India, Jan. 14 -- Founded in the 14th century by Ferozeshah Tughlaq, the city of Ferozepur holds historical significance for India, and a personal resonance for my family. Once a vital base for the British military's North West Frontier campaigns, it remains a sanctuary of memory.

Hussainiwala on the banks of the Sutlej near the Pakistan border is the final resting place of three young martyrs of our freedom struggle: Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev. Nearby, the Saragarhi Memorial Gurdwara was built in 1904 in memory of the 21 Sikh soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikh) who went down fighting thousands of Afghan tribesmen in defence of Fort Saragarhi in Waziristan in 1897.

The quaint cantonment was set up in 1839 when Captain HM Lawrenc...