Jallianwala Bagh Anniversary: The tragic massacre at Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh, which shocked India and the entire world, occurred 104 years ago on Thursday, April 13. On this date in 1919, British Indian Army soldiers under Colonel Reginald Dyer’s command opened fire on non-violent protesters opposing the Rowlatt Act, which gave the British the authority to detain anyone without a trial. Numerous hundreds of people were killed and numerous others were hurt, especially Baisakhi pilgrims. In India’s fight for independence, the episode marked a turning point.
Area close to the Golden Temple grounds was transformed into a memorial
Following independence, the area close to the Golden Temple grounds was transformed into a memorial, which first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad opened. The monument maintained the locations on the walls where British soldiers’ bullets had left puncture marks. Also preserved was the dry well where victims tried to flee the gunfire but perished in the process. With time, several written and visual depictions of the massacre’s course emerged.
Memorial has daily drawn tens of thousands of visitors
From the inception, the memorial has daily drawn tens of thousands of visitors. The building was refurbished by the Indian government in 2021, and on August 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also serves as the head of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust, effectively opened the complex. But many people complained that the remodelling lost the building’s original appearance and voiced a lot of criticism.
Gurjeet Singh Aujla advised against remodelling in order to preserve historical significance
The Modi Government should have taken extra care when renovating the ancient site, according to Amritsar’s Lok Sabha representative Gurjeet Singh Aujla. He advised against remodelling in order to preserve historical significance. “New structures have sprouted up nearby. To preserve its vintage appearance, this memorial should have undergone renovations. I favour remodelling. We favour preservation over modification of the memorial. Citing examples of monument restorations around the world, the MP continued, “When they restore monuments abroad, the restoration work takes several years, and those buildings are able to survive bad weather. They completely altered the appearance here.
Must Read: Prime Minister Modi to Hand Out 71000 Appointment Letters at the Rozgar Mela Today
I don’t know what has been removed, It appears really nice to me- Amarinder Singh
Around the “martyrs well,” a freshly created building was built, and fresh murals were hung on either side of the small opening. The revisions drew varied responses from the public, with some criticising them as an instance of “erasing history” and involving politicians and historians in their criticism. Captain Amarinder Singh, the current BJP leader and former chief minister of Punjab, has justified the redesign in 2021 by stating, “I don’t know what has been removed. It appears really nice to me.”
Must Read:Atiq Ahmed’s Son Asad Ahmad and another gangster Ghulam Killed in UPSTF High-Stakes Encounter
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER.
