Well-known Historians, Professors and Researchers from Delhi and across Haryana asserted in one voice that 1857 Revolt was first started in Ambala and history also has irrefutable proof of it.
- Chandigarh, March 3: Well-known Historians, Professors and Researchers from Delhi and across Haryana asserted in one voice that 1857 Revolt was first started in Ambala and history also has irrefutable proof of it.
- These famous historians made this claim during a meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijai Vardhan regarding the construction of War Memorial to be built in Ambala Cantonment here today.
- During the meeting, famous historians including Dr. K.C. Yadav, former Head of Department Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Smt. Neera Mishra, Chairperson, Draupadi Dream Trust, New Delhi, Professor Arun Kesarwani, Former Head, Department, Ancient History Kurukshetra University, Dr. Udai Veer, former head of department SD college Ambala Cantt., who is presently doing research on Ambala’s history, Dr. Jaiveer Dhankar, Head of Department, History Department, MDU Rohtak, Professor Maha Singh Poonia, Director Youth and Cultural Affairs, Incharge, Museum, Kurukshetra University many historians working on the history of Haryana echoed the same sentiment that the 1857 Revolt broke out in Ambala first.
- Construction of this Shaheedi Smarak which is being built under the guidance of Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal was also an year long pending demand of the Home Minister; Sh. Anil Vij.
- A whopping amount of Rs. 200 crore would be spent on the construction of Shaheedi Smarak that is being developed on an area of 22 acres in Ambala.
- The first of its kind Shaheedi Smarak in the country would display information about the freedom struggle that started from Ambala and the martyrdom of Bahadur Shah Zafar in Rangoon. Besides this, a museum displaying the history of those who laid their lives in the country’s freedom struggle will be displayed in an open-air theatre, having capacity to seat around 2500 persons.
- Divulging more details, Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal gave detailed information about the war memorial during the meeting. A 210-foot-high and 13-story memorial towers would be built inside this Shaheedi Smarak along with a 20-feet-height wall on which the names of the warriors of 1857 Revolt will be mentioned.
- “The details of this revolution will also be displayed in the six parks to be developed in this Shaheedi Smarak. Apart from this, there will be shops, halls, food stalls behind the open-air theater, VIP lounge in IC building with exhibition site, children’s corner, book store along with modern lifts in the museum building. In addition, the open theatre located in the auditorium will house different types of fountains, water curtains as well as two platforms and other seating arrangements. A spacious car parking and helipad are also being built.
- Dr. Udai Veer said that the first battle of independence, started on May 10, 1857 had already broken out in Ambala about 9 hours before Meerut and other states. Evidence of this is found in many places in history. Dr. Jaiveer Dhankar said that setting up of Shaheedi Smarak is an important vision of the State Government, which will play a crucial role for future generations. Professor Maha Singh Poonia said that the construction of this Shaheedi Smarak is a revolutionary step and one should try to connect it with the culture of Haryana as well.
- Dr. K.C. Yadav who had participated in the meeting through video-conferencing said that this Smarak would be a true tribute to the martyrs of Haryana. Through this, the coming generations would get detailed information about the revolution of 1857.
- He said that the East India Company had posed their right on Haryana from December 30, 1803. A collective description of the freedom struggle and the struggle of 1857 revolt which began from Ambala would be depicted through Light and Sound in this Shaheedi Smarak. It is really a commendable task to showcase the role of the heroes in the freedom struggle of Haryana along with the war warriors like Rani of Jhansi, Tantia Tope and Mangal Pandey etc.
- Smt. Neera Mishra said that in the revolution of 1857, Ambala has a very important place. During the freedom revolt, the lotus flower and roti (Indian flat-bread) also holds a very unique significance as it helped the revolutionaries to get information about the future plans of their enemies.
- Professor Arun Kesarwani said that this War Memorial is the soul of Ambala and the library being built inside this War Memorial would play a pivotal role in inspiring youth.
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