NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL
The Deputy Prime
Minister, Shri L.K. Advani will lay the Foundation Stone of the
National Police Memorial in New Delhi on December 13, 2002. All
though Memorials for the police martyrs existed at places like
Hot Springs (Laddaksh), Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) and Kalimpong
(West Bengal), a need was always felt by the police of the country
for a National Police Memorial. This in their view could create
preserve and enhance public awareness of the sacrifices made by
countless policemen in the country. Since Independence about 25000
policemen all over the country have laid down their life while
discharging duties.
The need for a National
Police Memorial can hardly be over-emphasized considering the
fact that perhaps no nation in the world owes so much to its police
forces as we do to ours. Such a memorial will be an acknowledgement
of the incalculable debt that the society owes to the policeman.
It would go a long way in lifting the morale of policemen and
inspire them to rededicate themselves with renewed vigour to the
service of the nation and people. The Memorial would also give
a sense of identity, unity of purpose, common history, and a sense
of camaraderie to the diverse police forces of the country which
have to work shoulder to shoulder in meeting grave challenges
to national security and public order. Also, the National Police
Memorial would be a testimonial to the invaluable role being played
by the police forces in ensuring an orderly, peaceful and safe
society – a sine qua non for the development and progress of the
country.
In January 2002,
7.54 acres of land, near Pt. Uma Shankar Dikshit Marg at the north
end of Chankyapuri, was allotted for the construction of the National
Police memorial. The CPWD prepared various designs and models
of the Memorial out of which the one showing four pillars holding
the earth aloft was selected. The project will be executed and
implemented by the CPWD. The construction work is expected to
take about 18 months. It is expected that this prestigious Memorial,
when completed, would become a great attraction for the Indian
people as also foreign tourists.
