Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, November 5 inaugurated the 1857 Shaheed Smarak in Ambala Cantonment and dedicated the memorial to the nation, declaring that Ambala was the crucible of India's first war of independence, ANI reported. Addressing a public gathering at Gandhi Ground to mark Haryana State Foundation Day and the state's 60th anniversary, Shah said: "Ambala is the very ground where the freedom struggle of 1857 began on May 10th. This struggle shook the foundations of the British Empire. The revolution of 1857 was not just a rebellion, but a genuine struggle for freedom."

Source: ANI via NewKerala

The memorial, named Azadi Ki Pehli Ladai Ka Shaheed Smarak, was built at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 800 crore across 22 acres and centres on a three-storey museum with 22 galleries, National Times reported. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union minister Manohar Lal and Transport Minister Anil Vij joined the ceremony, at which dignitaries planted saplings under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and viewed a virtual-reality showcase on Haryana's role in the rebellion, the report said. PTI, in its report of the inauguration, quoted Shah as saying the memorial will become a source of inspiration for the youth, according to the memorial's record.

Source: National Times

The memorial's account of 1857 rests on research by Professor K.C. Yadav and local district archives, cited by ANI, holding that troops of the 60th Native Infantry and 5th Native Infantry at Ambala Cantonment revolted at around 9 a.m. on May 10, 1857, several hours before soldiers in Meerut took up arms that afternoon. ANI's report itself noted that standard mainstream historical accounts routinely mark Meerut as the epicentre of the 1857 rebellion; the Ambala memorial presents the earlier Ambala rising, preceded by arson attacks on British officers' bungalows between late March and May 1, as the struggle's first spark.

Source: ANI via NewKerala

Describing the complex, Shah highlighted its virtual galleries, holography, interactive projections and light-and-sound show, ANI reported. "This memorial, built in Ambala, will serve as a great source of patriotic inspiration for the youth and adolescents across the entire nation... Today, Haryana — though small in size — contributes the highest number of soldiers to the Indian Armed Forces," he said, appealing to young citizens nationwide to visit the site. Alongside the memorial, Shah also inaugurated a Rs 1,260 crore National Highway project for the state, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via NewKerala

What happens next: the memorial opens to the public on Friday, November 6, and Haryana ministers have directed visits by students from schools and educational institutions across the state, according to the IANS report of the inauguration programme.

Source: National Times