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PM Narendra Modi set to inaugurate National War Memorial, a nation’s ode to fallen soldiers

There is no entry fee for the National War Memorial, which is meant to honour the thousands of soldiers who’ve died in the line of duty.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the National War Memorial near India Gate Monday.

The memorial, built at a cost over Rs 170 crore, seeks to honour the thousands of Indian soldiers who have died in the line of duty since Independence. As reported by ThePrint last month, it was earlier scheduled for inauguration in January, but the project was delayed.

The need for such a memorial has been under consideration since 1961, but the plan was only approved by the Union Cabinet on 7 October 2015.

After the Republic Day celebrations last year, the site of the memorial at C Hexagon of the India Gate complex was handed over to the armed forces, and construction begun in February.


Also read: National War Memorial to honour 22,600 soldiers set for R-Day eve inauguration


“This memorial aims to cover the sacrifices made by the soldiers after Independence,” said Lt Gen P.S. Rajeshwar, the chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, at a pre-launch event Sunday.

“It is a tribute by the nation to the armed forces, particularly our fallen heroes and bravest of the brave. It aims to inculcate and instil national pride. It is also going to be the inspiration for the next generation,” he added.

For the construction of the National War Memorial, a global competition was held in 2016-17, and Yogesh Chandrahsan of WeBe Design Lab was appointed project consultant.

Circles of spirit

The 40-acre area occupied by the complex has three lawns, including one main memorial, which is divided in concentric circles and can accommodate 200 to 250 people.

It has been built underground so that there is no obstruction in the view of India Gate.

The innermost circle, ‘Circle of Immortality’ or ‘Amar Chakra’, boasts of a 15.5-metre-long obelisk with an “eternal flame”, which seeks to epitomise the spirit of fallen soldiers. This area comprises the “sanctum sanctorum” of the war memorial.

The second circle, ‘Veerta Chakra’ or ‘Circle of Bravery’, consists of a covered gallery that exhibits six murals crafted in bronze to exhibit battles.

The granite slabs which has names of soldiers ascribed on them
Granite slabs with names of soldiers ascribed in gold colour | Praveen Jain / ThePrint

The third circle, the ‘Circle of Sacrifice’ or ‘Tyag Chakra’, has two rows of walls that will feature the names and regiments of 25,942 soldiers, scribbled in golden colour on a granite tablet. The walls currently include names of soldiers who have died in the line of duty till 2018, with provisions to add new names for those who sacrifice their lives in the years ahead.

The outer-most circle, ‘Circle of Protection’ or ‘Rakshak Chakra’, has rows of trees planted in a circle, which seek to represent soldiers.


Also read: This freedom fighters’ memorial is providing cheer to people & moolah to Punjab govt


Apart from the main memorial complex, there are two public plazas and one area dedicated to the recipients of Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration. Known as ‘Param Yodha Sthal’, the area showcases bronze busts of the 21 recipients so far.

There is no entry fee for the memorial, but the visiting hours will be restricted. It will be open from 9 am to 6.30 pm (November -March) and 9 am to 7.30 pm (April-October). However, the public plazas will be open around the clock.

India Gate will now have two eternal flames 

The ‘eternal flame’ of the National War Memorial is the second such tribute to soldiers at India Gate, apart from the existing one that was installed in January 1972 to commemorate India’s win in the 1971 war.

There are quite a few similarities between India Gate and the National War Memorial. India Gate also bears the names of the 13,516 soldiers who lost their lives during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan war.

The National War Memorial is tribute to the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives
The National War Memorial is a tribute to the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives | Praveen Jain / ThePrint

Like India Gate, the National War Memorial will host wreath-laying ceremonies on certain days.

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1 COMMENT

  1. May almost all the sacrifices of brave Indian soldiers lie in the past, with very few being required to lay down their lives in future.

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