Padma Shri Nek Chand is dead is an illusion. Nek Chand is
alive and will continue to live till eternity.
A person who gave life to rocks can never die.Under the nose of Punjab /
Haryana High Court and Civil Secretariat, Nek Chand the Genius gave the planned
city a big surprise in the form of the
world famous Rock Garden in early seventies. The then Chief Engineer and the
then Head of the UT did not honour his invitation to open the Rock Garden. Nek
Chand was delighted to receive me and my elder brother at the auspicious
occasion. He was delighted to pose for a photograph (Black & White) with
us. He told us that he used to visit all village fairs and pay young boys
10paisa - 20 paisa coin to collect bangle pieces around the bangle seller at these fairs. He used to
carry sackful bangle pieces personally to the site of the Garden in making.
When Chandigarah was in making, all other PWD employees but for the honest Nek Chand made their fortune. Nek
Chand was an eyesore and laughing stock among his colleagues. He was assigned
the charge of the keeper of dead stock like empty tar coal drums, set cement
bags, fused tube lights and other useless articles, little knowing that the
naked hands of Nek Chand would infuse life in the set cement bags and the like.
Tar coal drums placed one over the other fortified the area meant for junkyard. The Rock Garden
within was finally a surprise to the authorities without the permission of whom
even position of the brick in one's kitchen needed their permission.
