By Aarti Patil
India has not only a great history, but also some interesting episodes that make add to it’s history. The most sensitive issue that we all can connect even now with it is the independent India. The struggle India went through to become a independent nation. Here are some of those place that speak volumes about the history from our pre-independence times.
Jallianwala Bagh
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (also known as the Amritsar Massacre) was one of the saddest events that will likely never fade away from our memory. It was so horrific and saddening that even today, people are left wondering if it could have been avoided. Unfortunately, almost a century later, we haven’t received an apology or had closure.
Gandhi Smriti
Gandhi Smriti, housed in the Old Birla House on 5, Tees January Marg, New Delhi, is the sacred place where Mahatma Gandhi’s epic Life ended on 30 January 1948. Mahatma Gandhi had lived in this house from 9 September 1947 to 30 January 1948. Thus, the hallowed house treasures many memories of the last 144 days of his life. The Old Birla House was acquired by the Government of India in 1971 and was converted into a National Memorial of the Father of the Nation and was opened to the public on August 15, 1973.
Cellular Jail
Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair, stood mute witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this jail. The jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired the name ‘Cellular’ because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement. The jail museum and the sound and light show here draws your memories back to those years of freedom struggle.
Wagah Border
A border town straddling the line between Pakistan and India, 29 km from the town of Lahore on the Pakistani side and 27 km from Amritsar on the Indian side. This is the only crossing point between Pakistan and India that is regularly open to foreigners. There is daily flag raising and lowering ceremony at Wagah Border, done with fascinating pomp and ceremony that involves lots of tall soldiers in massive turbans goose-stepping about and slamming gates. Both the Indian and Pakistani border forces do this and it has become a tradition for people from both sides gather and see this. Both sides synchronize their parade and the entire event is meant to create a feel-good/patriotic fervour amongst the crowd. It is called the beating retreat ceremony.
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram, Later on it was shifted to the banks of Sabarmati river and then it came to be known as ‘Sabarmati Ashram’. Gandhi stayed at the Ashram from 1915 to 1933 later on the Ashram was disbanded. The Ashram is a witness to many important historical events. While at Sabarmati, Gandhiji lived in a small cottage which is now known as ‘Hridaya (Heart) Kunj’. It is a place of great historic value, where even today visitors find some of the things which Gandhiji used- a writing desk, a khadi kurta, a yarn spun by him and some of his letters.
