The foundation stone of the world class Jang-e-Azaadi Memorial would be laid in the third week of August and the entire project would be
completed in two years, by August 2016.
A meeting of the Memorial foundation under the Chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday finalised the date for the project to come at Kartarpur near Jalandhar.
The foundation also approved the decision of the executive committee to engage the services of eminent film director Shyam Benegal for the preparation of a 90 minutes film depicting the entire saga of Punjabi’s stellar role in the national freedom struggle. The film production team of Benegal had already extensively conducted the research work on the project by visiting the locations at Amritsar, Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Nabha, Malerkotla and ludhiana. Benegal has already prepared the script of film after having detailed deliberations with the renowned noted historians, intellectuals, academicians and Sikh scholars on the theme.
The foundation also gave his nod for the appointment of renowned Architect Raj Rewal as the Master Technical consultant. He has designed several landmark buildings including Hall of Nations, Asian Games Village, National Institute of Immunology, Central Institute of Education Technology, The Television Centre, National Science Academy, The World Bank building, The housing for the British High Commission and the library of the Indian Parliament.
Keeping in view of futuristic planning of the project and scope of its expansion, the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar to explore the possibility to allot additional land of 15 acres of grain market for adding up facilities of parking lot, additional public galleries, open auditorium, cafeteria, public conveniences and others there by shifting the existing Grain market at alternate site to the satisfaction of the general public.
Badal assured that there would not be any shortage of funds for this "dream project" as he has already made fool proof provisions of automatic collection of funds through levying cultural cess. He further said that as the project progresses ahead in different stages the foundation would be simultaneously allocated funds as per their requirement.
The Chief Minister said that this prestigious monument has been planned to showcase the rich legacy and the exemplary valor displayed by the countless freedom fighters, patriots and martyrs from Punjab during the Indian independence movement. The upcoming memorial, he said, would play a vital role and act as a beacon to acquaint our younger generations about the saga of great sacrifices made by our martyrs especially from Punjab to free their motherland from the yoke of British imperialism.
Interacting with the members of the foundation, noted film maker Shyam Benegal said that it was a unique project which has touched his soul and mind to create this film entirely in a different manner, which could stir the emotions of our countrymen while peeping in our glorious past during which countless unsung heroes and sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifices at the altar of our national freedom struggle.