Rashtriya Prerna Sthal: 63-foot statues redefine Lucknow’s memorial politics

By Admin

15 Dec, 2025

Introduction
Lucknow’s urban landscape has long reflected the political priorities of successive governments through grand memorials and public spaces. With the upcoming inauguration of the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, the city is set to witness a new chapter in memorial politics one that focuses less on vast land parcels and more on vertical symbolism.

A memorial defined by height, not spread
Spread across 65 acres in Vasant Kunj, the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal is modest in size when compared to earlier memorial parks built in the city. However, officials associated with the project say its visual and symbolic impact far outweighs its physical footprint. The defining feature of the memorial is the installation of three towering 63-foot statues of BJP ideologues Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee.
Each statue weighs nearly 42 tonnes, making them the tallest statues installed at any park or memorial in Lucknow to date. Specially designed foundations have been constructed to ensure stability and long-term safety under varying weather conditions.

Inauguration and political symbolism
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is proposed to inaugurate the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal on December 25, 2025, marking the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The timing and choice of leaders commemorated underline the BJP’s intent to assert its ideological legacy within Lucknow’s civic and political geography. Unlike earlier projects that emphasized scale and expanse, this memorial seeks to command attention through its vertical presence.

Final preparations in full swing
With the Prime Minister’s visit less than two weeks away, the Lucknow Development Authority has accelerated work at the site. Landscaping, lighting, internal pathways, approach roads, and safety arrangements are being completed on a war footing. Multiple departments including municipal authorities, traffic police, the power department, and the district administration have been mobilised to ensure readiness.
According to an LDA official, instructions have been issued to complete all pending works on priority, with special emphasis on presentation, safety, and crowd management well ahead of December 25.

A city shaped by changing political visions
Lucknow’s memorial landscape tells a story of evolving political priorities. During the Bahujan Samaj Party government led by Mayawati, large memorial parks dedicated to Dalit leaders and social reformers came up across the city. Prominent among them is the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal in Gomti Nagar, inaugurated in 2008 and spread over around 107 acres, featuring a stupa, red sandstone elephant statues, and a museum.
Other projects from that period include the Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal, Buddha Vihar Shanti Upavan, the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Ecological Park covering about 112 acres, and Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, a major venue for rallies and public gatherings.

Green spaces under the Samajwadi Party
During the Samajwadi Party governments led by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, the emphasis shifted towards expansive green and recreational spaces. The Janeshwar Mishra Park, inaugurated in August 2014, spans roughly 376 acres and now hosts a range of leisure activities under a public-private partnership model.
Similarly, the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Park in Gomti Nagar, developed around 2007, features jogging tracks, open gyms, and a large lake. The statue of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia installed there stands at about 20 feet, significantly smaller than the new installations at Rashtriya Prerna Sthal.

From wide to green to tall
With the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, the BJP has introduced a distinct architectural and political vocabulary into Lucknow’s memorial politics. Where the BSP built wide and the SP built green, the BJP has chosen to build tall. The 63-foot statues are not just physical structures but statements of ideology and presence, signaling a shift in how political legacy is being inscribed onto the city’s skyline.