The Jallianwala Bagh massacre is a monstrous event that had stunned the country. The central government set up the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust in 1951 and the memorial was inaugurated by President Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1961. And while Jallianwala Bagh underwent several repairs over the years, the narrow alley leading to the Bagh remained untouched for almost 100 years. The entrance made of Nanakshahi bricks continued to evoke the horrors of that day until July last year when it was rebuilt into a gallery leaving no trace of the old alley. The renovation of Amritsar’s Jallianwala Bagh has led to concerns of history being erased and citizens are unhappy.
The Narrow Lanes Of Jallianwala Bagh Has Murals & A Shiny New Floor
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly-renovated Bagh on August 28. As a part of the renovation, the walls of the narrow lane that Dyer led the soldiers through now have murals and human sculptures. The narrow lane which the British soldiers blocked to ensure no one escapes from the Bagh, now has a shiny new floor. Plus the lane is partially covered to prevent the birds from sitting on the sculptures.
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Devastated to hear that Jallianwala Bagh, site of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, has been revamped – which means that the last traces of the event have effectively been erased. This is what I wrote of the memorial in my book, describing a space that has now itself become history. pic.twitter.com/GypQfrOulq
— Kim A. Wagner (@KimAtiWagner) August 28, 2021
Netizens Are Unhappy With The Makeover
However, there has been a huge outrage on Twitter after the news of the renovation. Professor of Global and Imperial History Kim A Wagner tweeted, “Devastated to hear that Jallianwala Bagh, site of the Amritsar Massacre of 1919, has been revamped –which means that the last traces of the event have effectively been erased. This is sadly just part of the general Disneyfication of the old city of Amritsar.”
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Heartbreaking to see Jallianwala Bagh’s historic entrance permanently destroyed by way of renovation. Those walls told stories. Their plainness reminded Indian visitors of their own neighbourhoods, their own homes. https://t.co/CTn77e2omX
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) August 29, 2021
Many more reacted to the renovation. What are your thoughts about the revamp?