Names of Galwan martyrs at war memorial by Republic Day

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24

The names of the 20 soldiers, killed in the Galwan valley clash with the People’s Liberation Army of China on June 15, will be inscribed on the National War Memorial here possibly by Republic Day next year.

The memorial located in the India Gate complex has more than 26,000 names of those who have died in line of operational duty, including wars, insurgencies and rescue operations, since 1947.

Official sources said the responsibility of adding the names to the memorial is entrusted to a committee, which is slated to meet in October 2020. The memorial was opened in February 2019 and since then names have been added to the existing list just once. The names of 20 bravehearts of the Galwan clash and others who have died in operations will be inscribed in golden letters on granite tablets arranged in a circular pattern on one of the 16 walls of the memorial. The pattern symbolises the ancient Indian war formation “Chakravyuh”.

Everyday as the sun is about to set, a solemn ceremony is conducted at the memorial. The Tricolour and flags of the three armed forces are lowered amid full military regalia with the famous “Last Post” playing in the background, all timed to perfection as daylight disappears behind Raisina Hill.