National War Memorial - A Dream fulfilled - The temple of our "Gods in Uniform"

 

Gaurav Negi

25 Feb 2022

INDIA

 

"India Gate" was constructed in 1931 by the British in the memory of soldiers of British-Indian Army who died during World War -1

 

After Independence, this War Memorial of World war -1 was continued as the memorial of post-independence Indian soldiers.

 

Soldiers and families of martyrs made repeated requests to the Govt of India to construct a dedicated and better memorial for Indian soldiers but the Govts paid no heed.

 

Successive Govts kept putting up excuses….

 

Congress Party leader and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had opposed setting up of the long-awaited National War Memorial at the India Gate complex, saying 'it will affect the ambience of the area and restrict people’s movement at the popular hangout zone'

 

…This is disgusting, to say the least !

.

 

1947

- India became independent. Soldiers were martyred protecting Kashmir…. But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1950

- The first Param Vir Chakra was posthumously awarded to Maj Somnath Sharma…. But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1962

- India suffered humiliation by the Chinese because of Nehru’s incompetence. Thousands of soldiers were martyred….. But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1964

– Nehru died. A royal memorial was made for him over 52 acres of land in Delhi

 

1971

-Indian Armed Forces created history and altered the geography of this world by splitting Pakistan into two parts. 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered. This was the largest military surrender in the world.......But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1984

- Indira Gandhi pushed Indian Army to conduct ‘Operation Blue Star’ in Golden Temple of Sikhs. Army suffered….. But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1984

- Indira Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards. A royal memorial was made for her over 45 acres of land in Delhi

 

1987

- Rajiv Gandhi pushed Indian Army into Sri Lanka as “Indian Peace Keeping Force” to suppress Tamil fighters. The Army had to suffer losses and had to withdraw later. Maj Ramaswamy Parmeswaran was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra …..…But War memorial was NOT made.

 

1991

- Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a Tamil girl. A royal memorial was made for him over 15 acres of land in Delhi

 

They had enough land and surplus money for members of the “Disastrous Family” but had no respect for more than 26,000 martyred members of the armed forces.

 

Even the British who were illegally ruling over India respected Indian soldiers !

 

Finally when Shri Narendra Modi assumed charge as the Prime Minister of India, 

he made this dream a reality.

“National War Memorial” राष्ट्रीय समर स्मारक – the temple of our GODS IN UNIFORM was inaugurated three years back on 25 February 2019.

 

 

Jai Hind !