Rock Garden demolition assault on UT’s artistic, cultural identity: Residents
A large number of residents gathered near the Rock Garden today to protest the recent demolition of a wall of the world-famous tourist spot. The protesters, wearing green as a symbol of their commitment to environmental and heritage preservation, also took out a march under the banner of “Uniting for Our Chandigarh”.
Carrying banners and shouting slogans, the protesters termed the demolition as an “assault on the city’s artistic and cultural identity”. The demonstration was spearheaded by prominent citizens, environmentalists and artists, including Saving Chandigarh’s core committee members Deepika Gandhi, RK Garg, Paveela Bali, Amrita Singh, Samita Kaur, Amandeep Singh and Priyanka Saini, Rock Garden creator Nek Chand’s granddaughter.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari tweeted: “The Rock Garden is a part of the evolution of Chandigarh — a young if not an infant city by the standards of antiquity. The balance between aesthetics and development is always a tough equilibrium for a growing, developing and emerging city. The trick is to find the Golden Mean. However, the exchange between demolishing even a wall of the Rock Garden and expanding a parking lot is a bit of a stretch even by the standards of development absolutists. We must preserve, protect, promote and proliferate the aesthetics of Chandigarh like the Rock Garden.”
Yesterday, Nek Chand’s son Anuj Saini accused the administration of recklessly discarding irreplaceable materials stored by his late father for future restoration. “This is not just about a wall, it is about erasing the legacy of a globally recognised artist and a piece of Chandigarh’s soul,” he said.
Environmentalists highlighted the alarming loss of green cover in the name of modernisation. “Governments, businesses and individuals must recognise that true progress lies in preserving nature while innovating solutions that align economic and environmental interests. After all, what use is a commercial empire if it stands on the ruins of a destroyed environment?” asked Paveela Bali, a noted environmentalist.
Prominent architect and former Director, Le Corbusier Centre and Chandigarh Architecture Museum, Deepika Gandhi stressed the need for adherence to Chandigarh’s original Master plan, warning that “unchecked urbanisation will irreversibly damage the city’s unique character.” The others, including theatre artiste Neelam Mansingh and advocate Satinder Singh Randhawa, grandson of city planner Dr MS Randhawa, called the decision to demolish the wall hasty and ill-conceived. He said why alternative parking solutions were not explored.
“There are much better solutions to manage the traffic situation. The Rock Garden is a significant landmark of the city and must be protected and preserved. The cutting of the trees along the path is particularly shocking. Trees are essential for maintaining ecological balance, providing clean air and supporting local wildlife. Their destruction contributes to climate change and diminishes the beauty of our surroundings. The reason Chandigarh has been a livable city is due to the foresight of Dr MS Randhawa under whose watchful eye the entire city was covered in greenery. Every healthy tree, which is cut, is a disservice to our past, present and future generations,” said Randhawa.
Protesters urged the administration to immediately halt further destruction and work towards restoration. They demanded transparency and public engagement in future projects that impact the city’s heritage. They emphasised the broader implications of the demolition, with many calling for greater citizen involvement in urban planning decisions.
Despite the rain, the protesters walked up to the Sukhna Lake to raise awareness on the ‘preservation cause’. Many visitors to lake also joined in the protest.
