UT admin to complete martyrs’ memorial at Chandigarh Capitol Complex

A place is already earmarked and dedicated for the memorial, which was part of the original plan of the Capitol Complex, along with Open Hand, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadow.

Chandigarh Capitol Complex (File Photo)

The UT administration has decided to fulfil the pending task of Swiss-French architect, Le Corbusier, and to construct a memorial at the UNESCO protected site in Chandigarh Capitol Complex for martyrs who laid their lives during the freedom struggle of India.

A place is already earmarked and dedicated for the memorial, which was part of the original plan of the Capitol Complex, along with Open Hand, Geometric Hill and Tower of Shadow.

A committee constituted for the construction of the monument has decided that the monument for martyrs will be made with pink stone. The committee members recently visited the famous Bayana town in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, to check the quality of pink stones.

As per records, the construction work for the monument has been pending since 1973. The committee —comprising Director Cultural Department, Sorabh Kumar Arora, Rajiv Mehta of Chandigarh Architect Department and others, was constituted by former UT Adviser Manoj Parida after receiving a go ahead from Administrator VP Singh Badnore.

Committee member Sorabh Kumar Arora said, “The work for the construction of the Martyrs’ Monument was started in 1973 but it was never completed. That work was undertaken by the famous sculptor, Sanko Chaudhuri. The administration has now decided to take over and finish the construction of the monument. Our team members have already visited Bayana in Rajasthan for pink stones. The work will be allotted to a firm on a tender basis. The tenders will be released shortly. Officials from the Chandigarh Architecture Department will supervise the work. The heritage status of the Capitol Complex will not be hampered in any way.”

“A few components of the memorial had been designed and stored by the original architects. These include a lion and a serpent. Some of the other components that we will make include a column, which will describe the decline of the British Era, and a horizontally open hand monument that will depict the agony of martyrs. The administration will complete this pending work,” Deepika Gandhi, Director of Le Corbusier Centre, Sector 19, said.

The memorial will be constructed near the ramp of Capitol Complex. A scale model of the memorial was prepared for better understanding. The model was cleared by a sub-committee. The UT Heritage Committee has approved the construction of the memorial.

Story continues below this ad

Sources said it is yet to be decided what will be inscribed on the martyrs’ memorial. After the sculptor Sanko Chaudhuri, famous sculptor BN Chugh had also worked on making the memorial, but work could not be completed. Chandigarh Capitol Complex was given the status of World Heritage Site in July, 2016.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
chandigarh