Chandigarh : Nek Chand, the iconic creator of the Rock Garden, Chandigarh passed away late last night at PGIMER after a prolonged illness. He was 90. Born at Shakargarh, now in Pakistan in Gurdaspur district, Nek Chand and his family after partition settled in Punjab.
When Chandigarh was getting designed by Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier, he started working as road inspector for the Public Works department in 1951. In early 1960’s Nek Chand started work on the Rock Garden. His creative work gradually spread over several acres comprised of hundreds of sculptures. Appreciators from across the world come to visit the modern wonder of the world, over 5000 people visit the Rock garden every day .
In 1980 Nek Chand was awarded the Grand Medal of Vermeil from Paris. The garden was pictured on an Indian postage stamp in the year 1983, and a year later he was awarded with Padma Shri award for distinguished service in the arts. He was also commissioned to create gardens elsewhere, notably the Fantasy Garden at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C.
The mortal remains of late Padma Shri Nek Chandji will be kept at the Rock Garden from 10:00 A.M. to 04:00 P.M. on 13.06.2015 for the public to pay homage to the departed soul.
The public can also pay their last respect to late Padma Shri Nek Chandji, the creator of Rock Garden on the following routes. From Sector 19 & 27 light Point at 09:30 A.M. on 13.06.2015 through Sector 7 and 8 Markets and then from Sector 8 & 9 Market junction, (Near Gurdawara) to Rock Garden.
The funeral procession will start from Rock Garden at 04:00 P.M., passing through road between Sector 8 & 9, Sector 17 & 18, Sector 21 & 22 and then from Aroma Light Point will pass through Sector 22 & 23 markets and from Sector 23/24 Light Point to Sector 25 Cremation Ground via Yatri Niwas chowk.
