Nagpur: Built as a tribute to the martyrs of India's freedom struggle, Nagpur's historic Jaistambh today stands abandoned, surrounded by neglect and stripped of the dignity it once commanded. Disturbed by its deteriorating condition, citizens have now appealed to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking urgent intervention to restore and beautify the monument.
Historical Significance of Jaistambh
Social activist Deepak Lalwani, who has written a letter to the chief minister, said the foundation stone of Jaistambh was laid on August 15, 1947, by the then chief minister of the erstwhile Central Provinces, Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla, along with home minister Dwarkaprasad Mishra, to commemorate the sacrifices of freedom fighters.
For decades, the monument stood proudly at Jaistambh Square near Nagpur railway station. However, in November 2013, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) dismantled it to facilitate the construction of the Ram Jhula flyover. The Jaistambh was shifted to a former octroi post near the State Bank of India, where it has remained largely forgotten.
Citizens' Appeal and Concerns
"Authorities are spending crores to transform Nagpur into a modern city, but a structure symbolising our hard-earned independence has been left to decay," Lalwani said. "Its present condition reflects complete disregard for the memory of those who laid down their lives for the nation," he added.
"As citizens, it is our responsibility to bring such issues to the attention of the state's top leadership to ensure accountability," he said. The memorandum urges the state government to undertake immediate restoration and landscaping works and reinstate the monument's historical significance.
Government Response
Responding to concerns, an official from NMC's sanitation department said the civic body would ensure regular cleaning of the premises and appealed to citizens to cooperate in maintaining cleanliness around the heritage structures and public spaces across the city.
For many residents, however, cleanliness alone is not enough. They believe the Jaistambh deserves restoration befitting a monument raised in the first hours of Independent India, rather than being left as a forgotten relic of the nation's past.
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