Tsuktiben Jamir
The DMC took an innovative approach to address waste management by inviting artists to transform discarded materials into captivating sculptures depicting the esteemed freedom fighters of our nation. This initiative contributes to environmental sustainability by repurposing waste and pays homage to the indomitable spirit of our country’s heroes. By merging art and waste management, the DMC creates a powerful synergy that helps protect the environment while honouring the invaluable contributions of our freedom fighters.
In this remarkable endeavour, artists in Delhi are ingeniously transforming scrap metal into captivating sculptures portraying India’s freedom fighters. The upcoming Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Park in the capital city will be the third waste-to-art park, following the successful establishment of the Waste to Wonder Park in 2019 and the Bharat Darshan Park in 2021. These visionary artists scour municipal junkyards and stores across Delhi, carefully selecting discarded vehicles, weathered signboards, and decaying structures, which they skillfully repurpose into magnificent sculptures that pay homage to the nation’s heroes. The 4.5-acre area, which will replace the current Shaheedi Park, includes galleries and displays about Indian history and the liberation fight.
The park will have statues of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh. “There is a plan to highlight important events of the freedom struggle and the various movements by creating figures and frames with waste material,” an SDMC official told The Times of India.
Mrunal Kahar, a 35-year-old artist, is among the talented artists who craft sculptures that pay tribute to India’s freedom fighters. With protective goggles shielding his eyes, he diligently sifts through a mound of discarded scrap, searching for components from a long-forgotten automotive engine. At a scrapyard doubling as a workshop, he carefully collects aged pipes. Mrunal’s current endeavour involves recreating a life-sized metal sculpture of Chandrashekhar Azad, the Indian revolutionary, complete with a meticulously crafted Colt Model 1903 pocket pistol—an emblem of the freedom fighter’s unwavering spirit.
The park at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg will not only serve as a recreational space but also portray the remarkable narrative of the country’s freedom movement. A DMC official mentioned that this park would be a tribute to the heroes of our freedom struggle. Ten sets of sculptures will be thoughtfully installed in the park as part of this endeavour. He also stated that these installations would encompass various significant periods, such as the Golden Period of Bharat, the Maratha Empire, the indomitable Sikh Empire, the Freedom Struggle of 1857, Jan Andolan, Cultural and Social Awareness, the Freedom Struggle, the Fight against foreign invaders, the Swadeshi Movement, Satyagraha and India’s Independence, and the Constitution and Integration of Princely States.
