Azad Maidan

Azad Maidan (formerly known as Bombay Gymkhana Maidan) is a triangular-shaped maidan (sports ground) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is located on 25 acres (10 ha) of land near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station. It is a regular venue for inter-school cricket matches. The name Azad means "liberty" in Persian. The ground is known for its cricket pitches, for protest meetings, and for political rallies. The Bombay Gymkhana clubhouse was built in 1875, at the southern end of the maidan.

History

The vast expanses of land of the Oval Maidan, Azad Maidan, Cooperage Ground and Cross Maidan until the early 20th century formed the area known as Esplanade.

Mahatma Gandhi addressed the largest ever political meeting at Azad Maidan in December 1931.

Part of the site will be closed in 2015 to allow for construction of a station on Line 3 of the Mumbai Metro.

Cricket

The ground hosts twenty-two cricket pitches. The cricket pitches at the ground have produced many international cricketers. On 20 November 2013, Prithvi Shaw created history with 546 runs and in 1987 Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli shared a 664 run record partnership during a Harris Shield school match at Azad Maidan.

Azad Maidan (monument)

Azad Maidan is a martyrs' monument in the Indian state of Panaji, Goa. It is located opposite the Goa Police headquarters on MG Road, Panaji. It is located at 15°30′0″N 73°49′34″E / 15.50000°N 73.82611°E / 15.50000; 73.82611.

Overview

The present day Azad Maidan is a square land with a domed monument erected by the Portuguese. In 1843, a statue of the legendary Portuguese general Afonso de Albuquerque was laid inside the domed structure, the statue later transferred to the state museum in old Goa. It is said that the iron beams and granite pillars for the monuments were brought from the Convent of S. Domingos, Velha Goa. The pillars and columns for the dome came from the College of St. Thomas Aquinas, located on a hillock of Conceição. The Azad Maidan monument today holds a brass memorial dedicated to the distinguished Goan freedom fighter Dr. Tristão de Bragança Cunha(1891-1958). In the modern times, the square also became a melting pot for the Goans, where different opinions were voiced and issues discussed openly.