PM Modi Pays Tribute to Fallen Soldiers at National War Memorial on Republic Day
Prime Minister leads the nation in honouring India’s war heroes ahead of Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to India’s fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial on Monday, marking the start of the 77th Republic Day observances.
Accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the memorial and led the nation in a solemn tribute. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received him at the memorial.
During the ceremony, uniformed officers presented a salute, while dignitaries observed a two-minute silence to honour soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the service of the country. The silence concluded with the sounding of the ‘Rouse’ by buglers, followed by the ceremonial command ‘Salami Shastra,’ formally ending the tribute.
Before leaving, Prime Minister Modi signed the Visitors’ Book and then proceeded to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path for the Republic Day parade.
Located near the India Gate complex, the National War Memorial was inaugurated in 2019 and stands as a tribute to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in various conflicts. These include the 1962 India-China war, the wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971, the Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Spread across nearly 40 acres, the memorial features four concentric circles — Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, Tyag Chakra and Rakshak Chakra. The names of 25,942 fallen soldiers are engraved in golden letters on granite slabs. At its centre stands a 15.5-metre-high obelisk with an eternal flame. The complex also houses six bronze murals depicting major battles fought by the Indian Armed Forces.
