History is usually boring if we try to read and learn it from textbooks, but when we actually visit that place and experience it and feel its presence, history becomes so exciting that we all get keener and want to learn more about it.
For me history is a subject with lots and lots of dates and events to remember which sometimes for me gets pretty boring because I usually think that what benefit I’m getting by all of this? I got my answer while visiting a historical place in Delhi.
Delhi is a historical city. It has been called by different names in different periods of time. On one hand there are Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, India Gate which narrate the glorious past of India; while Rashtrapati Bhawan, Lotus Temple, Parliament, to name a few, are the wonders of modern times.
Personally India Gate is my all-time favourite place among all the others. It is located in the centre of New Delhi and it is built of Red Sandstone and Granite. Originally known as the All India War Memorial, it is a prominent landmark in Delhi and commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. Also the memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan war of 1919. It represents the perfect architecture style of the Europe and India. It resembles with the Arc de Triomphe of Paris and the style of Mahabalipuram architecture of India which makes it even more interesting.
I had a keen desire to visit it long ago and when the day came and my long-cherished desire turned into reality it was not disappointing at all. The environment of that place and that positive vibe filled with happiness is what I loved the most about it and whenever I go to that place I feel extremely proud of my country and our soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our country without thinking about themselves but only for the country because a soldier doesn’t fight because he hates what’s in front of him, but he loves what’s behind him.
India gate is not only a historical place but also a place for family outings. Whenever the weather is good, most of the delhites including me prefer to go to India gate. It’s a great place for a decent family picnic where I usually go with my family to enjoy the pleasant weather and spend some time with my family and the Boat Ride at India Gate surely makes my day, It’s not that dramatic, but it’s so fun and I really enjoy it a lot . Many street vendors are present there and we can find different varieties of food especially the gol gapaas, chuskis and bhuttas , accessories, toys and many more also the street monkey performance which makes it even more attractive especially for the kids to make their parents spend money on these items which is one the reasons I love this place!
There is also a black marble plinth which is erected under the India Gate which is called Amar Jawan Jyoti or the Flame of the Immortal soldier which was originally inaugurated on 23rd Republic Day in 1972 after the Liberation War of Bangladesh. However, since then, it has been the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers and is dedicated to all the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the Nation.
Every Republic Day parade takes place from India Gate and on that day India Gate is full of people present to enjoy the parade and experience the glory and the great culture of the different states of our country India.
Even on school trips when we go to India Gate, visiting again makes it not at all boring but gives us the chance to make more and more memories and to learn more and more amazing facts about it through our beloved teachers who helps us to even see through the latent glamour and see beyond it, our great history and sacrifice of our people who made us what we are right now.
At night India gate is breathtakingly beautiful at night. The lighting is just perfect with the colour of our flag that is tricolor on it which makes a late night visit is a must.
From candlelight vigils to a late night ice cream, there is always something for everyone at India gate and age, class and time no bar – you can walk in any time of the day or late at night, and find the place abuzz with people from walks of life. Early mornings have health conscious walkers and joggers pacing up and down Rajpath. Lunchtime is for ‘sarkari babus’ to lounge around on the soft grass, playing cards under the cool shade of trees in the lawns around the monument , and by evening the place is dotted with picnicking families. Sometimes while watching them I feel that maybe they can also feel the presence of that little wave of patriotism which is spread all over the place and people are actually enjoying and also they are proud of their country and its own unique wonders which cannot be found anywhere but here in India and was also called as the golden bird long ago because of its rich culture, history, purity etc.
During my visit I realized something that history is not only a subject for just mugging up the past but to understand it to predict the future and help in creating it and also studying history gives us wide opportunities to get better understanding of our past as well as to count on great achievements and avoid the horrific mistakes that we may make in the future.
So, I can say that my visit to a historical place had made me realize the importance of history and made me even like it as well.
—Writer, SIA VERMA, Ahlcon International School, a Participant of the International Essay Competition held in July.
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