An OLD saying from Indian Saint

There is nothing more to add..........

Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal , Lucknow

 With the incoming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, a notification by Election Commission to Cover up the statues representing the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Leader Ms Mayawati and its Election symbol –Elephant, created as lot of interest and discussion in the media, which ultimately resulted in the implementation of Election commission order and all the Statues coming under the purview of election commission order were covered up till the election process is finished.

With the incoming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, a notification by Election Commission to Cover up the statues representing the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Leader Ms Mayawati and its Election symbol –Elephant, created as lot of interest and discussion in the media, which ultimately resulted in the implementation of Election commission order and all the Statues coming under the purview of election commission order were covered up till the election process is finished.
I was in Lucknow during December first week, I got the opportunity to visit one of the massive Memorial, which is considered to be a very pet  project of  BSP chief.
Symbol of Dalit empowerment, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Park in Lucknow, India, now rechristened Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal, was conceived for the first time, in 1995, with an initial investment of Rs 9 crore. The park was designed and landscaped by eminent artist Satish Gujral. Initially, it was constructed on 28 acres of land in posh Gomtinagar, and it now has grown to 100 acres.

The project, which began afresh in August 2007, at an estimated cost of Rs 385 crore. About 350 artisans from Rajasthan and 3,000 labourers  worked day and night to complete the project. almost all existing structures in the rechristened Sthal were pulled down, redesigned or remodelled.

“The total cost of the project is estimated to cross over Rs 1,200 crore (USD 240 million) . The Sthal  has  two fountains, each costing Rs 3 crore (USD 0.6 million) and an ‘Elephant court’, which  houses 60 red sandstone elephants, each costing approximately Rs 65 lakh. Additionally, 10 marble elephants are being carved at the main dome and gates, with Rs 34 crore allocated for them. The cost of the sandstone boundary wall is estimated at a staggering Rs 1.10 lakh per running metre (appx USD 2.2 million per KM). The boundary wall of the Sthal alone is now 30 kilometres long.

I would like to present the Memorial in  four parts;

a) ARCHITECTURE- Most of the Structures are designed and constructed using the SANDSTONE, whereas the central area is covered with GRANITE FLOORING.

b) CENTRAL DOME :- The central Dome entrance and exit has huge WOODEN GATES, with a pair of Marble Elephants at the entrance and same setting of  pair of elephants at the exit side as well. In the dome, Life and history of  Dr. Ambedkar  is depicted in Statues. Statue of  Ms Mayawati, along side the Full Map of the Parivartan sthal memorial can be seen here.

   

 

c) GREENARY : The entire Park area of around 100 acres is covered with Sand stones and Granite, with a very Little area left for greenery, and whatever greenery which can be found represents a kind of Arid / Desert area.

 
  d) EMPLOYMENT: With such a massive construction, it requires a lot of Funds and man power for Maintenace. In fact in the present circumstances, till the BSP government is in Power, The areas related to  Security and cleaning has given employment opportunities to some.

 

For a  MONUMENT WITH SUCH MASSIVE INVESTMENT, I TRIED TO SHOWCASE THE MONUMENT IN LIGHT OF ARCHITECTURE ,  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT  AND SOCIAL IMPACT.

I LEAVE IT TO MY BLOG VISITORS TO DECIDE ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND UTILITY OF SUCH MONUMENT, FOR A REGION,  WHERE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY SCARCE, WHERE  A LOT OF NEED TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION OF THE MASSES IN TERMS OF BETTER HEALTH, EDUCATIOB, BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MORE INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TO GENERATE  JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

Full Set of photographs can be visited HERE.

Remarks- Above Facts and details are taken from the news paper reports and may be indicative. Hope above photo essay will give opportunity to my blog visitors to get aquainted with a project - Which to me is a show case -  A BIG THOUGHT OF A POWERFUL POLITICIAN CAN MAKE A BIG  DIFFERENCE...all depends on how it is conceived !!!  

Visitors comments welcomed..

When Fog takes over .....

During  Winters, when the night temperature falls and Humidity in the atmosphere  freezes to form Frozen Water vapours,  giving a chance to an experience of standing in the  midst of floating clouds on the plains....






Taking shots on a foggy night gives a typical effects as visible in the attached Picture

WILDLIFE

SQUIRREL POSING !!!!

 The Wilds are full of wonderful creatures.Came across a segment of wild life somes uses Wings, Some uses Legs while some uses their scales to crawl....

SNAIL ON A FLOWER

LANDSCAPES 2

Waterfall with smooth water streams

Mountain Slope

Happen to travel to Botanical Garden, got the opportunity to click a lot of Pictures, Posting first, some of the Lanscapes which attracted and gave an opportunity to try shooting with Long Stopper.

NIGHT by the BAY

PALMS AGAINST GIANT WHEEL

Posting couple of Photos of  Night by the bay...

For me in these photos the point which attracts are;
PHOTO 1
- The Dark lit back ground and the Long extended Light reflections on water surface.
- Giant wheel seems stationary though the shot is a long shot.
- Dark shadow of the Palm trees in the forground generates interest in the frame.

MBS AGAINST THE BLUE BACKDROP

PHOTO 2
- The deep blue sky with scattered clouds gives a livly feel to this picture.
- The underlit curving  of the Rising Bridge, provides a upward motion fill.... 

BLACK & WHITE - LANDSCAPES

 As already mentioned in my earlier post  about Black & White Photos, Mr Andy Beel- Photos and his explainations about Black and White prompted me to work out some more Black and whites, which are posted alongside....


Left side shot is a stage set up for a Malay marriage ..

 

The above Picture intrests me for its plateau shaped ground, Plam trees with their reflections on the rippled water

The right side photograph has a wooden bridge with symmetric archs and a boy on bicycle just crossed over....