Jang-e-Azadi Memorial

The Punjab Government conceptualized an idea of Jang-e-Azadi Memorial to honor the unparalleled contribution and sacrifices made by the Punjabi’s for the independence of India. The complex is built on 25 acres of land near Kartarpur on the Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway where it is easily accessible to the tourists coming from other states and the people of Punjab. The memorial disseminates knowledge about the rich cultural heritage and the freedom struggle of Punjab. Punjab Government formed “Punjab Freedom Movement Memorial Foundation” for the implementation and construction of this prestigious project.

Punjab is a land of great heroes and martyrs who fearlessly rose in the revolt against the British and sacrificed their lives to free their motherland. It’s a land whose history holds spellbinding stories that can inspire generations to come. The Government of Punjab established a Concept Committee to explore the pages of history to carve out the concept narrative for this museum. As a result, a comprehensive 67-page concept paper was prepared which captured the history of the freedom struggle of Punjab. The concept paper detailed the key events and the brave men who challenged the imperial oppressors. This paper sketched out the tales of sacrifice and struggle that people of Punjab had suffered.

Through this memorial, the 67-page script was brought to life by portraying the spirit of freedom and the courage with the help of different mediums of visual communications to inspire the youth and ingrain nationalism in them. The committee was keen to rope in reputed film makers for making the “Jang-e-Azadi” film on the history of Punjab. The idea was to capture the concept paper and deliver the essence with patriotic fervor. Renowned director, Shyam Benegal was approached and he accepted the proposal and completed the project with his exemplary style of film making.

The memorial has an entrance foyer displaying statues and a minar-e-shaheedan to pay homage to the martyrs of Punjab who gave their life during the freedom struggle. There are total six galleries in the memorial which narrate different stories in the form of photographs, portraits and paintings. The first gallery educates about the important milestones & incidents in the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It also presents the immersive dome experience film depicting Punjab’s contribution in the freedom struggle and the sacrifices and the quotes of the heroes of our freedom struggle which inspire everyone.

Gallery two is a snapshot of the history of the role of Punjab in the freedom struggle and gallery three reveals how the British established their foothold in Punjab after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After years of suffering British domination, the people of Punjab made their voices heard with the Kuka and the Ghadar movements. These movements and the revolutionaries created a momentum against the anti-British sentiment among the people of Punjab. Gallery four shows how the “India House” in the United Kingdom became a hub for Indian students and the revolutionaries. It portrays how the British atrocities of the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial massacre propelled the nation in to the non-cooperation movement and how our heroes and martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh and others relentlessly challenged the British.

Gallery five shows the Sikhs in ‘Jathas’ questioning the legitimacy of the Mahant’s control over their shrines and the British Policy of protecting the Gurdwaras. After much struggle and the Akali movement, Sri Harmandir Sahib and all other Gurdwaras came under the control of the Sikhs. This further influenced institutions like Khalsa College which were made free of British interference and influences. The last gallery exhibits the Akali morchas and the prominent leaders of the Akali movement. It shows how the Babbar Akalis planned covert operations to eliminate British officers and their stooges.

The memorial has a movie theatre with a seating capacity of around 100 people. The theatre screens a patriotic 90 minute film on “Jang-e-Azadi” directed by acclaimed director Shyam Benegal. It also has an air conditioned auditorium with a seating capacity of 250 people with the facility of stage lightening and audio video projection. This auditorium is also available for the organisations who want to organize cultural events, activities or gatherings. A fully air conditioned seminar hall with a seating capacity of 150 people is equipped with latest audio-video gadgets and can be used by other organisations for seminars, functions or meetings.

Laser show gives a unique experience of 3D projection which takes you back in time. It narrates the story of Punjab and its contribution in the freedom struggle of India and is a salutation to the freedom fighters and martyrs. Apart from this, there is a memorial icon, an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 500 people, a library, a cafeteria, beautiful landscaping and spacious parking for the tourists.