According to news agency PTI, Ramlila Maidan, spread across 12 acres, can accommodate 50,000 people. Booking the ground for one day costs a total of Rs 1.21 lakh, including a refundable security deposit and taxes.
India Today, citing officials, reported that the ground is available for booking for only three days this year: December 29, 30 and 31. Bookings for Ramlila Maidan are handled through the Horticulture Department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Organisers must also obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Delhi Police, without which the ground cannot be booked.
Officials said a smaller portion of the ground may be available free of charge, but it can accommodate only 150 people.
Ramlila Maidan has witnessed several defining moments in India's political and public life, including events associated with the freedom struggle, India's victory over Pakistan, the Emergency, the Ram Temple movement and the Jan Lokpal agitation. Over time, several organisations from Old Delhi began organising Ramlila performances at the ground, leading to its identification with the name Ramlila Maidan.
At the time, Delhi had no larger open venue, making the ground a preferred location for politicians seeking to organise large rallies and communicate directly with the public. From protests against those in power to rallies organised by the government, the ground has served as a venue for contrasting political purposes.
Indira Gandhi celebrated India's victory in the war against Pakistan at the ground. During the freedom struggle, it became a preferred venue for Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other leaders to express opposition and mobilise public support.
From Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru to Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare, several prominent figures have led political campaigns and movements at Ramlila Maidan.
In December 1952, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee held a satyagraha at the ground over the Jammu and Kashmir issue. India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, addressed massive public gatherings there in 1956 and 1957.
Jayaprakash Narayan later used the venue to raise his voice against the Congress government. On January 28, 1961, Britain's Queen Elizabeth addressed a large public gathering at Ramlila Maidan.
On January 26, 1963, Lata Mangeshkar performed at a programme attended by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1965, during the war against Pakistan, the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri reiterated the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" at a massive public meeting at the ground.
In 1972, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi held a major rally at Ramlila Maidan to celebrate the formation of Bangladesh and India's victory in the war against Pakistan. The rally drew substantial public support.
On June 25, 1975, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, alongside opposition leaders, announced at the ground that Indira Gandhi's government, which he described as dictatorial, should be removed from power. The gathering became associated with the opposition's challenge to her government during a politically significant period in the country's history.
In February 1977, opposition parties again chose Ramlila Maidan to take their message to the public. Under the banner of the Janata Party, Babu Jagjivan Ram appeared on the stage alongside Morarji Desai, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Chandrashekhar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had left the Congress or joined the opposition political formation.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Boat Club became a prominent venue for protests. However, during Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao's tenure, restrictions on demonstrations at Boat Club prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to choose Ramlila Maidan for its Ram Temple movement.
The ground has since continued to host numerous programmes organised by the Congress, the BJP, other political parties, social organisations and religious groups.
In 2011, a nationwide movement led by Anna Hazare began at Ramlila Maidan, demanding a strong Lokpal law. The ground remained in the headlines for an extended period as the agitation gathered attention across the country. The movement also led to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party under Arvind Kejriwal, which subsequently formed a government in Delhi.
That same year, Baba Ramdev staged a hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan against black money and corruption. However, following action by Delhi Police, he had to be removed from the venue.
With Jantar Mantar no longer on Delhi Police's list of designated protest sites, Ramlila Maidan's history as a venue for mass mobilisation, political dissent and major public movements has taken on renewed significance, even as booking requirements and capacity restrictions govern its use.
About The Author
Comment List