The Government are going to rename the Qaisarbagh Victoria Park as Hazrat Mahal Park. The marble canopy, under which was once installed the statue of Queen Victoria, will now have copper plaques, with the exploits of the Begum inscribed on them.

      The decision to raise a memorial to the Begum was taken by the Government in 1958. But the decision could not be implemented, partly because of the conservation of a section of Muslims and partly because of the apathy of the Government. The Government entrusted the final decision on the monument to be raised to Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim, who was Finance Minister of U.P. at that time. Some people suggested that the statue of the Begum should be installed at a suitable place. Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim, it is said, consulted some 'leading Muslims' of Lucknow about the monument. While most of them welcomed the idea, one Maulvi is reported to have told Hafiz Ibrahim that the construction of the statue of a Muslim woman would be against the Shariat, and in case it was installed, the Muslims would start an agitation. This finally sealed the fate of the proposal.

       The plan was then shelved, but recently the new ministry took it up again and decided to complete the memorial to the Begum. A sum of Rs.50,000/- has been sanctioned towards the cost of the memorial.

      The memorial, erected in Victoria Park here, consists of a 3' x 3' square slab of marble with the seal of the household of Oudh embossed on its four sides. It is flanked by 12 pillars supporting a marble canopy.

      Victoria Park will now be known as Begum Hazrat Mahal Park.

       To mark the opening ceremony, an exhibition of historical documents, pictures and other material connected with the 1857 movement will be held at Pradarshani Bhawan near Banarsi Bagh. The exhibits also include, among other things, descriptions of the events in contemporary journals, extracts from Sirajul Akhbar, correspondence among leaders of the movement, declaration of Bahadur Shah, Nana Saheb and Birjis Qadar.

      The exhibition will remain open to public for one week, i.e. from July 5 to 12 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. everyday.

       U.P's Minister for Information and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Banarsi Das, will unveil the memorial.

       The proposed one-week exhibition to be held on the occasion depicting the freedom movement will also begin from August 15. it will remain open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.