New Delhi 16 June – Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the newly constructed Prerna Sthal in front of Building Gate No. 7 of the Samvidhan Sadan, in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha Shri Harivansh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju today. Members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha also remained present on the occasion.
After the unveiling of the commemorative stone slab, the dignitaries offered floral tributes at the statues installed at Prerna Sthal.
Earlier, during an interaction with media persons, Shri Birla said that statues of 15 leaders and great freedom fighters are installed inside the Parliament House Complex who have made important contributions to the history, culture and freedom struggle of the nation. Noting that these statues were located at different places within the Parliament House Complex, he mentioned that it was difficult for the visitors to see all the statues. Shri Birla said that many visitors did not even know where these statues stood in the Parliament House Complex. He said that the main objective of the construction of Prerna Sthal is that these statues within the Parliament complex should be installed at one place in a beautiful and picturesque lawnS. That is why it was decided to create a designated spot to ensure that the visitors could come and pay their respect to these great leaders.
Shri Birla added that after the inauguration of the new Parliament building last year, the work of beautification of the Parliament House Complex has been going on continuously. Mentioning that the Parliament House Complex comes under the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Birla informed that any work carried out within the complex, requires the approval of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Under this arrangement, the statues were shifted to Prerna Sthal.
Shri Birla informed that the broader plan for the Parliament House Complex includes transforming the area into a green belt with numerous gardens and water bodies, showcasing indigenous and seasonal plants to celebrate India’s rich floral diversity. Additionally, to promote eco-friendly practices, battery-operated vehicles have been introduced to transport MPs from the gates to the Parliament House.
Shri Birla said that there is also a plan to use the latest technologies to inform visitors to Parliament House Complex of the life stories of these Great leaders to ensure that people are inspired by their philosophy, and teachings. As such, this place is named Prerna Sthal. He added that a large number of school and college students visit the Parliament House Complex who would take inspiration from the life philosophies of these great souls. Shri Birla expressed confidence that Prerna Sthal would prove to be an inspiring place for everyone. He further added that lawns and gardens have been laid around the statues at ‘Prerna Sthal’ where visitors would be able to easily pay tributes and also take inspiration from their life stories, which will be made available through a QR code.
Shri Birla further said that this is not the first time that statues have been shifted in the Parliament House Complex. Earlier, during the construction work of the new building of Parliament, the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Motilal Nehru and Chaudhary Devi Lal ji were respectfully shifted to other places within the Complex. He also pointed out that during the last century, the Parliament House Complex has undergone many changes. From its original structure in the 1920s, the complex now consists of five buildings: the Parliament House of India, the Samvidhan Sadan, the Parliament Library Building, the Parliament House Annexe, and the Extension to Parliament House Annexe. During these changes, the statues and gardens have been moved respectfully, ensuring the prominence of the statues.
