Gurgaon, Sep 23 (IANS): Tributes were paid Tuesday to Rao Tula Ram, a freedom fighter of India's first war of independence in 1857, whose death anniversary Sep 23 is observed as "Haryana Veer and Shaheedi Divas", an official said.

The day was observed with patriotic fervour here. A programme was organised at the war memorial situated in the premises of Swatantarta Senani Bhawan (John Hall) on Civil Lines road.

The Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Vidyarthi, along with other district officials, freedom fighters and retired army personnel, laid wreaths and paid floral tributes to martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle and afterwards while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the nation.

Rao Tula ram fought a war against the British at Nasibpur near Narnaul in what is now south Haryana, where he was defeated and shifted to Afghanistan.

He died Sep 23, 1863 in Afghanistan.

Shekhar Vidyarthi said that Rao wanted to wage war against the British by external help, but his dream could not be materialized due to his untimely death.

"Haryanvis were brave; not only in freedom struggle but afterwards also. A number of soldiers sacrificed their lives for the sake of unity of the country. In Kargil war alone, the number of martyrs from Haryana was 80 which was maximum from a single state in the country," Vidyarthi asserted.

Union Minister for State Rao Inderjeet Singh is the great grandson of Rao Tula Ram.