New look of Jallianwala Bagh a distortion of history, say historians

31 Aug 2021 CW Team

Modi inaugurated four new galleries virtually and opened the renovated memorial a year-and-a-half after it was closed for the revamp. When the forces directed by Reginald Dyer opened fire, victims jumped into a well which has been covered with a transparent barrier. The narrow entrance was adorned with sculptures. A daily sound and light show has started explaining the events.

Historian and former Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Chaman Lal told the media reacting to the development that it was a distortion of history and the project tried to mystify and glamourise history.

Professor Lal said that people visiting should go with a sense of pain and anguish, and now they have tried to make it a space for enjoying, with a beautiful garden, and it was not a beautiful garden. Instead, Jallianwala Bagh was where Indians gathered on that fateful day when Dyer and his forces entered and fired on a peaceful crowd. The government has renovated the place, adding new features instead of restoration.

Historian S Irfan Habib told the media that he was not against additions like a cafe for visitors or better toilets, but the changes made had been at the cost of history and the cost of heritage.

He emphasised that it was absolutely gaudy and asked why there should be murals on the wall as it changes the whole idea of the place from where Dyer entered to kill and adding glamour to the little corridor changes the entire visual history, and that history itself is being re-written and renovated, and it is the corporatisation of monuments.

He said that the well was not supposed to be covered and the changes were unnecessary and cosmetic in nature and that it is an unfortunate trend.

Image Source

The new look of the Jallianwala Bagh memorial that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation on August 28 has distorted the site's history. Historians said on Monday that British troops massacred Indians on 13 April 1919. Modi inaugurated four new galleries virtually and opened the renovated memorial a year-and-a-half after it was closed for the revamp. When the forces directed by Reginald Dyer opened fire, victims jumped into a well which has been covered with a transparent barrier. The narrow entrance was adorned with sculptures. A daily sound and light show has started explaining the events. Historian and former Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Chaman Lal told the media reacting to the development that it was a distortion of history and the project tried to mystify and glamourise history. Professor Lal said that people visiting should go with a sense of pain and anguish, and now they have tried to make it a space for enjoying, with a beautiful garden, and it was not a beautiful garden. Instead, Jallianwala Bagh was where Indians gathered on that fateful day when Dyer and his forces entered and fired on a peaceful crowd. The government has renovated the place, adding new features instead of restoration. Historian S Irfan Habib told the media that he was not against additions like a cafe for visitors or better toilets, but the changes made had been at the cost of history and the cost of heritage. He emphasised that it was absolutely gaudy and asked why there should be murals on the wall as it changes the whole idea of the place from where Dyer entered to kill and adding glamour to the little corridor changes the entire visual history, and that history itself is being re-written and renovated, and it is the corporatisation of monuments. He said that the well was not supposed to be covered and the changes were unnecessary and cosmetic in nature and that it is an unfortunate trend. Image Source

Infrastructure Urban

28 Apr 2025

Patel Engineering Secures Two Projects Worth Rs 20.37 Billion

Patel Engineering Ltd has secured two important infrastructure projects valued at Rs 20.37 billion. The company received an order from the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) for dam construction and associated works in Maharashtra. The project will be executed over a period of 42 months. Another project, awarded by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), involves the development of a 240 MW hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project scope includes civil construction, testing, commissioning, and installation of hydro-mechanical e..

Infrastructure Urban

28 Apr 2025

M B Patil Seeks Centre’s Support For Karnataka’s Industrial Growth

Karnataka’s Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil has urged the central government to support the state in strengthening freight corridors and logistic infrastructure. He was speaking at a round table on ‘Focussing on the Steel Sector in the State of Karnataka’ during the 6th edition of India Steel-25, an International Conference-cum-Exhibition organised by the Ministry of Steel. Patil highlighted Karnataka’s contribution of 15 per cent to India’s steel production and the efforts by the state government to promote cluster-based development, integrated industrial corrido..

Infrastructure Energy

28 Apr 2025

EdgePoint Towers Launches First Solar Hybrid Telecommunications Site

EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, part of EdgePoint Infrastructure, has launched its first solar hybrid site in Malaysia, advancing renewable energy integration in the telecommunications sector. The deployment marks a major step towards sustainable energy solutions, providing up to 100 per cent of the energy required to operate telecommunications equipment. The site, with a 5.9-kilowatt peak (kWp) capacity, operates autonomously using photovoltaic energy supported by battery storage. This hybrid system significantly reduces dependence on diesel fuel, aiming to cut annual carbon emissions by around 78..

New look of Jallianwala Bagh a distortion of history, say historians

Patel Engineering Secures Two Projects Worth Rs 20.37 Billion

M B Patil Seeks Centre’s Support For Karnataka’s Industrial Growth

EdgePoint Towers Launches First Solar Hybrid Telecommunications Site

Latest Updates

Advertisement

Recommended for you

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Modal Heading

First Name *

Last Name *

Industry *

Email Address *

Mobile Number *

Password *

Confirm Password *

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Email Address *

Password *

Please enter the details

Email Address

Modal Heading

First Name *

Last Name *

Industry *

Email Address *

Mobile Number *

Password *

Confirm Password *

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Email Address *

Password *

Please enter the details

Email Address