Tribute

Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Dedicated to Nation

20 August 1944 - 21 May 1991

SRIPERUMBUDUR: As the sound of conches rent the air at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, the President, Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, dedicated on October 10 to the nation the Rajiv Gandhi Ninaivakam (Memorial), at the site he was assassinated over 12 years ago. The occasion was marked by the chanting of prayers of different religions.

The Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi, Smt. Priyanka Vadra and Shri Robert Vadra besides six Congress Chief Ministers and a host of party leaders, were present at the 12.19-acre memorial for the sombre ceremony.

The President read out a prayer he had penned for the occasion : "...Embed the thought that nation is bigger than the individual in the minds of the leaders and people. Oh God, bless my people to work with perseverance to transform the country into a peaceful and prosperous nation."

A view of the seven columns representing the seven ideals of Good Governance that Rajiv Gandhi upheld

Standing close to a marble portrait of Rajiv Gandhi inlaid with scattered flowers installed at the exact spot where the former Prime Minister fell to a suicide bomber on May 21, 1991, Shri Kalam also prayed for guidance to "my people to develop an attitude to appreciate different ideologies and transform enmity among individuals, organisations and nations into friendliness and harmony."

The Rs. 21.15-crore memorial constructed by the Central Public Works Department, conceived and created by an array of eminent artists over the past decade, features seven pillars topped by a bronze capitol, each depicting a concept. Two children standing besides each of the pillars explained the seven ideals - Dharma, Truth, Justice, Science, Sacrifice, Peace and Progress.

A portion of the frieze with Rajiv Gandhi's figure in the centre

Thereafter, the tragic events of the night of May 1, 1991 were recalled. A group of school children brought a red cloth in a ceremonial procession on the final, few steps taken by Rajiv Gandhi and laid it in front of the marble portrait of the departed leader.

After listening to the speech with her eyes closed, Smt. Gandhi accompanied the President to pay floral tributes to the portrait of Rajiv Gandhi.

A portion of the frieze with Rajiv Gandhi's figure in the centre

The leaders then took a look at the bas relief work on a grey granite stone wall at the southern end of the Memorial which captures the journey of Indian civilisation with a stylised sculpture of Rajiv Gandhi in the middle.

The Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Bandaru Dattatreya, whose Ministry organised the function, the Tamil Nadu Governor, Shri P.S. Ramamohan Rao, the Union Environment Minister, Shri T.R. Baalu, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister, Shri A. Miller, and the Congress Chief Ministers, Shri A.K. Antony, Shri Ashok Gehlot, Smt. Sheila Dixit, Shri S.M. Krishna, Capt. Amrinder Singh, Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, and Shri N. Rangasamy were present.

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