Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated the Martyrs’ Memorial of the First War of Independence of 1857 in Ambala, Haryana. On this occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal, along with many other dignitaries, were present.
On this occasion, in his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said that on this very land, on 10th May 1857, the revolutionary heroes had sounded the bugle of armed revolution against British rule, and from here that revolution had spread like fire, leaving the entire world astonished. British-inspired historians of leftist ideology termed the freedom struggle of 1857 a mere revolt. It may have been a revolt for the British, but Veer Savarkar had said that the revolution of 1857 was not a revolt for the children of Mother India, but a freedom struggle. It was the revolution of 1857 that ignited the flame of freedom in the heart of every citizen of this vast country stretching from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari and from Gangasagar to Somnath.
Shri Amit Shah said that in this great struggle of 90 years from 1857 to 1947, countless martyrs sacrificed everything they had, and only then did we get the good fortune to see present-day India and Mother India. On the foundation of those martyrs’ sacrifices, today under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we can envision a developed India. Building on the sacrifices of those martyrs and strengthening democratic institutions for 80 years, we stand with dignity before the entire world. The warriors of the 1857 revolution — Nana Saheb Peshwa, Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, and many other fighters — displayed their valour and made the supreme sacrifice.
Union Home Minister said that no country truly understands the value of its freedom until it glorifies the martyrs who shed their blood for it. A country that does not rewrite the blood-stained pages of history in golden letters can never progress. This Martyrs’ Memorial built today in Ambala will become a source of boundless patriotic inspiration for our coming generations of youth and adolescents.
Shri Amit Shah stated that the Saraswati once flowed across this very sacred land, and it was from here—in the region extending as far as the Ganga-Yamuna Doab—that the Vedas and Upanishads were composed. On this very land, Lord Shri Krishna recited the Gita. On this brave land, Maharaja Agrasen gave the Indian model of administration. On this brave land, Raja Nahar Singh and Rao Tula Ram fought the freedom struggle, and continuing that tradition, today a small state like Haryana contributes the highest number of soldiers to the Army. In India’s sports medal tallies, Haryana consistently ranks number one. When the country needed to become self-reliant in food grains, the farmers of Haryana filled the nation’s granaries. Haryana has also made a very significant contribution to the White Revolution.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that today, on the land of Haryana, a magnificent memorial of the 1857 revolution has been built on 22 acres at a cost of ₹594 crore, featuring 22 galleries. Shri Shah stated that this memorial represents a remarkable effort to weave together historical documents and the diverse art forms of Haryana, utilizing modern technology such as virtual reality, holography, and interactive projection. With Phulkari and Sarkanda craftsmanship, an open-air theatre seating 2,500 people, and a light-and-sound show, the memorial has been designed to transport visitors back to 1857. This memorial has become a vibrant space that awakens pride in the glory, sacrifice and honour of the 1857 revolution and a sense of duty towards the nation. An appeal is made to the youth of the entire country: to understand the people because of whom we stand where we are today, please visit this memorial in Ambala and also pay homage to the martyrs.
Shri Amit Shah said that today a National Highway built at a cost of ₹1,260 crore was also inaugurated, and through this highway Haryana will become a state with excellent connectivity. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our government has brought about fundamental transformation in Haryana. With the delivery of gas cylinders to every household, Haryana became the country’s first smoke-free state. Haryana is the only state in India that procures 24 crops at MSP. It became the first state to implement the new criminal codes and increase the conviction rate by 40%. Haryana became the first state to operate a hydrogen train. The country’s first elevated railway track was also started in Haryana. Under the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana (HAPPY), an initiative was also implemented in Haryana to provide 1,000 kilometers of free travel to poor families. The country’s largest Transgender Welfare Board was set up in Haryana. The practice of having fully literate panchayats was also pioneered in Haryana. An online transfer policy was formulated in Haryana, and our government completely eliminated the transfer industry from the state. Haryana is the only state in the entire country where there is no longer any ‘Lal Dora’ in the villages. Haryana has become an anaemia-free state, the country’s first Ayush school was established here, it became the first state to issue ‘Parivar Pehchan Patra’, and it is also the first state to stand with farmers of horticultural crops through the Bhavantar scheme. Haryana also pays the highest wages under MGNREGA. Over the past 60 years, Haryana has made remarkable progress. The state has also geared up for a drug-free Haryana, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given priority to Haryana.