Feb 25, 2019
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the National War Memorial
for martyred jawans built at India Gate on Monday. He lit the flame at the
bottom of the obelisk to pay homage to the soldiers who died on duty.
"I do believe that for our countrymen, a visit to the National War Memorial
will be akin to a pilgrimage to a holy place. The national soldiers' memorial
is a symbol of the nation's gratitude to those men who made the supreme sacrifice
after we gained Independence," he said.
It has been dedicated to the memory of the jawans who lost their lives protecting
the nation during the Indo-China war of 1962, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and
1971, Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri lanka and the Kargil conflict
of 1999.
Symbolising the 'Chakravyuh' formation, the Memorial comprises of four thematic
concentric circles and a tall ceremonial obelisk at the centre in an area of
40 acres. There is an eternal flame at the bottom of the obelisk. It has been
built at a cost of Rs 176 crore, in a record time of one year.
A Lion Capital of Ashoka tops the obelisk. At the bottom is inscribed the famous
couplet 'Shaheed ki mazron par...' by poet Jagdamba Prasad Mishra 'Hitaishi'.
The names of 25,942 soldiers are inscribed across 16 walls.
The structure consists of four concentric circles: Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality),
Veerta Chakra (Circle of Bravery), Tyag Chakra (Circle of Sacrifice), Rakshak
Chakra (Circle of Protection).
Earlier, Modi in his Mann Ki Baat on Sunday said this war memorial was a "symbol
of the nation's gratitude to those men who made the supreme sacrifice after
we gained Independence".
