Sambalpur: Freedom fighters were remembered on the occasion of 75th Independence Day celebrations across the nation, Sunday.
However, freedom fighters are yet to get due regard in western Odisha. For instance, the western Odisha Freedom Fighters’ Memorial Hall and Museum at Gourisankar Sahani Park in the city is in a dilapidated state due to lack of maintenance.
With an objective to glorify the role of western Odisha in the freedom struggle and to make the present generation aware about the freedom fighters from this region, the memorial and museum was set up and a park was developed to contribute to the beauty of the building, spending a whooping Rs 3.5 crore.
When it was announced that the memorial and museum was coming up, people welcomed it, hoping it will go a long way in informing the youths about the freedom fighters of western Odisha of the like of Veer Surendra Sai, Nrusingha Guru, Bhagirathi Pattanaik and Chandra Sekhar Behera and their sacrifices.
Many of them went to jail and kissed the gallows. Spread over 1.28 acres, the memorial hall and museum were inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik February 27, 2016.
There is a 20 feet high pillar in front of the two-storied building in memory of the martyrs. As per plan, portraits of freedom fighters with brief history about them were supposed to be installed in the museum.
Besides this, it was supposed to have the articles they used so that the visitors, particularly those belonging to the present generation, are aware of the freedom fighters from the region.
Five years have passed since the inauguration of the museum, but it continues to remain locked, triggering resentment among local people. The building has nothing but a sign board to inform people that it is memorial hall and museum.
There is nothing inside the museum – not even a single portrait of a freedom fighter. Since the building is lying unused and neglected for long, anti-social elements are using it as their favourite haunting ground.
With no one there to guard the building, electrical equipment and other articles are also missing, resulting in the building losing its beauty.
While the outer walls of the building have a thick layer of dust, liquor bottles, used plastic glasses, empty gutka sachets and piles of garbage are piled on the premises.
The memorial pillar is also covered with grass and bush. It is learnt that the administration is just wriggling out of its responsibilities attributing the present condition of the building to shortage of staff. Residents of the town residents condemned the way the administration is trying to shuffle off its responsibilities.
They have urged the administration to take steps for early opening of the memorial hall and museum and maintain it properly.
PNN