Blue Plaque Honour UK – Burning Issues

Why in news?

A blue plaque is being added to the house in Bloomsbury in London, where World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan once lived with her family.
This is the first Blue plaque to honour a woman of Indian origin.

She served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret organisation set up by the British government which sent spies into countries invaded by Germany, to try and help people living under Nazi occupation there.
Noor worked as a secret agent in Paris and is thought to be Britain’s first Muslim war heroine in Europe.

What is Blue Plaque?

London’s famous blue plaques link the people of the past with the buildings of the present.
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the UK and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker.
The plaque is an emblem of English heritage pride.

History of the ‘Blue Plaque’

The idea of placing commemorative plaques on historically significant buildings was first mooted in 1863.
The idea was to honour important people and organisations who have lived or worked in London buildings.
Currently, the blue plaque scheme is being run by the charity organisation, English Heritage, that takes care of historic sites and buildings in England.
In 1867 the first blue plaque commemorated the poet Lord Byron at his birthplace, 24 Holles Street, Cavendish Square.
Across the city of London , over 900 plaques honour the notable men and women who have lived or worked in them

Eligibility

To be eligible for an English Heritage blue plaque in London, the famous person concerned must-

Have been dead for 20 years or have passed the centenary of their birth.
Be considered eminent by a majority of members of their own profession; have made an outstanding contribution to human welfare or happiness;
Have lived or worked in that building in London for a significant period, in time or importance, within their life and work; be recognisable to the well- informed passer-by, or deserve national recognition.
In cases of foreigners and overseas visitors, candidates should be of international reputation or significant standing in their own country.

Indians

While Khan is the first woman of Indian origin to be honoured with a blue plague, it has been erected on houses and venues associated with several Indian men including
Mahatma Gandhi Raja Ram Mohan Roy B R Ambedkar Jawaharlal Nehru