CHANDIGARH JUNE 12:Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal held a marathon discussions with noted historians, intellectuals, academicians and Sikh scholars to solicit their views on the concept and design of the world class Freedom Martyrs’ Memorial (Jang-e-Azadi) to come up at Kartarpur, in commemoration of the remarkable contribution made by the freedom fighters of the country in general and Punjabis in particular during the nation’s freedom struggle.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the CMO said that a meeting to this effect was held at official residence of Mr. Badal on Monday to discuss the conceptual design and other modalities related to the planning and construction of state-of-the-art memorial, which lasted about three hours.
It may be recalled that the state government had already allotted 20 acres of land to set up this historic memorial at Kartarpur on Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway.
Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal said that this prestigious monument has been planned to showcase the rich legacy and the exemplary valor displayed by the countless freedom fighters, patriots and martyrs from Punjab during the Indian independence movement. The upcoming memorial, he said would play a vital role and act as a beacon to acquaint our younger generations about the saga of great sacrifices made by our martyrs especially from Punjab to free their motherland from the yoke of British imperialism.
Mr. Badal sought the views from the participants in the meeting to develop this world class memorial in such a manner to make it a perfect blend of grandeur, aesthetics and architecture. He asked the Director Cultural Affairs to invite a panel of world renowned architects and consultants so that this classic memorial of utmost historical significance and immense emotive value especially to Punjabis could come on the ground at the earliest in order to pay befitting tributes to several unsung heroes of national freedom struggle. He urged the historians and scholars present in the meeting to give their free and frank suggestions after deep insight into the annals of Indian history of independence. He also invited vital inputs from various intellectuals and academicians which would be incorporated in the conceptual design of the memorial before its finalization.
The Chief Minister also underscored the need to execute this entire project in a time bound manner right from its conception to completion so that the supreme and unparalleled sacrifices made by the martyrs of the freedom struggle could be showcased in a proper perspective.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Tourism & Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Managing Editor Ajit Group of Newspapers Dr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala Dr. Jaspal Singh, eminent Sikh historian Prof. Kirpal Singh, former professor of Political Science GNDU Amritsar Dr.Harish Puri, former Pro-VC GNDU Amritsar and Sikh historian Dr. Prithipal Singh Kapur and Sikh intellectual Dr. JS Grewal besides Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Chief Minister’s former Media Advisor Mr. Harcharan Bains, Director Cultural Affairs Dr. KS Sra.
