Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Construct A Memorial In Honour Of Late Shri Rajguru, An Eminent Freedoms ... on 30 August, 2010
> Title : Need to construct a memorial in honour of Late Shri Rajguru, an eminent freedoms fighter in Maharashtra.
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Mr. Chairman, Sir, it would have been better if the Cabinet Minister who was in this House just a short time before, had responded, but I would request the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to lend his ears and, if possible, may respond to this important aspect.
Seldom anyone will remember Shivaram Hari Rajguru today. But he is remembered as only Rajguru along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. Last Tuesday, that was 24th of August, his native village celebrated his 101st Birth Anniversary. They have kept his name alive. But what efforts have been made by the nation to remember him?
Today, a proposed international airport, a residential school, an SEZ and acres of farm land are Rajguru Nagar’s current claim to fame. Yes, the people of his village have named their village as ‘Rajguru Nagar’, which is 45 kilometres from Pune, in Maharashtra. The memorial to freedom fighter, Rajguru is nowhere near complete.
Most of the ‘Wada’ as they call it in Maharashtra, where he lived, is dilapidated. Only the room where he was born in 1908 and the outhouse have been restored, and the retaining wall along the Bhima river has been built. The rest of the work on the place, it seems, has been abandoned.
In 2008, during the monsoon Session, I had drawn the attention of this House about the Centenary Celebration of Rajguru. I do not know what steps have been taken by the Government. Do we not remember that Rajguru was sent to the gallows by the British in 1931 along with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev? Is it not necessary to keep alive the memory of our freedom fighters and martyrs for the future generation?
I do not belong to Maharashtra but Rajguru belongs to this country, to this nation, and he gave away his life for our freedom. I would like to get a response from the Minister and the Government. If only he can speak a few words, at least what I have uttered here can be circulated tomorrow. We should have discussed this matter, and for the last one week I have been trying to raise this matter. I would like to get a response from the hon. Minister.
DR. TARUN MANDAL : Sir, I would like to associate with the issue raised by Shri Mahtab.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY): Sir, the hon. Member has raised a very serious issue of the freedom fighter. According to the hon. Member, his Centenary was celebrated last year. Whatever possible could be done will be done. We will take it up with the Ministry concerned, we will see that his original house is restored and also he will be remembered by the society.
SHRI B. MAHTAB : Thank you, Sir.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Hansraj G. Ahir and Dr. Tarun Mandal are associating with the issue raised Shri B. Mahtab.