Chandigarh residents hope to mark I-Day at Open Hand

CHANDIGARH - Chandigarh’s famous Open Hand monument - built by the city’s founder-architect Le Corbusier - is at the centre of a controversy with many residents saying the authorities are yet grant them permission to assemble there Aug 15 to mark Independence Day.

People from various walks of life plan to sing the national anthem at the monument - it depicts the city’s ‘open to give and open to take’ spirit - on that day. The event has been named “Jai Hey” and the organisers expect around 1,500 people, including schoolchildren.

However, this is in conflict with Section 144 of the criminal procedure code, prohibiting the gathering of over five people in this area.

The timing of the event is also clashing with the tea party of the Punjab and Haryana High Court judges, as the monument is located next to the high court complex.

“With intent to promote noble ideals, which inspired our national struggle for freedom and also to promote peace, we planned to organise a national anthem ceremony at Open Hand. This is our tribute to martyrs of the Indian freedom struggle,” Gaurav Chhabra, a social activist who runs the NGO Humlog here, told IANS.

“The event is scheduled Aug 15 between 9 and 11.30 a.m. at the Open Hand monument. But the authorities have not given us the permission as they feel it would disturb the tea party of the judges.

“We do not want to disturb the tranquillity of the area but to celebrate the spirit of democracy and freedom by singing the national anthem.”

According to the organisers, the venue was chosen because Le Corbusier had envisioned the Open Hand as a monument to bring together citizens for the cause of the city and to make their participation felt as part of a democratic system.

They had sent applications - seeking permission to sing the national anthem at the Open Hand - to the union territory administrator, advisor to the administrator, deputy commissioner, registrar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Chandigarh police chief.

“So far they have not permitted us to sing the national anthem. They are trying to curb the freedom of the common man at the cost of VVIPs and influential people,” said Chhabra.

The monument, which is part of the Capitol Complex designed by Corbusier in the 1950s, was made out of bounds for the public by security agencies in the name of securing the high court complex.

It was barricaded in April last year and entry was allowed only for judges of the high court.

However, after the continuous efforts of various social activists, entry to the monument was partially opened to the public in February this year.

But ahead of Independence Day celebrations, the Chandigarh administration has imposed a ban on the assembly of five or more persons, processions, speeches and slogan shouting all across the city.

“There are apprehensions that such groups can cause obstructions and endanger human life and property, disturb public peace and cause riots. The order would be applicable till Aug 15,” said Brijendra Singh, the district magistrate of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh officials said nobody is prohibited from visiting the Open Hand, but one has to follow the legal procedure for it.

Ram Niwas, the Chandigarh home secretary, told IANS: “We are not stopping anybody from expressing their thoughts and visiting any place but we have to follow certain rules and regulations. The Open Hand monument is very strategically located, surrounded by many important buildings, so we have to keep many things in mind.

“However, it is open to the public who can visit this place any time. They just need to apply for a permit from the administration,” stated Niwas.