Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday inaugurated the new light and sound show at Red Fort that returned to the Mughal-era monument in a new avatar after a gap of over four years. Shah said that the programme was being initiated in the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and would introduce the younger generation to an iconic historical place in India.
The hour-long show at Red Fort is narrated by Amitabh Bachchan. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)
“It’s said that people who don’t learn from history can never build a great nation. Today, the light and sound show in a concise duration of roughly an hour brilliantly summed up a number of key learnings and acts of courage from India’s history over thousands of years till today,” said Shah.
While lauding the efforts of the Bharat Dalmia group and the team behind the show, Shah said that such shows were needed to introduce the younger generation to the country’s rich history. “The transformation of Red Fort is a successful example of the efforts of the ministry of culture which is taking steps to make historical places of India a place of inspiration,” said Shah.
The Bharat Dalmia group had adopted the Red Fort in December 2018 under the Union tourism ministry’s ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme.
Titled ‘Jai Hind’, the immersive light and show presents India’s history starting from the 17th century till the present day, and is narrated by Amitabh Bachchan. Unlike the previous light and sound show where the audience sat in one place, ‘Jai Hind’ is a walk through experience staged at the Naubat Khana, Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas — three key locations in Red Fort.
The hour-long show divided into various parts --- the decline of the Mughal empire, the 1857 War of Independence, the rise of the Indian National Army and the INA trials, the fight for Independence and India’s progress over the past 75 years. These chapters in India’s history were demonstrated during the show through projection mapping, live-action films, light and immersive sound, actors, dancers and puppets. Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Tryst with Destiny speech as well as Prime Minister Modi’s August 15, 2022 Independence Day address was also included in the show’s script.
Shah said that the government had already started a number of programmes to acquaint the younger generation with individuals who had sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom. He added that the Red Fort show was another addition to the country’s journey towards “Azadi ka Amrit Kaal”.
“This ancient country used to be known as ‘sone ki chidiya’ once. From that phase till today, each and everyone who has sacrificed their life for the freedom of the country should be known to our children and youngsters. This show is starting at a time when we are marking Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has organised several programmes during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to make our young generation aware of the countless martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom,” said Shah.
He added that ancient centres of learning such as Takshashila and Nalanda historically attracted scholars from all across the world. Shah added that India has set a goal to become the foremost country once again as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. “With the collective effort of the 130 crore people of India, we have to show our resolve to make the India the top nation in the world,” said Shah.
He said that for the last eight years, people in the country were walking together with strong determination, energy, and confidence.
Sadia Akhtar is a reporter at Hindustan Times where she covers education, heritage, and a range of feature stories. She also writes about refugee communities and tracks stories at the intersection of gender and social justice. Before joining HT's Delhi team, she reported from Gurugram and Mewat where she tracked politics, education, and heritage.Read More
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