Amar Jawan Jyoti: All you need to know about the National War Memorial

Amar Jawan Jyoti: All you need to know about the National War Memorial

The Amar Jawan Jyoti is a war memorial that honours the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. It was built after the 1971 war and inaugurated on January 26, 1972, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Amar Jawan Jyoti translates to ‘Immortal Soldier Flame’. It was known as the National Memorial of India until February 2019; after that, a new National War Memorial was built in New Delhi.

The older flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate was merged with the new flame at the National War Memorial on January 21, 2022. The memorial represents harmony with the existing layout and symmetry of the Central Vista and the magnificent Kartavya Path.

It has a base of 15 square feet and a height of 4 feet 3 inches. The base is a black marble pedestal that is 3 feet 2 inches tall. The black pedestal has the words ‘Amar Jawan’ engraved in Hindi in gold on all four sides.

The set-up included four urns and four burners. Only one of the four burners is lit on regular days, while on certain occasions, such as Republic Day, all four burners of the Amar Jawan are lit. The Military Engineering Services is responsible for keeping the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame ablaze.

History

The eternal light at the Amar Jawan Jyoti beneath India Gate in central Delhi was an iconic symbol of the nation’s tributes to the soldiers who died in numerous wars and conflicts since independence. Established in 1972, it commemorated India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War, which resulted in the establishment of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Amar Jawan Jyoti on Republic Day 1972 after India defeated Pakistan in the December 1971 war.

The flame of the original Amar Jawan Jyoti was initially fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, but later it was transitioned to pipelined natural gas (PNG). The flame was later merged with another eternal flame at the National War Memorial.

The National War Memorial was built to commemorate all the soldiers who have laid down their lives in various wars, battles and conflicts.

Significance

Over 26,000 Indian Armed Forces soldiers have sacrificed their lives defending the country’s sovereignty and integrity since independence. The National War Memorial therefore symbolises a nation’s devotion to its Armed Forces. The memorial also promotes a sense of belonging, good moral values, sacrifice and national pride in our citizens.

The memorial serves as a testament to our soldiers’ sacrifices during numerous conflicts, United Nations operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations since independence.

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