Today’s Big Story
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the renovated Jallianwallah Bagh memorial which was supplemented by a light and sound show to pay reverence to the martyrs of the horrific massacre in April 1919.
📯 What’s Going On?
Although a historic event marked by general fervor, the renovated memorial has recently sparked concerns about erasure of history due to the makeover.
The entry and exit points to the Bagh have been changed, and a lotus pond has been built around the main memorial. The famous ‘Shahidi Khu’ or Martyrs Well, into which people jumped to escape the hail of bullets, is now enclosed in a glass shield — a controversial decision that has been criticised since it is perceived to restrict the view.
🔍 What Does this Mean?
Many of the left argue that the makeover, especially of the walls connecting the entrance lane to the bagh have erased important traces of the event, instead of preserving them
Many on the right defend the restoration work, arguing that the renovated memorial will promote greater awareness of the historic event and receive more visitors.
"On Saturday, Professor of Global and Imperial History Kim A Wagner first posted on Twitter about the makeover of the walls in the lane connecting to the Bagh. “Devastated to hear that Jallianwala Bagh, site of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, has been revamped –which means that the last traces of the event have effectively been erased,” Wagner tweeted. “This is sadly just part of the general Disneyfication of the old city of Amritsar.” - Scroll
"In 2019, approximately Rs 20 crore was earmarked by the Centre for the commemoration of 100 years of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Restoration and conservation work, and the building of facilities such as toilets, ticketing counters, and drinking water, have been undertaken by the Ministry of Culture. The memorial has been shut for the public since February 2019 for the makeover, implemented by the government-owned NBCC Ltd." - The Indian Express
"What is noteworthy, according to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), soil from homes and villages of Jallianwala martyrs has gone into making of the Smarak. The renovation work has been completed in record time despite the constraints of the Covid-19 lockdown. The foundation stone was laid on January 25, earlier this year. Four Museum galleries have been created through adaptive reuse of redundant and underutilised buildings. The galleries showcase the historical value of the events that unfolded in Punjab during that period, with the fusion of audio-visual technology, including projection mapping and 3D representation, as well as art and sculptural installations." - Outlook India
"Created using 'adaptive reuse of redundant and underutilised buildings', the restored structures are in line with the local architecture of the city. The architects have used modern technologies such as projection mapping and 3D representation along with art and sculptural installations to narrate the events that took place in Punjab during the era. A Sound and Light show has been set up to display the events that took place in 1919." - Times Now
💭 Why Should I Care?
The Bigger Picture: Heritage sites such as the Jallianwallah Bagh memorial are arguably an important physical component of the city’s identity. Therefore, the government's decision to conserve, protect and restore the monument should be lauded.
The alternative would be to risk the monument from potential damages including those from, pollution, poor civic sense of local citizens (visitors scratching, spitting, vandalism etc). and natural weathering.
The Smaller Picture: Unfortunately, the renovation of this memorial has drawn criticism from several political members and the public ever since it was announced in 2019. The main reason for disapproval appears to be fears around the destruction of original, heritage parts of the structure.
Punjab BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik, who is a trustee of the Jallianwalla Bagh National Memorial Trust, said the team involved in the renovation had been told not to disturb the heritage part of the well. If this is to be believed, the fears are likely unfounded.
It also appears that the fibre glass installed around the original well structure might improve viewing and reduce crowding, especially in light of COVID distancing norms.
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💡 Below the Fold
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