Delhi to celebrate 150th anniversary of First War of Independence

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) Delhi government will organise various programmes in the national capital to celebrate the 150th anniversary of 1857 First War of Independence.

Apart from providing support to a 'march' from Meerut to Delhi, it was decided to organise various events starting from May this year. The finale would be held in May 2008.

This was decided in a high-level meeting, chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, attended by Education Minister Arvinder Singh, Secretary Education, Development Commissioner and senior officials of all the Academies, Sahitya Kala Parishad, DTTDC, Archaeology Department, Directorate of Information and Publicity and special invitees.

It was also decided to hold an exhibition of rare photographs, post cards, lithographs, cartoons including newspaper clippings from British dailies and journals published during 1857. The exhibition would be mounted in prominent galleries and would remain open for general public for month or so at two three places one by one.

All the MLAs would be requested to help in identifying places associated with the historic event in the city.

The Archaeology Department had been requested to submit a list of such places so that they could be lighted during the celebrations.

Apart from this, places like Khuni Darwaza, Kashmiri Gate, Zafar Mahal and Ajit Garh that were already known to be associated with the struggle in 1857 would have special description plaques placed at them. The description would be bilingual and make the public aware about the role of Delhi in the First War of Independence.

Besides, light and sound programmes were also planned.

It was also decided to exhibit charts showing direction of such places.

Plays in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi would also be staged bringing to life various happenings of the struggle.

Noted celebrities would recite poetry of zauq, Ghalib, Zafar and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan at different places.

Seminars and other intellectual interactions would also be organised in association with universities in the capital.

UNI