Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 27

State Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar on Wednesday inaugurated a museum dedicated to the heroes of the 1857 First Warof Independence at Kurukshetra University. The memorial has been constructedat a cost of Rs 5 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Gujjar said: “There was hardly any museum in the country dedicated to the martyrs of the 1857 freedom struggle. The museum at the KU has been constructed to commemorate the sacrifice of the 1857 martyrs. It will motivate the younger generations.”

The minister also inaugurated a shooting range established at a cost of Rs5.48 on the university campus.

Vice Chancellor KC Sharma said: “The aim is to ensure that the students are well aware of the country’s history, culture and art. The university is working to save the art and culture of Haryana through the Dharohar Museum. With thisnew museum, more people from across the country and world will be attracted to the KU. This museum dedicated to the first freedom struggle of 1857 will remind thecoming generations of the country’s valour.”

“The freedom struggle of 1857 started from Ambala, spread to Meerut and then in the entire country. An attempt has been made to presentthe same history throughphotographs through this museum,” he added.

The museum also has a statue of Rani of Jhansi, Laxmibai. Apart from this, it has been prepared in three parts. The first part depicts the activities of the first freedom struggle on the national level, second one shows the state’s contribution to it and the third one has the details of the unsung heroes of the Independence of Haryana. The museum has a lobby, art gallery, auditorium hall, audio visual room, and a library.

Stone laid in 2008

• The museum was to be inaugurated on January 11 this year, but the ceremony was postponed.
• The then Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma was to inaugurate it, but he failed to turn up due the BJP’s national executive meeting in New Delhi on the same day.
• Funded by the Centre, the foundation stone of the project was laid by the then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on July 27, 2008, at the KU.