LUCKNOW: Lucknow Cantonment’s decision to rename five markets dating back to the British era is aimed at bringing the city’s public spaces closer to India’s freedom struggle, social consciousness and tradition of national service, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.Addressing a gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for development projects in Lucknow Cantonment, Singh said Royal Artillery Market had been renamed Ekta Market, while British Cavalry Market would now be known as Uda Devi Market. British Infantry Market has been named Mata Deen Valmiki Market and another British Infantry Market as Mangal Pandey Market. Kennedy Market has been renamed Atal Bihari Vajpayee Market.“Renaming is not merely changing a board. It is changing memory,” Singh said, adding that the new names would encourage children and residents to learn about the personalities associated with them.He said the name Uda Devi would remind people of the woman freedom fighter who fought the British during the 1857 uprising in Lucknow. Mata Deen Valmiki’s name, he said, represented the contribution of marginalised and working-class communities to the freedom movement. Mangal Pandey symbolised courage and resistance, while former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee represented national service, public service and democratic values.Singh also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 14 development projects in the cantonment. Twelve of the projects are being funded by the Ministry of Defence, while two are being implemented in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh govt. The projects have a combined estimated cost of around Rs 101 crore.Describing the 12 Ministry of Defence projects as more than construction works, Singh said they represented commitments towards building a cleaner cantonment, improving water supply, providing better educational opportunities for children, creating sports facilities for young people and strengthening civic amenities.He said the development of a cantonment should involve preserving its heritage while providing modern facilities. Singh also referred to revised building bylaws in cantonment areas, including Lucknow, under which buildings can now be constructed up to stilt plus ground plus three floors, compared with the earlier ground plus two-floor provision.“Developed India” could not be defined only by large infrastructure projects and modern buildings, he said. It also meant ensuring access to clean water, quality education, healthcare, sports opportunities and equal opportunities for children with disabilities.Singh praised the Lucknow Cantonment Board and called for continued cooperation among the Defence Ministry, army, state govt, industry and citizens to create a cleaner, safer and more modern cantonment.
