CAIRO - The future of Al Tahrir Square, the inspirational force behind the recent Youth Revolution, was discussed at a seminar organised by the National Agency for Urban Harmony (NAUH). The audience was led by professors of architecture and urban planning, talented amateurs and youngsters who championed the revolution, which toppled Mubarak. One suggestion made during the seminar, moderated by the NAUH's chief Samir Gharib, was that Al-Tahrir should be transformed into a display area of the names and photos of martyrs, gunned down or stabbed to death as they protested for social justice, freedom and dignity. Another suggestion was that this square, which has been the focus of international and regional interest, should be transformed into a huge memorial to help broadcast its revolutionary inspiration worldwide. Gharib disclosed that his agency held the seminar when it realised that many people had ideas for the future of Tahrir, which, until the January 25 revolution, was infamous for its traffic jams. According to the NAUH, the best idea should vividly chronicle the great events, which the square witnessed during the revolution, as well as the names of the martyrs, who willingly shed their blood to force out Mubarak. An engineering student told the audience that her graduation project has been inspired by Al Tahrir Square and its revolutionary history. She would like the place to be turned into another Hyde Park, to encourage young enthusiasts and nationalist figures from round the world to declare their manifestos and revolutionary ideas. The student has already designed a large-size podium for the central area of the square, in a model she has already made for it, inspired by her visiting the square during the revolution, when the square had many faces. When they weren't clashing with the riot police, youngsters camping out in the square invited eloquent speakers and talented poets to give speeches or recite agitating or satirical lyrics. Tahrir was barricaded when thugs armed with swords, iron bars and guns tried to disperse the demonstrators. At night, the exhausted demonstrators would disappear into sleeping bags or small tents to sleep, only to resume their revolutionary activities at the crack of dawn. Another suggestion was to hold an annual seminar (on January 25 or thereabouts), in order to discuss the revolution's achievements and what ought to be done next.
