What Is Rashtra Prerna Sthal? PM Modi to inaugurate memorial on Vajpayee’s birth anniversary

This 2002 photo features then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (L) and then BJP Gujarat state chief ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at an election campaign rally in Ahmedabad. 9Image credit: AFP)

• PM Modi to open Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on Vajpayee's 101st birthday
• Memorial includes statues, museum, rally ground, and yoga centers on 65 acres.
• Complex honoring Vajpayee, Mookerjee, Upadhyay built for Rs 230 crore

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Marking the 101st birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will inaugurate the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow.

The complex, a national memorial dedicated to Vajpayee’s life and legacy, will open to the public after its inauguration. The project is aimed at aligning with PM Modi’s vision of commemorating the legacy of great leaders of independent India and preserving their ideals for future generations.

All about Rashtra Prerna Sthal

According to Indian Express, the complex is spread across 65 acres, next to the Gomti river embankment on Hardoi Road on the outskirts of Lucknow. The memorial is shaped like a lotus (BJP’s election symbol). The main attraction is the three towering bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee and Upadhyay — icons of the BJP and its forerunner Jana Sangh. Rashtra Prerna Sthal, which is built at a cost of Rs 230 crore, was developed under the Basant Kunj scheme of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). Work began in 2022.

The complex also has a modern museum, a rally ground with a capacity of nearly two lakh people, an amphitheatre, meditation and Vipassana-Yoga centres, a cafeteria and other civic amenities.

The museum spans around 98,000 square feet across two floors and includes five galleries and five courtyards. It comprises five galleries and 12 interpretation walls dedicated to three leaders. In two rooms, orientation films on their lives will be screened.

“The museum is dedicated to the three great personalities. Their ideas and belongings… important events… are displayed there. For instance, the history of the formation of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) has been displayed. The idea is that people should know of their contribution in nation building,” a LDA official told IE.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that the inauguration of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal marks an important step in preserving and promoting the ideals of selfless leadership and good governance, and is expected to inspire citizens, particularly younger generations.

According to IE, BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary inspected preparations ahead of PM Modi’s visit. The party is also holding an organisational meeting in Lucknow and adjoining districts to make the event a success by ensuring the rally ground remains fully occupied during the PM’s address.