Sultanpur: In a major initiative to honor the heroes of India’s First War of Independence (1857), the Shaheed Smarak Seva Samiti has proposed the installation of statues of prominent freedom fighters, including Mangal Pandey, Tatya Tope, Kunwar Singh, and Bahadur Shah Zafar.
The committee has submitted a formal memorandum to the District Magistrate, requesting permission to install the statues in a small park located on the right side of the Collectorate premises.
Initiative to Inspire Future Generations
The committee’s president and senior social worker Kartar Keshav Yadav stated that such memorials serve as a powerful source of inspiration for the youth and future generations. He emphasized that seeing these statues encourages a sense of patriotism and motivates individuals to contribute toward nation-building.
History of Installing Statues Across the District
Kartar Keshav Yadav highlighted that the organization has previously installed several statues of renowned freedom fighters with public support. These include:
- Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev at the District Panchayat office
- Rani Lakshmibai at the Vikas Bhavan premises
- Chandrashekhar Azad near the bus station
- Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri at Pt. Ram Naresh Tripathi Auditorium
These initiatives have been carried out over the years with consistent community participation.
Longstanding Commitment to Social Service
He further noted that the organization has been actively involved in social service for decades with the support of the public. BJP District President Sushil Tripathi has also been consistently advocating at the government level for the installation of statues dedicated to the 1857 revolutionaries.
Former District President Dr. R. A. Verma and noted surgeon Dr. A. K. Singh have also made significant contributions to these efforts.
Meeting with District Magistrate
On Monday, Kartar Keshav Yadav, along with BJP City President Reena Jaiswal, met the District Magistrate and submitted the memorandum along with documents related to previously installed statues.
The District Magistrate responded positively and assured that necessary steps would be taken to complete the process. Reena Jaiswal described the initiative as a commendable effort that would benefit society by preserving the legacy of India’s freedom fighters.