*Ambala is a Sacred Land: The First War of Independence in 1857 Was Heralded Here, and We Should Be Proud of It: Energy Minister Anil Vij*

*I met Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah, briefed him about the Azadi ki Pehli Ladai ka Shaheed Smarak-1857 and showed him around; he greatly appreciated the memorial: Anil Vij*

*A city progresses when people come to visit it from outside; Ambala Cantonment is now set to emerge as a tourism hub: Anil Vij*

*I have been raising the demand for a martyrs’ memorial for nearly three decades; this is Asia’s largest memorial: Vij*

Chandigarh, November 1 — Haryana’s Energy, Transport and Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that Ambala is a sacred land where the first War of Independence was heralded on May 10, 1857. He said that soldiers of the 5th and 60th Native Infantry in Ambala took up arms against the British for freedom nine hours before the uprising began in Meerut. The First War of Independence began in Ambala before it spread elsewhere in the country, and everyone should take pride in this historic legacy.

Shri Vij was addressing a large gathering of BJP workers and members of the public at BPS Planetarium, Ambala Cantonment, regarding preparations for the inauguration of the memorial dedicated to the First War of Independence of 1857. The memorial will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah on November 5. During the programme, a five-minute short film about the Martyrs’ Memorial was also screened for the gathering.

He said that Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah may arrive at the memorial by helicopter on November 5, as a helipad has also been constructed at the site. He urged party workers to participate in large numbers in the programme to be held at Gandhi Ground on November 5.

Sh. Vij said that he had met Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah the previous day and briefed him about the memorial, showing him what had been created at the site. He added that Sh. Amit Shah had greatly appreciated the memorial.

The Energy Minister said that this is a national memorial dedicated to the First War of Independence of 1857, and there is no other memorial of this kind anywhere in the country that incorporates such advanced technology. A committee of renowned historians from across the country was also constituted to guide the development of the memorial.

*Ambala Cantonment is set to become a tourism hub; cities progress when visitors come from outside: Energy Minister Anil Vij*

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that Ambala Cantonment is now poised to become a tourism hub, as cities progress when people from outside come to visit them. Visitors will now come to see the memorial, which will also boost the income of various businesses in the city. He said that he wants a tourist bus service to be introduced in Ambala on the lines of Chandigarh. The bus would take tourists first to the Martyrs’ Memorial, then to the Science Centre, followed by Bank Square and Subhash Park, and finally to Sadar Bazaar for shopping.

*I have been raising the demand for a martyrs’ memorial for nearly three decades: Anil Vij*

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that for nearly 30 years, he had been demanding the construction of a memorial in Ambala Cantonment to honour the martyrs of the First War of Independence, as the struggle had begun here. He said that he had initially read in books that the freedom struggle was led by the Congress. However, after studying more books, he discovered that the Congress was founded in 1885 by the British official A.O. Hume. This was 28 years after an armed uprising for independence had swept across the country in 1857. Thousands of people were tied to trees and shot, while many others were hanged. The scale of these sacrifices was so immense that people are astonished when they hear about it. Yet, those who raised their voices against British rule and fought for freedom were never remembered, paid tribute or mourned, he said.

Sh. Vij further said that when he studied the history of the 1857 uprising in greater detail, he found that government records and documents relating to the revolt had been collected from Australia, England and several other countries. He was shocked to learn about the brutal atrocities inflicted on Indian soldiers. In August, the British opened fire on Indian soldiers, killing 135 of them within just 10 minutes. He said that the memorial has authentic documentary evidence detailing how many soldiers were hanged and how many were shot dead.

*Asia’s largest memorial dedicated to the First War of Independence of 1857: Anil Vij*

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that this is Asia’s largest memorial dedicated to the uprising of 1857, depicting the events of the struggle from across the country. The memorial has 22 galleries, and visitors will need approximately six hours to explore all of them. He said that a dedicated gallery has been created to pay tribute to the martyrs who remained unrecognised for years. These are the unsung heroes whom society has failed to remember over the years. Visitors will now be able to see their names and pay their respects. A complete digital record of those paying tribute will also be maintained at the memorial.

*I pay my respects to everyone who took even a single step outside their home for the freedom of the country: Anil Vij*

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that he bows in respect to everyone who took even a single step outside their home for the freedom of the country. He added that forgetting the thousands who laid down their lives for the nation would be a grave injustice. He informed that the Martyrs’ Memorial has been completed at an estimated cost of approximately Rs. 800 crore. A 63-metre-high lotus structure has also been installed at the site. He explained that during the First War of Independence, when one unit wanted to send a secret message to another, a lotus flower and a chapati were used as symbols. If a unit accepted these symbols, it was understood that it was ready to join the struggle.

*Indians began setting British bungalows on fire from March 26, 1857: Vij*

Energy Minister Shri Anil Vij said that Indians had begun setting fire to the bungalows of British officials from March 26, 1857. Complete records are available documenting the dates on which individual bungalows were set ablaze. He said that May 10, 1857, fell on a Sunday, and the soldiers had planned to surround British officers who had gathered at a church and launch the uprising. Sh. Vij further stated that after the Revolt of 1857, most of the 74 companies of the British Indian Army were disbanded because their soldiers had participated in the uprising. Ambala also had three such companies—the 60th and 5th Native Infantry and the 4th Cavalry—which were disbanded.

*Sky café on the top floor of the Martyrs’ Memorial Tower to be a major attraction: Vij*

Energy Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that the Martyrs’ Memorial will feature a spectacular Light, Laser and Sound Show. The facilities will include a 2,500-seat open-air theatre, a food court and water bodies. In the evening, films will also be projected onto the Memorial Tower and the fountains. He said this is a first-of-its-kind initiative in India. The Memorial Tower will have two high-speed elevators, allowing visitors to reach the top and enjoy panoramic views of the city through telescopes. The sky café at the top of the tower will be another major attraction. Small shops will also be set up to offer visitors various souvenirs and other items related to the Martyrs’ Memorial.

The Energy Minister further said that school and college students from Haryana will be provided free visits to the memorial. They will be educated about the First War of Independence of 1857 so that future generations learn the correct history of the freedom struggle.

On the occasion, Municipal Council Chairperson Smt. Swarn Kaur, Vice-Chairperson Shri Lalita Prasad, and BJP leaders Shri Sanjeev Soni, Shri Jasbir Jassi, Shri Madan Lal Sharma, Shri B.S. Bindra, Shri Rajiv Dimple, Shri Vijender Chauhan, Shri Kiranpal Chauhan, Shri Vipin Khanna, Shri Surender Bindra, Shri Balwinder Singh Shahpur, Shri Ajay Baveja, Shri Ashish Aggarwal, Shri Bharat Kochhar, Shri Ravi Budhiraja, Shri Harsh Bindra, Shri Pravesh Sharma and Shri Vikas Bahgal, along with a large number of office-bearers and party workers, were present.