Bhubaneswar, 18th April, 2016: Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) and Civil Aviation released a Commemorative Coin of Rs. 200/- and a Circulation Coin of Rs. 10/- on Tantya Tope on the occasion of his Martyr Day.
The Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Narendra Kumar Sinha was present on the occasion. One of the most outstanding leaders of India’s First War of Independence, Tantya Tope was a patriot of the highest order. He was captured by the British Forces on 07 April, 1859 and after a hurried trial for waging war against the East India Company, he was hanged to death on 18 April 1859 at Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh.
Ministry of Culture has been celebrating the 200th Birth Anniversary of Tantya Tope during 2015-16 in association with State Government of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively. State Government of Maharashtra organized the Inaugural Function at Shaniwar Wada at Pune on 28 February, 2016. Before that, a three day Mahotsav named ‘Shaurya Mahotsav’ was held from 26 February 2016.
A Special Lecture and Conference on Tantya Tope was organised by Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) in Delhi on 16 February 2016. The Government of India is also considering creation of infrastructure in the memory of Tantya Tope by constructing a Memorial at Yeola, Nasik, Maharashtra and a War Museum at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in association with the respective State Governments.
