Lights out, no show at Jallianwala Bagh

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 27

The light-and-sound show depicting April 13, 1919, massacre of freedom fighters by then British Brig-Gen O’ Dyer at Jallianwala Bagh is lying defunct since 2014, leaving tourists disappointed. After the Golden Temple, the next place that finds place on the itinerary of the tourists in the holy city is the Jallianwala Bagh.

Located in the vicinity of the Golden Temple, the 6.5-acre park houses a memorial established in 1951 to commemorate the martyrs massacred by the British on April 13, 1919. The British forces had opened fire on hundreds of people, including unarmed women and children, who had assembled to celebrate Punjabi New Year. While the true figure of the fatalities remains unknown, more than 1,500 people are said to have died.

The Union Government had started the 52-minute light-and-sound show as a tribute to those killed in the massacre about 96 years ago. But it has been lying defunct for the past three years.

It was on April 14, 2010, when then Union Defence Minister AK Antony had in the presence of former Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni dedicated the show to the public.

The show was a hit among spectators visiting the park.

Similarly, the 18-minute documentary, which was shown through a projector daily in seven shows at a 50-seat hall at the park, too lies discontinued for long. The software and lens used for the show is learnt to have developed a technical snag, which could not be revived to date. The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust, which is responsible for the park’s upkeep, runs under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. Union Minister Arun Jaitley had included Jallianwala Bagh in the list of heritage sites.

Trust secretary SK Mukherjee had conveyed the Union Ministry of Culture about the technical snag that had led to the discontinuation of the light-and-sound show, but in vain.

Simranjit Singh Romi, electric maintenance in charge, said the system’s software had developed a snag that prevented it to synchronise the show in proper manner. “The digital-based light-and-sound system was devised by US-based Microsoft company worth Rs 1.25 crore. With the change of times, the technology got outdated. So, it was difficult to revive it. Now, 3-D imaging technology is in existence which needs to be set up here. We have intimated the Union ministry about it, but the reply is awaited,” he said.

Gurlal Singh from Kolkata was there with a group of students. They were disappointed when they learnt about the defunct light and sound show and the documentary show. “We heard about it, but were told that it’s got defunct for long.