Nothing is more precious than life. But the bravehearts value the glory and honour of the motherland above everything else. They hardly think twice before making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while defending our borders. We owe our security and comfort to them. No word is capable enough to pay gratitude to these heroes.
Our history is replete with glorious sagas of brave sons and daughters of the land. They are household names and favourite characters of our folklores for eons. These all symbolise our gratitude to them.
I always cherished a dream that Bhopal should have a grand and unique Shaurya Smarak that would apprise the people, especially the younger generation of the valour and sacrifices made by the sentinels of our borders besides filling them with spirit of patriotism.
In consultation with experts the picturesque Arera hills was selected for site of the memorial that will be convenient to the citizens of both old and new Bhopal. Years of hard work and fine workmanship have made it possible.
It is a matter of pride for us that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, a great patriot committed to all round development of the country, is going to dedicate the Memorial. Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar will also grace the function. Our endeavour is to ensure presence of chiefs of three forces of the country on this historic occasion.
Built on 12.67 acre at a cost of Rs 41 crore, the Memorial has been conceptualized very imaginatively. It has been envisaged as a journey through the various experiences of life, War, Death and liberation of Spirit (Victory over Death), all exhibited through an extremely non-archetypal design.
The forms, volumes and textures conceived in each of these zones depict, metaphorically, various aspects of this journey. Designed as a quasi-subterranean structure that is more submerged than visible on ground, it is indeed to influence the mind and soul of the visitor by being contemplative in spirit.
The 62 feet high Shaurya Stambh, rising from the ground, depicts the life of a soldier, built on a foundation of inner strength and courage. Their sacrifices at various stages of life, and ultimately of life itself are displayed very vividly.
The traditional eternal lamp Amar Jyoti, lit in reverence to the martyr, is represented by a state-of-the-art holographic image at the Memorial. An Interpretation Centre has been set up on the premises, designed as a semi-open congregation space with an information display system, explaining the essence of the Memorial and providing a preview to visitors before physically experiencing it. It describes the concept of the design of Shaurya Smarak providing details of the different zones and vision behind the design of this non-building Memorial.
The Shaurya Smarak is an imaginative and colourful presentation of valour of Indian forces and a humble tribute to the martyrs.
(From the blog of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan)