National War Memorial & Indian Soldiers

A Homage to our Brave Soldiers

• Two friends share feelings about brave soldiers and gratitude for the freedom enjoyed due to sacrifices.
• The letters exchange expresses the deep impact of the National War Memorial.
• The memorial symbolizes the patriotism of Indian soldiers.

Soumya's Letter

• Soumya K. from Bengaluru writes to Ananda on April 14, 2022.
• Soumya recalls their conversation about war and India's struggle for independence.
• Post-independence, India has fought wars to protect its borders and people.
• Soumya shares her experience from an educational trip to the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
• The construction of the National War Memorial began in April 2018 and finished in February 2019.
• The memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019.
• It is spread over 40 acres of land near the India Gate.
• The National War Memorial is a tribute to the bravest Indians.
• The teacher explained that India has fought many wars even after independence and the security enjoyed is because of the Armed Forces.
• Many brave soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country after 1947.
• Each brick of the memorial is called a tablet, bearing the names of soldiers who fought for India.
• The memorial includes the Indo-China conflict of 1962, Indo-Pak Wars in 1965 & 1971, and the Kargil War in 1999.
• There are 29,000 tablets with over 26,000 names etched.
• India recognized the sacrifice of brave soldiers with gallantry awards such as Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Kirti Chakra (KC), Vir Chakra (VrC), and Shaurya Chakra (SC).
• Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded India's first PVC in the Battle of Badgam in 1947.
• Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Major Hoshiar Singh were awarded the PVC in the 1971 war.
• Navy personnel, including Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, were awarded MVC for courage and leadership.
• The citation of Param Vir Chakra awardee Lance Naik Albert Ekka touched hearts and motivated people.
• Lance Naik Albert Ekka (No. 4239746) of 14 Guards was in the left forward company of a Battalion of the Brigade of Guards during an attack.
• Lance Naik Albert Ekka noticed an enemy Light Machine Gun inflicting casualties and charged the bunker.
• Despite being seriously wounded, he continued to fight and cleared bunkers until he silenced a Medium Machine Gun, saving his company.
• He received serious injuries, succumbed after the objective was captured, and displayed valour and sacrifice.
• The National War Memorial includes Amar Jawan Jyoti which commemorates soldiers.
• The Amar Jawan Jyoti is an immortal flame that is kept ablaze to revere the sacrifices and used to be alighted under the arch of India Gate since January 1972.
• The National War Memorial includes Amar Jawan Jyoti in the obelisk.
• The obelisk is surrounded by four chakras lit by the Prime Minister to commemorate fallen heroes and merged with the India Gate Flame.
• The lighting design transforms the monument's landscape from dawn to dusk.
• The National War Memorial consists of 4 concentric circles named Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, Tyag Chakra, and Raksha Chakra around a 15-meter-tall obelisk.
• The memorial also houses bronze and stone murals and graphic panels.
• Amar Chakra: The innermost circle represents the ‘Circle of Immortality’ with the Obelisk and Eternal Flame.
• Amar Jawan Jyoti symbolizes the immortality of fallen soldiers, assuring that the nation remembers their sacrifice.
• Veerta Chakra: The second circle, also known as the ‘Circle of Bravery’, with a gallery that exhibits six bronze murals of armed forces' actions.
• Tyag Chakra: The third circle represents the ‘Circle of Sacrifice’ with circular walls symbolizing Chakravyuh.
• Granite tablets on the walls are dedicated to each fallen hero of post-Independent India, with names etched in golden letters.
• Raksha Chakra: The outermost circle represents the ‘Circle of Protection’.
• Rows of trees reassure citizens about their safety, with each tree standing for soldiers ensuring territorial integrity.
• The visit to the National War Memorial and surrounding Kartavyapath with lawns and buildings took one day.
• The war memorial created an emotive experience that was visually inspiring.
• The class decided to make presentations on valour stories after the visit and will share experienced during assembly.
• Soumya will present the story of Major Padmapani Acharya, who fought in the 1999 Kargil War and received the Maha Vir Chakra.
• Major Padmapani Acharya was assigned to capture a fortified enemy position on June 28, 1999.
• Heedless of bullets, Major Acharya charged, lobbed grenades, and continued fighting till his death.
• He wrote a letter to his father quoting the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita before battle.
• Soumya in Bengaluru shared her experience noting she was inspired.
• She misses Ananda's Mom's Chhole Bhature.

Ananda's Reply

• Ananda in Chandigarh writes back to Soumya on April 24, 2022.
• Ananda enjoyed reading about Soumya's visit and observations on the National War Memorial in Delhi.
• War memorials express gratitude for the brave soldiers and those martyred.
• Ananda feels motivated, thinking of joining the Armed Forces to serve.
• It is a duty to visit such places to honor valiant soldiers, whose sacrifices enable freedom.
• The school's visit arrangement to learn about India's heroes is appreciated.
• The idea of making a presentation at school is wonderful.
• Ananda recalls visiting a war memorial on National Martyrs Day in Chandigarh's Bougainvillea Garden in Sector 3.
• Ananda was reminded of the poem "Pushp ki Abhilasha" and inspired.
• Captain Anuj Nayyar was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for valour in the Kargil War.
• Meena Nayyar wrote a memoir titled "Tiger of Drass– Capt. Anuj Nayyar – 23 Kargil Hero."
• The National War Memorial mobile app provides answers in 21 languages.
• The act of collecting stamps is philately.
• They remembered Soumya when they ate fluffy idlies.