| Rajiv Gandhi Memorial | |
|---|---|
 View of the memorial complex | |
 Interactive map of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial | |
| General information | |
| Type | Memorial |
| Location | Sriperumbudur,Chennai, India |
| Coordinates | 12°57′38″N79°56′43″E / 12.9605°N 79.9452°E /12.9605; 79.9452 |
| Groundbreaking | 2003 |
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(1984–1989) Legislations Treaties and accords Missions and agencies Controversies Wars and attacks | ||
| Gallery: Picture, Sound, Video | ||
Rajiv Gandhi Memorial is amemorial to the formerIndian prime ministerRajiv Gandhi inChennai, India. The memorial is located atSriperumpudur at the site where he wasassassinated on 21 May 1991. It was opened on 10 October 2003 by thenPresident of IndiaAPJ Abdul Kalam.
Thenprime minister of IndiaRajiv Gandhi was assassinated by asuicide bombing inSriperumbudur inTamil Nadu, India on 21 May 1991.[1] At least 14 others, in addition to Rajiv and the assassin, were killed.[2] It was carried out by theSri Lankan Tamil separatist organizationLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a retaliation to theinvolvement of theIndian Peace Keeping Force in theSri Lankan civil war.[3][4]
Amemorial was planned by theGovernment of India at the site where Rajiv was assassinated.[5] TheGovernment of Tamil Nadu allocated 12.19 acres (4.93 ha) of land for the memorial in June 1994. It was built at a cost of₹211.5 million (equivalent to₹1.4 billion or US$16 million in 2023).[6] It was designed by K T Ravindran, and was built by theCentral Public Works Department.[7] It was opened on 10 October 2003 by thenPresident of IndiaAPJ Abdul Kalam, in the presence of Rajiv's widowSonia Gandhi.[8]
At the spot where Rajiv died, a square marble plinth measuring 1.03 m2 (11.1 sq ft) stands on a raised platform. TheJaisalmer marble isinlaid with a portrait of Rajiv, and embedded in a pink stone block. The platform is surrounded by seven 15 m (49 ft) highgranite pillars each measuring 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in diameter. The pillars are mounted by various capital figures made of bronze, which weigh about 1.5 tonnes. The seven pillars were designed to represent the seven concepts inHinduism namely,dharma,satya,nyaya,vigyan,tyaga,shanti, andsamriddhi. They also represent the seven sacred rivers –Ganges,Yamuna,Godavari,Brahmaputra,Narmada,Sindhu, andKaveri. Various quotations of Rajiv are carved at the base of each pillar.[6][7]
Towards the south of the memorial is a granite stone wall measuring 45 m (148 ft) in length and 4.8 m (16 ft) in height. The wall consists ofbas relief work depicting the transformation ofIndian civilization. The wall consists of Rajiv's words, "I am young and I too have a dream...". The path taken by Rajiv before the accident is marked by pink granite stones, leading up to the central plinth. The complex is surrounded by lawns, and various lighting.[6][7]
With Rajiv Gandhi's gruesome assassination, the suicide bomber had well and truly arrived
12°57′37″N79°56′43″E / 12.9602°N 79.9452°E /12.9602; 79.9452
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