The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Memorial to a legendary freedom fighter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 13, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Memorial to a legendary freedom fighter

Special Corespondent

The Velu Thampi Dalawa memorial is located at his
birth-place in Thalakulam.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Velu Thampi Dalawa, minister of erstwhile Travancore and one of the legendary freedom fighters who sacrificed his life in the battle against British imperialism, will soon have a befitting memorial at his birthplace at Thalakulam in Kanyakumari district.

Work on the Chitrakalamandalam Velu Thampi Dalawa Memorial Centre and Historical Museum is progressing on schedule, says president of the centre Muttacadu Raveendran Nair.

The memorial is located on the premises of the Dalawa’s house.

The Rs. 1.5-crore project involves restoration of the sprawling mansion and a pond on the premises; construction of a guest house; an eight-foot-high statue of the Dalawa and statues of Agasthyar, Kambar and Thiruvalluvar; an art gallery to depict events in the life of the valiant freedom fighter; and a 20-foot-high statue of Kalliyankattu Neeli.

The premises will be provided with a granite boundary wall, landscaped grounds, gateways and car parking facilities.

Chitrakalamandalam, a society for promotion of arts and culture, is footing the first instalment of the project cost totalling Rs. 10 lakh.

The remaining amount is to be mobilised from the Union Ministry of Tourism and other institutions and individuals, Mr. Nair said.

He said the monument was expected to be opened to the public next year.

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