Date:08/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/08/stories/2008010858540200.htm

Other States - Orissa

Expo on freedom struggle concludes

Staff Reporter

Children also enjoyed the expo
A replica of first national flag was also part of it

BERHAMPUR: ‘Nirdhar darshan’, a five day exhibition on Indian freedom struggle concluded at the Khallikote Autonomous College campus on Monday.

The exhibition was organised jointly by the Culture Department of the Central Government, Maharashtra State Government and Information and Public Relation Department of Orissa. It was an effort to make new generation closer to the historical happenings of the freedom struggle during the celebration of 150 years of first revolt for Independence in 1857.

Through life models of scale, pictures and decorated planks, different phases of the freedom movement from 1857 to 1947 were depicted in such a manner that could interest even small children. A model of the martyrs’ memorial at Jalianwalabag was the central piece at the museum.

Replicas of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, charkha of Mahatma Gandhi and the Enfield rifle that sparked off the revolt of sepoys in 1857 were part of the show. A replica of first national flag designed by Madam Cama was also part of the exhibition. School children could be seen gazing the replica of hangman’s noose with awe and panic, which was hanging near the section describing the heroics of martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Surya Sen etc.

Most of the schools of the city organised special visits to this exhibition. Minati Patnaik, teacher of the local DAV school said it was a rare chance to make history interesting for the students. Many children were also seen taking notes of interesting historical facts that are not presented in their history books. During evenings the exhibition also served as an interesting outing for families.