In a significant development, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame has been merged with the National War Memorial flame. This event has made recent headlines and signals a shift in how India pays homage to its fallen soldiers.
About Amar Jawan Jyoti: A Symbol of Victory and Valor
Established in 1972, the Amar Jawan Jyoti marked India’s triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 War, a victory that led to the creation of Bangladesh. India’s then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi inaugurated it on Republic Day in 1972, following India’s military success in December 1971.
The eternal flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti, located beneath the India Gate in central Delhi, represented the nation’s tribute to the soldiers lost in various wars and conflicts since India’s independence. The India Gate memorial, built by the British Government, commemorates British Indian Army soldiers who sacrificed their lives between 1914 and 1921.
Reasons for Relocating the Eternal Flame
Although an enduring symbol, the names inscribed on the India Gate primarily memorialize martyrs who fought for the British in World War I and the Anglo-Afghan War, emphasizing our colonial past. Contrastingly, the National War Memorial records the names of all Indian martyrs from every war, including the 1971 War and others preceding and following it.
National War Memorial: A Comprehensive Tribute to Bravery
The National War Memorial was inaugurated in 2019 and is approximately 400 meters away from India Gate. Its design consists of four concentric circles, each named tellingly – the “Amar Chakra” or Circle of Immortality, the “Veerta Chakra” or Circle of Bravery, the “Tyag Chakra” or Circle of Sacrifice, and the “Rakshak Chakra” or Circle of Protection.
A proposal for a National War Memorial had first been proposed in the 1960s. The memorial pays homage to soldiers who gave up their lives defending India during the Sino-Indian war in 1962, Indo-Pak wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971, Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations in Sri Lanka and in the Kargil Conflict in 1999.
In addition, the memorial salutes the soldiers who served and made the highest sacrifices in United Nations peace-keeping missions, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, counterinsurgency operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Operations (LICO).