Jallianwala Bagh memorial complex renovated, PM Narendra Modi dedicates it to the nation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the renovated Jallianwala Bagh Smarak complex to the nation through video conferencing. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the museum gallery built at Smarak.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also attended the event virtually.

A wreath-laying ceremony and two minutes of silence were held to remember the martyrs of the Jallianwala massacre.

According to the project office, the museum has renovated redundant and underutilized buildings to create four new exhibition halls, which showcase the historical value of events that took place in Punjab at the time and incorporate audio-visual technology, including projection mapping and 3D presentations, as well as art and sculpture installations.

A “sound and light” show was also set up to show the events of April 13, 1919.

Several development plans have been implemented in the complex. Elaborate heritage restoration works have been carried out in sync with the local architectural style of Punjab. The Shaheedi well has been repaired and restored, and the superstructure has been redesigned. The centerpiece of the bagh, the Flame Monument, has also been repaired and restored, the water body has been restored as a lily pond, and the roads have been made wider and more navigable.

Several new modern features have been added, including redefined movement paths with proper signage, lighting at strategic points, use of native plantations for landscaping and hardscaping, and installation of audio nodes throughout the gardens, the Prime Minister’s Office said, adding that newer areas have also been developed to house the Land of Redemption, Corner Amar and the flagpole.

A sound and light show was also held to showcase the events of April 13, 1919, when British troops indiscriminately opened fire on a large peaceful protest gathering, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring hundreds more.

“Several development plans have been implemented in the complex. Elaborate heritage restoration works have been taken up in sync with the local architectural style of Punjab. The Shaheedi well has been restored and the superstructure has been redesigned. The flame monument in the centre of the bagh has also been restored, the water body has been rejuvenated as a lily pond and the roads have been made wider and more navigable,” a statement said.

Several new modern touches have been added, including redefined movement paths with appropriate signage, strategically placed lighting, use of native plantings for landscaping and hardscaping, and installation of audio nodes throughout the gardens.

Additionally, new areas were developed to house the Land of Redemption, Amar Jyoti and the Flagstaff.

The ceremony was attended by the Indian Minister of Culture, Indian Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Minister of State for Culture, Governors and Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members of Punjab, members of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust and others.

PM Modi’s speech: Highlights

• Jallianwala Bagh is the place that gave courage to numerous revolutionaries, martyrs and fighters like Sardar Udham Singh, Sardar Bhagat Singh who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of India.
• These 10 minutes on April 13, 1919 have become a legend in our struggle for freedom and it is because of it that we are celebrating the festival of freedom today. Seeing the modern look of the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence is a great inspiration for all of us.
• We have also witnessed similar massacres at Jallianwala Bagh during the Partition of India. The hard-working and lively people of Punjab were the biggest victims of the Partition. We still feel the pain of families in every corner of India, especially in Punjab, during the Partition.
• No country should ignore these horrific events in its history. Therefore, India has decided to observe August 14th every year as “Vibhajan Vibhishika Day”.
• Today, wherever in the world there are Indians in trouble, India will go all out to help them. Whether it is the COVID-19 period or the Afghan crisis, the world has experienced it all. Under Operation Rasul, hundreds of Afghans were sent to India.
• Our tribal society has contributed immensely to our freedom struggle. But it has not received due attention in history books. A museum is currently being constructed to showcase the tribal freedom fighters and their struggle in 9 states of the country.
• The nation also wants to build a national memorial to the soldiers who made great sacrifices. I am satisfied that the National War Memorial is instilling in today’s youth the spirit of defending the nation and sacrificing everything for the nation.