana, winning the title of Voice of India. However, the euphoria was shortlived as his death in the Maldives on July 29, 2008, shook the entire nation and his parents were left in a trauma. Then chief minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, had announced to name and develop a roundabout at Shastri Nagar of Ludhiana in Ishmeet’s memory at his bhog ceremony.
Even as the Shashtri Nagar Chowk since then is known as Ishmeet Singh Chowk, it was on Friday, exactly a decade after he won the title that a replica of his trophy was placed and inaugurated at the well-furnished chowk, now formally named in his memory.
The trophy’s replica made of fibre has been placed in coordination with Ludhiana Municipal Corporation by the company, Avon Cycles, who has spent Rs 1.5 lakh on it.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Gurpinder Singh (60), Ishmeet’s father, said his son has finally received the due honour and place in the heart of Ludhiana city. “We always wanted that a memorial or any physical symbol should be there in Ludhiana to immortalise him. It was during his bhog ceremony that former CM Parkash Singh Badal had announced that Shastri Nagar Chowk will be renovated and named after him. It is after a decade now that his trophy’s replica has been placed there. We are really happy.”
The proposal to place a replica of the trohpy and renovate the chowk was moved a few months back and the father had also accompanied Avon Cycles representatives to meet MC officials. “Since his win was completing a decade this year, we wanted to do this at any cost. It was already too late. There wasn’t a better time for it than now as his victory completed 10 years,” said the father, adding that former CM Badal had also announced that the government would celebrate Ishmeet’s birthday on September 2 every year. “It happened for one year after his death but never again. Now, if we try to do it on our own and look for sponsors, people would think we are collecting money using our son’s name. So, we would request the government to observe his birth anniversary and help us in this,” said Gurpinder.
Till date, Ishmeet’s death remains an unsolved mystery. His body was found floating in the swimming pool of a hotel in Maldives. The family had also demanded a CBI probe in the case. “We have not received any clarity till date on how our son died and if he was killed,” said the father.
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