CHANDIGARH: A first of its kind grand memorial, “Azadi Ki Pehli Ladai Ka Shaheedi Samark” dedicated to the heroes of the First War of Independence (1857) is nearing completion near Ambala Cantonment of Haryana, to showcase the story of India’s freedom struggle to the future generations.
Spread over 22 acres, this Rs 500-crore project will showcase the bravery of the freedom fighters who had fought against British rule, taking the visitors 168 years back, providing them with a glimpse of India’s history.
Officials have kept 10 May as the deadline to complete this project, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the memorial on Independence Day.
Set up along the Delhi-Chandigarh NH44—60 km from Chandigarh—this memorial will feature a 150-foot-high tower, a museum, a library, an audio-visual gallery, an open-air theatre with a seating capacity of 3,000 people. Besides, it will also have an exhibition hall, a children’s park, a cafeteria, a food court and a parking facility for 400 vehicles. The war memorial will showcase the events of the 1857 war through short films, paintings, historical artifacts, and statues of freedom fighters.
Besides rail connectivity, the memorial will also have a helipad for VVIP visitors. The officials said that a musical fountain and light-and-sound shows will be major attractions, bringing history to life for visitors and it will open every evening.
Recently, Haryana Power and Transport Minister Anil Vij, who is also the local MLA, issued strict directions to officials to speed up the final work to ensure timely completion.
He emphasized that this project is a true tribute to India’s unsung heroes, whose sacrifices will be remembered for generations.
Kuldeep Saini, the director of the memorial, expressed his confidence that the project will be completed as per schedule for Prime Minister Modi to dedicate it to the public on 15 August.
Chandigarh-based architect Renu Khanna, who has designed the Multipurpose Cultural Complex in Prayagraj and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial in Mohali, has designed this memorial. “I started work on this project in 2016. The biggest challenge for us was to deal with the land as it was a dumping ground and there was no drainage system. The memorial has been recreated on the architecture theme of 1857 so that it could take the visitors to that era”, Khanna said and added that the architecture of the memorial is inspired by the appearance of a lotus and a chappati (bread), which were historically used as communication tools among warriors to convey messages. “The memorial will feature a two-acre water body and has been designed in the shape of a lotus,” she added.
The names of many unsung heroes, along with their weapons, uniforms, and communication tools used during the rebellion, will be displayed. She said that memorial has been designed for the people of all age groups and golf carts would be provided to visitors who are unable to walk. It will also have boating facility for visitors. The reflection of the lotus will be created in the water with the help of synchronized lighting and every evening there will be a sound and light show with projections on a screen of 40 feet height.
Officials from the Haryana Public Works Department (PWD) have confirmed that the project is 90% complete, and the government has approved the tender for the final artwork and work is progressing on a war footing.
According to officials the memorial will be India’s largest covered structure as a symbol
“This is Asia’s largest memorial and would be the first-of-its-kind in the country. One of the key highlights of this memorial is a specially designed room that can accommodate 40 people at a time, elevating visitors via a hydraulic lift while showcasing a film about the war heroes giving a unique experience. A similar concept has been implemented at a memorial in Dubai”, added Saini.