New Delhi: The nation paid heartfelt tribute to freedom fighter Shaheed Nanak Singh at the Shaheed Nanak Singh Memorial Lecture held on Tuesday, with Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, delivering an impassioned keynote speech celebrating the martyr’s legacy and India’s modern achievements.
Interacted with a distinguished gathering of eminent achievers including several friends, former colleagues & members of armed forces, fellow DU and Hindu College alumni and members of media at a memorial lecture organised by Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation run by my friend, & a… pic.twitter.com/qXGBHnZI2v
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 23, 2025
His address highlighted the enduring relevance of Singh’s ideals in today’s India, especially at a time when the country continues to celebrate its diversity while navigating complex socio-political challenges. The lecture was attended by dignitaries, intellectuals, and members of civil society, reinforcing the Foundation’s mission to promote religious tolerance and patriotic service.
“I am very happy to be here because you are honouring the life of someone who was martyred before he could see India independent,” said Minister Puri, reflecting on Singh’s bravery. “He was a part of the British police and he refused to obey an order when he was asked to shoot on his own people. Now that in itself is a very great thing.”
Puri highlighted Nanak Singh’s pivotal role in defending Indian National Army (INA) members in court and ultimately sacrificing his life on March 5, 1947, while saving thousands of students at D.A.V. College, Multan. His widow was left behind at just 35, raising eight children—five of whom went on to serve in the Indian Armed Forces. Among his descendants is Lord Rami Ranger, a distinguished member of the UK’s House of Lords.
“These are inspirational stories,” Puri noted. “Today if India is going from the 5th to the 3rd largest economy in the world, it’s those sacrifices that need to be recalled and celebrated.”
The Minister used the occasion to provide a sweeping overview of India’s transformation across sectors under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Sharing his own journey in various portfolios—including housing, civil aviation, commerce, and now petroleum—Puri emphasized the scale and ambition of infrastructure and energy reforms.
“Today Delhi Metro carries 7.5 million passengers daily. India now has the third-largest metro network in the world, ahead of Japan and the UK, and we are on track to overtake the U.S. soon,” he said.
He also spotlighted the expansion of civil aviation, noting that Uttar Pradesh now boasts six international airports, with more in the pipeline. “Every state wants an international airport today. That’s how civil aviation is growing.”
Touching on energy sustainability, Puri recounted India’s leap in biofuel blending, which rose from 1.4% in 2014 to 20%—achieving the 2030 target six years ahead of schedule. “When I became petroleum minister in 2021, I wondered how we’d even meet 10%,” he said. “We did it five months early.”
He closed with a nod to India’s future, marked by advances in EVs and smart mobility. “At the Bharat Mobility event, 17 electric and hybrid vehicle models were ready for market launch—this isn’t six years down the line. It’s happening now.”
As the nation celebrates its economic rise, Puri reminded the audience that it was the courage and sacrifice of heroes like Shaheed Nanak Singh that laid the foundation for this progress.
“It was a great honour that the Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation invited me to deliver this year’s lecture,” he concluded. “These are real-life stories of how people contributed to the development of this country.”
