The National War Memorial is a monument built by the Government of India near India Gate, New Delhi, to honour the Indian Armed Forces. The memorial is spread over 40 acres of land and is built around the existing chhatri near India Gate. The memorial wall is flushed with the ground and in harmony with existing aesthetics. The names of armed forces personnel martyred during the armed conflicts of Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, 1961 War in Goa, Sino-Indian War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, 1987, 1987-88, 1999, and other operations such as Operation Rakshak, are inscribed on the memorial walls. A National War Museum will also be constructed in the adjoining Princess Park area. The Princess Park is a 14-acres large area north of India Gate, with barrack-like accommodations built during World War II. Since 1947, it has served as family accommodation for mid-level armed forces officers posted in the Service Headquarters in New Delhi. The proposed National War Museum will be connected by metro. The construction of the War Memorial and Museum is expected to cost ₹500 crore., killed during the Kargil War.
Architecture and design
A global design competition was conducted and the result was announced in early April 2017. A Chennai architectural firm, WeBe Design Lab's proposal was declared the winner and was accordingly chosen for the conceptualization of the architectural design and for coordinating the construction of the project. The chief architect of the National War Memorial is Yogesh Chandrahasan of WeBe Design Lab, Chennai. Chandrahasan, who designed the project, said: The National War Memorial and Museum was designated as a Special Project, and the task of its "timely execution" was allocated to a Special Projects Division under the Chief Administrative Officer, and the Military Engineer Services. The Memorial has four concentric circles and a central obelisk, at the bottom of which burns an 'eternal flame' representing the immortal soldier. The concentric circles are called:
Amar Chakra
Veerta Chakra
Tyag Chakra
Rakshak Chakra
section of the National War Memorial. In picture is Major Somnath Sharma, PVC.These four concentric circles are designed as a Chakravyuh, an ancient Indian war formation. The Param Yodha Sthal houses the busts of the 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour.
Timeline
1960 - The Indian Armed Forces first propose a national war memorial.
2006 - In the face of persistent demand from the armed forces and veterans for a war memorial, the United Progressive Alliance government constitutes a Group of Ministers' to examine the demand. In 2006, the Ministry of Defence decides that the war memorial should be set up in the vicinity of India Gate, but panels under the Ministry of Urban Development say that it is a heritage area and should not be built upon.
20 October 2012 - After 50 years, the government marks the anniversary of the offensive by the Chinese People's Liberation Army against Indian border defences on 20 October 1962, by a solemn ceremony at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, to honour Indian soldiers killed in the 1962 war. At the ceremony, A. K. Antony announces that the government has conceded the long-standing demand of the Indian Armed Forces for a national war memorial, and that it will be built near India Gate. He adds that the group of ministers has cleared all outstanding issues on the matter and the armed forces will finally get their wish. The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, opposes this plan.
February 2014 - In the build-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi speaks about how the previous government had failed to construct the war memorial.
7 October 2015 - The Union Cabinet passes the proposal to build the war memorial. It also clears ₹500 crore for the memorial and museum, sanctioning ₹176 crore for the memorial alone.
May 2016 - The Union Cabinet is apprised of the decision taken by the Empowered Apex Steering Committee that the Princess Park Complex would be the suitable site for construction of the National War Museum. The National War Memorial would be constructed at ‘C’ Hexagon of India Gate as approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held in October 2015.
30 August 2016 - A global design competition for the National War Memorial and Museum is launched on the MyGov.in web portal.
April 2017 - The result of the global design competition is announced. Mumbai-based sP+a Studio's proposal wins for the design of the National War Museum. Chennai-based WeBe Design Lab's proposal is declared the winner for the design of the memorial. A total of 427 submissions are received for the "Global Design Competition for National War Memorial" while 268 submissions are received for the "Global Architectural Competition for Indian National War Museum". The jury was led by architect and planner Christopher Benninger.
15 August 2018 - The National War Memorial misses the first deadline for its inauguration.
1 January 2019 - The National War Memorial's construction is complete.
25 February 2019 - The National War Memorial is inaugurated.
