The move comes amid suggestions to commemorate 300 years of the sacrifice of the Khalsa on a scale similar to the one designed for the celebrations of its birth at Anandpur Sahib. Since, the historic Chamkaur Sahib battle had claimed the lives of two elder sons of Guru Gobind Singh- Ajit Singh and Jorawar Singh in 1704, the authorities are considering holding a series of events to mark the tercentenary of martyrdom in 2004.

The battle had also witnessed the sacrifice of 40 Sikhs of the Guru following which Gobind Singh had to leave Chamkaur for more suffering in exile. As a first step to mark the beginning of the tercentenary of martyrdom, the administration has decided to revive the defunct Chamkaur Sahib Development Board on the lines of the Anandpur Sahib Urban Development Authority (ASUDA).

The board, which was formed in the early 70s was shelved in 1977 on technical grounds. With the Akali government set to commemorate the event, the board is now being reactivated and aims to bring infrastructure development in the town.

Highly placed sources in the administration disclosed that the names of six important citizens have been proposed to manage the affairs of the Board, which aims at the upgradation of the telecom service coupled with widening of roads in the area. However, a massive urbanisation of Chamkaur Sahib is ruled out.

Only recently, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had assured a development package for the Chamkaur Sahib area in the coming years. While addressing a public rally at Boormajra village near here last weak, the Chief Minister had also offered Rs 10 lakh for the town from his discretionary quota of funds.

The Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Sidhu disclosed that the members of the ruling party from the Chamkaur Sahib area have been pressing for such a programme. Confirming that the development board is being activiated on the demands pouring in from several quarters, he added "The sacrifice of the Khalsa is as important as its birth".

Realizing the senstivity of the event, he said, the package is imminent. He added "Chamkaur Sahib battle reflects the sacrifice of the two sons for the mission of their father. Very few of us know that it was Guru Gobind Singh's 38th birthday' when his sons died". Terming it as a "rarest of rare" birthday presents by the sons, Sidhu said," A series of functions are being planned to commemorate the events".

Even though the authorities are yet to decide the nature of such functions, political leaders and scholars of the area are more specific in their demands.

Singnificantly, the Chamkaur Sahib MLA Satwant Kaur Sandhu, had raised a demand for Tehsil status for the area at the Boorurajra public rally. This, according to many in the political circles, stems from a feeling of alienation among the Chamkaur residents.

`` The collective view is that why not Chamkaur Sahib be developed on the lines of Anandpur Sahib,'' a retired college Principal B.S. Watni explained. Watni, has been spearheading a campaign for a World Sikh University in the area.

Resolutions by several panchayats were sent to the SGPC What has happened to those resolutions, is anybody's guess", Wani lamented.

, adding `` Sikh history would have met a different fate in case the Guru's teachings were not experimented in Chamkaur Sahib."