Tag: travelbug

  • Jallianwala Bagh: in Remembrance of Barbaric Massacre

    Jallianwala Bagh: in Remembrance of Barbaric Massacre

    India’s freedom struggle is full of stories of ultimate sacrifices since early days of 1857 revolution till the Independence Day of India. At some points, barbaric massacres tarnished our history. Kanpur witnessed one such black day during revolutions 1857. 102 years before on this day of 13th April, Amritsar saw the horror unfolding during Baisakhi Mela in Jallianwala Bagh. Our today’s destination is the memorial of Jallianwala Bagh.

    Story Time:

    As a result of the arrest of two leaders Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew, agitation grew amongst the public in April 1919. Peaceful protest was planned on the day of Baisakhi, 13th April. Acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, banned all meetings suspecting massive insurrection in Amritsar. However, he failed to disseminate the information about the ban. Many villagers gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh to celebrate the festival of Baisakhi and to protest the arrest of their leaders peacefully. 

    Then, General Dyer entered from the main corridor with his troops and took place on raised banks blocking the main entrance behind them. Without any warning, he ordered to open fire on the crowd who had gathered in the Bagh. Firing continued for about ten minutes and ended only when they almost got out of ammunition. 

    Later while filing the report, General Dyer states, “I have heard that between 200 and 300 of the crowd were killed. My party fired 1,650 rounds”. On other hand, Seva Samitee reports,  of 379 identified dead and approximately 1200 wounded. Whereas Indian National Congress claims over 1000 deaths and 1500 injureds. Because of such gross negligence about reporting the casualties in the massacre, we will never know the exact number of martyrs fallen that day. This incident shocked Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagor. He renounced the knighthood saying “such mass murderers aren’t worthy of giving any title to anyone”.

    Monument: in remembrance of martyrs 

    Flame Monument Photo by Nonica Datta

    Soon after the massacre, a trust was formed in 1920 to create a memorial at the site. After independence, in 1951, Government of India declared the site as a ‘memorial of national importance’. Later in 1961, a martyr well monument designed by architect Benjamin Polk was inaugurated. There are several plaques telling the accounts of events that followed that day. One such plaque is at the bullet marks ridden wall. It reads as follows:

    The wall has its own historic significance as it has thirty-six bullet marks which can be easily seen at present and these were fired into the crowd by the order of General Dyer. Moreover, no warning was given to disperse before Dyer opened fire which [sic] was gathered here against the Rowlatt Act. One Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Rounds were fired.

    As a result of these barbaric actions of General Dyer, a wide spread Non-Cooperation Movement got strength and it marked the beginning of the last leg freedom struggle of India.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘J‘ challenge. “J is for the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • India Gate: In the memory of fallen heroes

    India Gate: In the memory of fallen heroes

    Indian Armed Forces are our pride. We salute their bravery and chivalry. Their contribution to the nation during war and peace time is unparalleled and unmatched. Before independence, Indian Armed forces were part of British India Army. At every place of deployment they fought bravely and displayed gallantry. Our today’s destination stands in the Capital City of Delhi. India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India.

    Story time:

    The Imperial War Graves Commission decided to build a memorial to honour the fallen heroes between 1914 and 1921 on various theatres of World War I and the third Anglo-Afghan war. It commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to design the memorial. Following his architectural style, Sir Lutyens decided to keep it free of religious ornamentations and make the universal design. He designed the memorial in the form of a hexagonal complex housing a 42 metres tall triumphal arch. He also designed a canopy which once housed a statue of King George V with all imperial symbolisms and few gardens around. 

    India Gate in 1930s

    On both sides you can see inscription of word INDIA. with dates MCMXIV (1914) and MCMXIX (1919) on either side of it. Just below that, following words are inscribed in block letters.

    'TO THE DEAD OF THE INDIAN ARMIES WHO FELL AND ARE HONOURED IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA EAST AFRICA GALLIPOLI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEAR AND THE FAR-EAST AND IN SACRED MEMORY ALSO OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED AND WHO FELL IN INDIA OR THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER AND DURING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR'

    India Gate honours 13,218 fallen warriors by their names inscribed on the gate.

    Honouring the post independence war heros

    After the Bangladesh war in 1975, Government of India built Amar Jawan Jyoyi. Reversed L1A1 self-loading rifle capped with war helmet over black marble plinth makes the monument. It has four urns, each with the permanent light from compressed natural gas flames at all four corners of the plinth. It acts as India’s memorial of immortal soldiers. Till recently, on every Republic Day, Vijay Diwas, and Infantry Day, the Prime Minister and the Chiefs of the Armed Forces place wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.

    Recently, Government built a new National War Memorial and Museum around the canopy. Four concentric circles of monument named as Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, Tyag Chakra and Rakshak Chakra, are based on the concept of Chakravyuh war formation. It also houses the second Amar Jawan Jyoti at the centre.

    Hon President Ram Nath Kovind paid tributes at at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the National War Memorial, independence day and republic day. Following the tradition set by Hon President, Prime Minister paid his tribute at the new Memorial on Republic Day.

    If you visit the New Delhi, do not forget to visit and pay tribute to our heroes at these memorials. Let’s all try to be a good citizen worthy for their sacrifices.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on ‘I‘ challenge. “I is for the India Gate, New Delhi”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Hampi: Ruins of Glorious History

    Hampi: Ruins of Glorious History

    Our Incredible India witnessed some glorious empires in history though ruled by various dynasties, they maintained the form of an Empire. In the north, we had an Empire of Magadh, and Delhi Sultanate.

    Central India witnessed the rise and fall of the Maratha Empire while the South saw the rise and fall of Yadavas of Devgiri. But, today’s story is about another Empire from South India and our destination is their capital city. Hampi of Vijayanagara Empire.

    Story time:

    In 14th century India, an empire rose to power in the Deccan plateau. Brothers, Harihar and Bukka Raya from Sangama Dynasty, put the foundation of this empire which rose to the pinnacle of glory in the time of Krishna Deva Raya of Tulava Dynasty. But before that, the empire witnessed two coups and power changed hands from Sangamas to Sulavas and subsequently to Tulava Dynasty.

    Krisha Deva Raya during the reign commissioned many of the important monuments of Hampi. It was the world’s second biggest city of mediaeval era following Beijing. It was prosperous and wealthy attracting travellers and traders. We can find the descriptions of Hampi and the empire in chronicles of Persian and European travellers (especially Portuguese)

    • Garuda Chariot at Vitthala Temple, Photo by Sriharsha
    • Beauty of Hampi
    • Ugra-Narasimha Photo by Dnyaneshwar Vaidya
    • Virupaksha temple
    • Matanga Hill photo by fraboof
    • Ruins of Hemakuta hills, Hampi by Siri Iyer
    • Elephants stable

    Never miss these at Hampi:

    Ruins of Hampi cover around 4100 hectares. It is near modern day city of Hospet. There are hundreds of spots you can visit and enjoy the glorious carvings, architecture and sculpting from the golden days of Vijayanagara. However, there are few of them which you can’t afford to miss. There are main temples like Virupaksha temple, Achyutaraya Temple, Krishna Temple, Vitthala Temple etc. You can see the ruined market area adjacent to all these temples. In Krishna temple, the shrine of Ugra Nrusinha or Laxmi Nrusinha is one you should definitely check out. Shrine or temple of Nrusinha is a rare thing in India. Garuda Chariot from Vitthala Temple complex is donned with intricate ornate carvings.

    Along with these, there are several hill temple complexes. At some spots, you can reach only if you take a ride on famous Coracles, the circular boat. The Archaeological Museum of Hampi is also a good documentation center. It provides us an idea about the glorious past of the VIjayanagara Empire.

    Today, let’s roam in these ruins and try to imagine the golden days of Hampi when its street used to be bustling with crowded markets.

    This brings to the I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on day 8 challenge. “H is for the Ruins of Hampi, VIjayanagara District”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

  • Gir: The abode of Asiatic Lions

    Gir: The abode of Asiatic Lions

    Let’s enjoy seashores of the west coast of India and the beauty of Western Ghats as we cross Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra to enter the state of Gujarat. Today, our destination is the one and only abode of Asiatic Lions. Our country is blessed with various geo-climatic conditions. As a result, a wide range of habitats are developed. There are vast grasslands like Banni, evergreen forests in North-Eastern states, riparian forests on the banks of the rivers, mangroves like Sundarban in West Bengal and many more. The forest in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is a mix of dry scrub land and open deciduous forest.

    Story Time:

    In the 1900s when Nawabs of Junagadh ruled the lands around the forest, they had kept it as their private hunting grounds. It was the time when the number of Asiatic Lions had dropped to an alarming state. Only about a dozen of them were remaining in India. Then British Viceroy brought this to the attention of Nawabs. Understanding the importance of lions, Nawab banned the hunting of lions. By 1920 numbers had improved to 50 lions and by 1936, it increased dramatically to 250 animals. 

    After the independence of India, administration continued to follow the same policies of its predecessors of Junagadh State and in 1965, it became the notified wildlife sanctuary. In 1975, Government declared the area of 150 sq. km. as a National Park and later expanded to 259 sq. km in 1978. Followed by this in 1984, they declared the surrounding area as a wildlife sanctuary creating today’s expanse of Gir Lion Reserve with National Park at core.

    • Asiatic Lion, the king of the jungle
    • Nilgai at Gir by Gaurika Wijeratne
    • Chital in Gir National Park
    • Grey langoor at Gir by Gaurika Wijeratne
    • Asiatic Lion at Gir by Gaurika Wijeratne

    Wealth of Gir Reserve:

    When last counted in 2015, there were 523 asiatic lions living in and around Gir Lion Reserve. However, if you think this is the only beast living in this forest, you are too far of the mark. Hundreds species of plants have created this forest which is a house to more than 38 species of mammals including  Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox in carnivores group, and herbivores like chital, nilgai, sambar, chawsingha, chinkara and wild boar. Over 300 species of birds and 37 species of reptiles have also made Gir Lion Reserve as their home. 

    Maldharis, a tribe of cattle-herders, also used to call this sanctuary their home with few settlements in the region. Even after barricading their settlements by thorns, they used to lose a few of their livestocks frequently. Subsequently, they were rehabilitated outside the National Park boundary. Because of this re-settlement, the regeneration of degraded forest took place and prey density improved. 

    Today, Gir is the only abode of Asiatic Lions. Let’s take care of our environment and try to live sustainable lives and hope the endangerment of species is avoided.

    I am participating in A2Z challenge with Blogchatter and this is my take on day 7 challenge. “G is for the Gir Lion Reserve, Gujrat”. You can find my other posts from this challenge here.

    This is also a part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter.