| Shahid Minar | |
|---|---|
| শহীদ মিনার | |
| Shahid Minar Kolkata Arnab Dutta 2011.jpg শহীদ মিনার |
|
| Former names | Ochterlony Monument অক্টারলোনি মনুমেন্ট |
| General information | |
| Type | Monument |
| Architectural style | Egyptian, Syrian and Turkish |
| Location | Kolkata Maidan |
| Town or city | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Construction started | 1848 |
| Height | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | David Ochterlony |
The Shaheed Minar (Bengali: শহীদ মিনার), formerly known as the Ochterlony Monument (Bengali: অক্টারলোনি মনুমেন্ট), is a monument in Kolkata originally built in 1848 by Major-general David Ochterlony, commander of the British East India Company's main force to commemorate his victory in Gurkha War (1814-16).[1] In 1969, it was dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the Indian freedom movement and hence renamed as "Shahid Minar" which means "martyrs monument" in both Bengali and Hindi.[2][1]
Commonly referred as the Monument, the Shahid Minar is located at Esplanade in central Kolkata and is 48 m (157 ft) high. It has a foundation based on the Egyptian style, a column of Syrian architecture and a copula of Turkish design.[2][1]
The vast field south of Shahid Minar, known as the Shahid Minar Maidan, is used for political rallies and fairs. The first political meeting at this ground, presided by Rabindranath Tagore, was held in 1931.[2] The central bus terminus of the city is around the monument.[1]