The expert committee of Union Ministry of Defence has approved the Chandigarh Administration’s proposed theme of “Capitol Complex” for city’s tableau in Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on January 26 next year.
While rejecting the UT Administration’s theme proposals on Burail Jail and Fairs and Festival, the expert Committee, in a meeting held recently, has approved the theme of “Capitol Complex” and asked the authorities concerned to work on this and present the final designs for the tableau.
“The Administration has been asked to present the designs for tableau with the theme of Capitol Complex in a meeting to be held this week,” said sources.
Prior to this, three rounds of meetings have been held by the expert committee. After the approval of the proposed designs by the expert committee, three dimensional model of the proposed tableau is presented on the lines of the suggestions given by the committee.
The Capitol Complex in Sector 1 here designed by famed Swiss-born French Architect Le Corbusier was given the status of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site in 2016.The Complex comprises three epoch-making master-pieces namely Punjab and Haryana Secretariat, Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Legislative Assembly. Also, in the centre stands the giant metallic sculpture of The Open Hand, the official emblem of Chandigarh.
Amongst the other monuments in the Complex are the Tower of Shadows, Geometric Hill while the Martyr's Memorial, one of the most important incomplete projects of architect Le Corbusier, is being developed there.
Interestingly, the theme “Capitol Complex” and Le Corbusier works for tableau has been rejected by the expert committee in the past.
In 2018, the Administration had proposed three themes including Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake and Capitol Complex but it was rejected by the expert committee as the theme for 2018 was the 150th birth anniversary commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi.
So far, Chandigarh’s tableau has participated in the Republic day parade on four occasions.
In the year 2014, the city’s tableau modeled around Rock Garden, a sculpture Garden created by late Nek Chand had participated in the Republic day parade after a gap of 13 years. In 2016, the Chandigarh’s tableau highlighting city’s architecture, elements of green and smart city had taken part in the parade.
During the years 2015, 2017 and 2018, the Chandigarh Administration had failed to make it to the final selection round for Republic Day parade. During these years, the expert committee of Ministry of Defence had rejected themes conceptualized around works of Le Corbusier, Rose Festival, Doll Museum among others proposed by the Administration.