Former Prime Ministers Memorials
Context:
Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared seven days of State mourning and announced a state funeral. However, his cremation at Nigambodh Ghat, a site for common cremations, instead of a designated site for former PMs, drew criticism from the Congress party.
Controversy Surrounding This Step and Congress Party Demands:
The Congress party termed the government’s decision an “insult” to the former Prime Minister.
- Allegation: The cremation at Nigambodh Ghat was a departure from convention for a leader of such stature.
- Demand: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting a designated place for Dr. Singh’s cremation and a memorial.
- Despite the demand, the cremation took place at Nigambodh Ghat on December 28, prompting further criticism.
Indian Government’s Stand on This Issue:
The MHA responded to the Congress’s demands through a statement on December 27:
- It assured that space for a memorial would be allocated but clarified that the cremation could proceed as planned.
- The process of establishing a memorial involves the formation of a trust and other formalities, delaying the announcement.
- As of December 30, no official announcement regarding a memorial for Dr. Singh had been made.
Rules of Memorials for Former PMs and Maintenance of Memorials:
- There is no specific rule or government order mandating space allocation for memorials of former PMs.
- Guidelines exist for State funerals but not for memorials.
- Constitutional expert P.D.T. Achary remarked that cremating Dr. Singh at a common cremation site was a departure from tradition, as former PMs are typically cremated at designated sites.
- Maintenance:
- State Governments and local municipalities are primarily responsible for maintaining memorials.
- The Central Government oversees key memorials such as:
- Samadhis near Rajghat, New Delhi
- Morarji Desai’s Abhay Ghat in Ahmedabad
- Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu
Past Trends and Memorials
Most former Prime Ministers, except Vishwanath Pratap Singh, have memorials dedicated to them.
Key examples:
- Jawaharlal Nehru: Shanti Vana
- Lal Bahadur Shastri: Vijay Ghat
- Indira Gandhi: Shakti Sthal
- Rajiv Gandhi: Vir Bhumi
- P. V. Narasimha Rao: Memorial at Ekta Sthal, built in 2015, 10 years after his death.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was cremated at Smriti Sthal in 2018, and a memorial was constructed there within 45 days, funded by the Atal Smriti Nyas Society at a cost of ₹10.51 crore.
