Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the grand Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on December 25, which marks the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. This sprawling memorial, dedicated to three key ideological figures of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its predecessor, will open to the public immediately after the ceremony.
A Monumental Tribute: Design and Key Features
Spread across 65 acres along the Gomti river embankment on Hardoi Road, the memorial is architecturally designed in the shape of a lotus, the election symbol of the BJP. The most striking feature is the trio of towering 65-foot tall bronze statues of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay. Each statue weighs a massive 42 tonnes and stands on a platform surrounded by a water body. Officials from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) confirm these are the tallest statues of personalities installed in the state capital.
The project, developed under LDA's Basant Kunj scheme at a cost of Rs 230 crore, saw construction begin in 2022. In the final run-up to the inauguration, roads leading to the venue are being thoroughly cleaned, decorated with flowers brought from across the country, and street lights are being repaired. The Special Protection Group (SPG) has already taken charge of the campus security.
What Visitors Will Experience
Beyond the statues, the Rashtra Prerna Sthal is a comprehensive experience. A central attraction is a two-storey museum spanning 6,300 square metres. It houses five galleries and twelve interpretation walls dedicated to the lives and philosophies of the three leaders.
The museum displays their personal belongings, important historical events, and features audio presentations of their speeches and poems. One exhibit details the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), noting that after resigning from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee decided to form a new political party with the support of the RSS in October 1951. The museum also showcases symbolic installations like a lamp (the BJS's election symbol), a Sudarshan Chakra, and a statue of Bharat Mata.
Additionally, the complex boasts a large amphitheater with a seating capacity for 3,000 people, a meditation hall, a yoga centre, a musical block, helipads, and a massive rally ground that can accommodate over 2 lakh people.
Political Significance and Preparations
The inauguration is being orchestrated as a major political event. The BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit is working to ensure a crowd of nearly 2 lakh people attends Prime Minister Modi's address at the rally ground. State party president Pankaj Chaudhary has personally inspected the preparations, and organisational meetings are underway in Lucknow and adjoining districts to guarantee full occupancy.
BJP leaders highlight the memorial's uniqueness, stating it is the first project to house giant statues of all three party stalwarts at a single location. They contrast this with memorials built by previous Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party governments for their own leaders. A party leader emphasized that the Sthal provides a dedicated, large-scale space for party workers and the public to pay tribute on birth and death anniversaries, addressing a previous lack of such consolidated space in Lucknow.
The Rashtra Prerna Sthal is poised to become a new landmark in Lucknow, serving both as a place of inspiration and a testament to the ideological foundations of the ruling party.
