Punjab Government Constitutes Jang-E-Azaadi Foundation For Conceptualization Of Prestigious Monument
Memorial To Showcase Independence Struggle From 1849 To 1947,Concept Committee Visited Several Historic Places Related To Freedom Struggle To Seek Vital Inputs
5 Dariya News
Chandigarh 09-Aug-2012
In a bid to evolve consensus on the concept and design of the world class Jang-e-Azaadi memorial, the state Government has constituted a foundation to implement this prestigious project in a time bound manner under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the upcoming memorial would come up at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district over an area of 25 acres, to perpetuate the rich legacy of Punjabis in the Indian Independence Movement amongst the younger generations. The memorial would encompass an era of freedom struggle right from the culmination of Sikh rule in 1849 till India got freedom in 1947. The spokesperson further said that Cultural Affairs Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur would be the Deputy Chairman of the Jang-e-Azaadi foundation. The other members on the foundation would be: Cabinet Minister Madan Mohan Mittal, Members Rajya Sabha Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Naresh Gujral and Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Jathedar Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Balramji Dass Tandon (all former Ministers) and Advisor to Chief Minister Maheshinder Singh Grewal. Meanwhile, the Chief Editor of the Ajit Group of Newspapers Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard would be its Member Secretary. The spokesperson further said that apart from the foundation, the state government had already set up a ‘Concept committee’ to envisage the entire perspective plan of the Jang-e-Azaadi Memorial, to show case the supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabis in the National freedom struggle. The ‘Concept committee’ included eminent historians, academicians and intellectuals comprising Dr Kirpal Singh, Dr GS Grewal, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala Dr Jaspal Singh, Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapoor, Dr Harish Sharma, Dr KL Tuteja from Kurukshetra besides Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard. It may be recalled the ‘Concept committee’ led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal recently visited few prominent places connected with the Indian freedom movement from August 1 to 4, to seek vital inputs and information for the finalization of the concept and design of the state of the art memorial. The team visited Cellular Jail at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands where several freedom fighters were imprisoned and tortured in dungeon cells during British Imperialism, prominent amongst was the legendary Deewan Singh Kaalepani from Punjab. It also visited Mahatma Gandhi’s residence Sabarmati Ashram, now a national monument established by the Government of India, at Ahmadabad and famous Akshardham Temple at Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Later, the Committee also visited ‘Teen Murti Bhawan’ at Delhi the residence of first Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru which was nowadays a Museum depicting the saga of Indian independence movement besides visiting the hi-tech museum showcasing significant aspects related to the National freedom struggle in Parliament house. Chief Minister’s Special Principal Secretary KJS Cheema and Director Toursim and Cultural Affairs Karamjit Singh Sra also accompanied the team.