Every hero counts

After a long wait of six decades, the country saw the National War Memorial come alive in the heart of its Capital, at India Gate, on February 25. The obelisk stands tall, solemn and proud — golden letters adorning the memorial’s 16 walls symbolising the Chakravyuh formation, listing the names of 25,000 soldiers martyred in various wars post-Independence, and counter-insurgency operations. Spread over 40 acres, it has four outer concentric circles depicting immortality, bravery, sacrifice and protection — a humble proclamation that the nation remembers its brave; that it has commemorated the sacrifice to eternise their valour, and its own gratitude, in stone.

And so, the distress of a family can well be imagined upon finding the name of their loved one ‘missing’. Within over a month of the unveiling, the armed forces have begun to receive complaints from various corners of such names. The Army, as is its wont, has gone in rectification mode and is seeking details from parent units. The lapse, if deliberate, would have been inexcusable. But since the forces are known for meticulous planning and record-keeping, it could be a case of clerical error, aggravated by lack of clarity over the process and periodicity of updating records. The Ministry of Defence should announce, belatedly, the frequency of data upgrade, so families of those martyred in more recent operations know by when they can hope to see the names on the ultimate wall of honour. 

Also, the collation of data is the responsibility of various wings of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy. There should be better synergy among the three and the communication lines should remain open to ensure that every single soldier killed in ‘operational’ duty finds a mention on the resplendent walls. Who better than the forces to know a soldier does not embrace the supreme sacrifice for gains or glory; he does it for the call of duty, for the country. No hero should go unsung.