Martyr’s Day being celebrated today with various programs

KATHMANDU: Martyrs’ Day, which is celebrated every year on Magh 16 (Jan 30), is being celebrated across the country today in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the establishment and restoration of democracy and the freedom of different eras.

Even though martyrs are remembered on Jan 30 every year, complaints are made on this occasion that there is not enough work to fulfill the dream.

In the official program held on this day, the commitment of the responsible officials to fulfill the dreams of the martyrs is constantly coming.

From Jan 24 to 30, different programs have been announced to celebrate Martyrs’ Week. Since the year 2012 BS, under the coordination of the then Kathmandu municipality, every year on Jan 30, the Martyr’s Day has been celebrated.

In 1997 BS, martyr Shukraraj Shastri was executed at Pachali in Teku, Kathmandu on Jan 24, Dharma Bhakta Mathema was executed at Sifal on Jan 27 and Gangalal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand were executed at Shobhabhagawati on Jan 29 by the Rana ruler while demanding independence.

On the occasion of Martyr’s Day on Monday, Jan 30, a Prabhatferi program was organized in the morning from Shantibatika Ratnapark to Martyr’s Memorial Lainchaur.

There is a program of Prabhatferi Sahid Smarak Lainchaur with the Prime Minister, Ministers, high-ranking government officials, people’s representatives, band team of security agencies and march pass team to pay homage to the known and unknown martyrs.

Similarly, preparations are being made at the National Martyrs’ Memorial which is being built in Gokarneshwor in the northeastern part of the valley as per the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 25 May , 2007 in memory of the martyrs who were martyred in the independence movement since Lakhan Thapa.

President Sudarshan Sigdel informed that the program will be organized by the National Martyrs and Peace Park Civil (Memorial) Yagyadol (Jagdol) Community Forest Tourism Promotion and Park Management Committee, which will be hosted by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

He also informed that Prime Minister Dahal has a program to inaugurate the Martyrs and Disappeared Records at the Shaheed Memorial Pillar of Gokarna and to inaugurate the National Martyrs’ Memorial. Before the year 2063, on the day of Martyrs’ Day, the state celebrated the day by holding a special program at Shaheed Gate. After that, a special program has started to be held at the Martyr’s Memorial in Lainchaur. Various organizations have organized programs to celebrate the day at Shaheed Gate.

Recently, it has been announced that a place to pay homage to the martyrs will be kept in the Republic Memorial which was built in the Narayanhiti Durbar Museum complex. Even that has not come into operation. It is said that preparations will be made to pay tribute to the martyrs after taking the oath of office of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ministers at the memorial.

It is said that even when foreign guests come, a place will be made to offer flowers in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom. Recently, when anyone is announced without a clear definition of a martyr, there is also a comment that the dignity of the martyr has been reduced.