Every VIP who comes does this puja. Sherpur hasn't gained much from the pujas. And class, caste, time and commerce colour the memories of the heroic sacrifice of its eight sons. But there could be as many as ten martyrs memorial committees. Some of these run diverse institutions with official grants.
Promises do accompany the pujas.
One of these means that Sherpur, a big village of nearly 21,000 people, can look forward to a women's degree college. But since nearly four out of every five women here are illiterate, locals may be forgiven a certain lack of enthusiasm at the idea. How you answer those questions depends on your social and economic status. All the eight martyrs officially recognised were Bhumihars. Their courage in the face of British terror was inspiring.