PEAKLIFE

Take a walk down memory lane and visit a place, which reminds you of the history behind this freedom.

The charm, the grandeur and the royalty is how India can be described. Not only in monetary terms but the country is also rich in terms of culture, traditions, heritage sites and everything. Here is the list of some important places which played a pivotal role in the freedom movement and without which the story of India’s Independence Movement is incomplete.

Lucknow Residency, Lucknow

Built during the rule of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, the British Residency of Lucknow is a famous historical landmark of this place. It is now in ruins and has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The British Residency was the place that served as a refuge for approximately 3000 British inhabitants during the time of the uprising of 1857 revolt. Today, the British Residency of Lucknow serves as a government office. The Residency also has a museum that is well-maintained by the authorities.

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in Amritsar famous for one of the most tragic yet landmark events in the history of India. This is where the Amritsar Massacre of 1919 took place. The British Army soldiers upon receiving orders from General Dyer opened fire on a huge, unarmed gathering of men, women and children on April 13, 1919. There were 1000 of people dead and around 1500 causality. Today the monument is made a made into memorial, saving some of the bullet marks on walls and adjoining buildings.

Red fort, Delhi

Built by Mughal ruler Shahjahan when he transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi, Red fort is one of the important monuments during the freedom struggle in India. It is enclosed by a rubble stone wall, with bastions, gates and wickets at intervals. The significance of the splendours monument is that the first tricolour of Independence was hosted here, by the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Cellular Jail, Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Isolated from the mainland, this jail also referred as Kala Pani that has witnessed the most atrocious punishments imposed on prisoners. Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was built by British in India. This most dreaded and gruelling colonial prison situated in the remote archipelago was used by the British particularly to exile Indian political prisoners. The jail is now open to public viewing as a National Memorial, and its museum gives one a glimpse of years of India’s struggle for freedom. Today the jail is a museum and exhibits the memories of martyrs in the galleries. Here one can also see the light and sound show depicting the freedom struggle.

 Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad

After 2 year of the return from the South Africa Gandhi established the Ashram in Sabarmati, which was the living example of his ideologies. The Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Harijan Ashram) was home to Mohandas Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. Originally called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free. Named after the river, Sabarmati Ashram was created with a dual mission. To serve as an institution that would carry on a search for truth and a platform to bring together a group of workers committed to non-violence who would help secure freedom for India.

Netaji Bhawan, Kolkata

Built in the year 1909 by Janakinath Bose, father of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the site has an immense historical importance. Netaji lived in this house during the Indian freedom movement and this house was the centre of political activities for freedom fighters. The ancestral home is preserved and managed by Netaji Research Bureau. Bureau has immensely contributed to the life and history of Netaji and collected relevant materials from across the globe. Netaji Research Bureau established the Netaji Museum in 1961. The museum is a wonderfully organized biographical museum, devoted to the life of Netaji.

Aga Khan Palace, Pune

The Aga Khan Paplace was built in the year 1892 by the Sultan Mohammed Shah, Aga Khan III, later it was the important monument during the freedom struggle. Following the launch of Quit India movement in 1942, Gandhiji, his wife Kasturba, his secretary Mahadevbhai Desai was interned at the palace from August 9, 1942 to May 6, 1944. Mahadevbhai and Kasturba passed away while in captivity at the Aga Khan palace and their samadhis are located in the campus. Situated near the River Mula, the palace is a simple memorial to Gandhi and his life and serves a historic museum.