They say- “All things are difficult before they are easy”; but some men see beyond what is difficult and what is easy, they just believe in working hard. We are going to pay tribute to one such man today, who has done some tremendous work.
The creator of Chandigarh’s world famous Rock Garden, Nek Chand passed away on June 12, 2015. After celebrating 90 birthdays with us, this legendary man left the world in an unforgettable way. Here’s what you should know about his journey:
- Born in a village which is now in Pakistan, Nek Chand’s birth date is 15th December 1924.
Image Source - In India’s first planned city under the supervision of Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier, Nek Chand took responsibility of Public Works Department in 1951 and worked as an inspector there.
Image Source - A virtuoso, Chand began collecting waste materials and discarded items in and around the city during his spare time.
Image Source - He started recycling the material with his own vision, picking a gorge in a nearby forest, outside the city.
Image Source - Chand also managed to hide his work for 18 years, until it was discovered by authorities in 1975.
Image Source - He used cement and sand mix along with waste materials like broken glass, bangles, crockery, and iron foundry slag to create this 40 acres (initially 18) of garden space.
Image Source - In the year 1984, he was awarded Padma Shri for his phenomenal work.
Image Source - On an average 5,000 people visit the garden daily, with an annual revenue generation of INR 1.8 crore.
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The entire garden is built from industrial waste and discarded items. It is situated near Sukhna Lake. The Rock Garden of Chandigarh is one-of-its-kind in the world, and hence attracts colossal audience till date. He’s a man known for his perseverance, hard work and cutting edge skills. The most important highlight of his work still remains that he was a self-taught man, and his work became a model for the world.
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