Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden
Encyclopedia
The Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden ("National Dalit
Inspiration Place and Green Garden") is a memorial in Noida
, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned by Mayawati
, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and inaugurated on 14 October 2011.
The park was built at a cost of 685 crores. The Mayawati government expects to recover the cost from ticket sales.
The memorial includes a mini-museum known as the Rashtriya Dalit Smarak ("National Dalit Memorial") and a green expanse built on an area of 82.5 acres along the banks of river Yamuna. The Rashtriya Dalit Smarak is spread over 33 acres of land, and includes the statues of 15 Dalit icons, including Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram
and Mayawati
herself. It also has 24 18-feet high sandstone
statues of elephants, the symbol of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP).
The monument is dedicated to the Dalits, and has been constructed to honor the "unparalleled struggle of these stalwarts towards the struggle for social transformation".
In October 2009, the Supreme Court of India
had ordered the Mayawati government to stop the construction work, amid concerns that the project might not be eco-friendly as it is located near the Okhla Sanctuary
. In December 2010, the court okayed the project.
Since the memorial also featured her own statues, Mayawati was accused of being megalomania
c, and was criticized by the Indian National Congress
for wasting the tax-payers' money. Mayawati's BSP dismissed the allegations, and stated that her statues were erected because Kanshi Ram's will requests that his statues should be constructed next to the current President of BSP. Mayawati also accused the Congress of being "anti-Dalit".
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
Inspiration Place and Green Garden") is a memorial in Noida
Noida
Noida , short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Area, is an area in India under the management of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority . Noida came into administrative existence on 17 April 1976 and celebrates 17 April as "Noida Day". It was set up as part of an urbanization...
, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned by Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and inaugurated on 14 October 2011.
The park was built at a cost of 685 crores. The Mayawati government expects to recover the cost from ticket sales.
The memorial includes a mini-museum known as the Rashtriya Dalit Smarak ("National Dalit Memorial") and a green expanse built on an area of 82.5 acres along the banks of river Yamuna. The Rashtriya Dalit Smarak is spread over 33 acres of land, and includes the statues of 15 Dalit icons, including Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram
Kanshi Ram
Kanshi Ram was an Indian politician. He founded the Bahujan Samaj Party , a political party with the stated goal of serving the traditionally lower castes of Indian society . He transferred the BSP's leadership to Mayawati...
and Mayawati
Mayawati
Mayawati is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India. She heads the Bahujan Samaj Party, which represents the Bahujans or Dalits, the weakest strata of Indian society. This is her fourth term as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...
herself. It also has 24 18-feet high sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
statues of elephants, the symbol of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
(BSP).
The monument is dedicated to the Dalits, and has been constructed to honor the "unparalleled struggle of these stalwarts towards the struggle for social transformation".
In October 2009, the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
had ordered the Mayawati government to stop the construction work, amid concerns that the project might not be eco-friendly as it is located near the Okhla Sanctuary
Okhla Sanctuary
The Okhla barrage bird sanctuary in Okhla, near Delhi is a haven for waterbirds. In 1990, an area of on the river Yamuna was notified as a bird sanctuary by the Uttar Pradesh government under the Wildlife Protection Act of India. The site is located at the point where the river leaves of Uttar...
. In December 2010, the court okayed the project.
Since the memorial also featured her own statues, Mayawati was accused of being megalomania
Megalomania
Megalomania is a psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence. 'Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs'...
c, and was criticized by the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
for wasting the tax-payers' money. Mayawati's BSP dismissed the allegations, and stated that her statues were erected because Kanshi Ram's will requests that his statues should be constructed next to the current President of BSP. Mayawati also accused the Congress of being "anti-Dalit".