THE NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL: IS IT NECESSITY OR GIMMICK? Advocate Ms Pinny Pathak LAW AT A GLANCE Mon, Apr 08, 2019, at ,12:26 PM Finally it took six decades after it’s first proposed for the National War Memorial to be constructed and completed. The Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on 25th February 2019 inaugurated the National War Memorial (NWM). The National War Memorial, also called the All India War Memorial, is India’s first war memorial to commemorate wars and conflicts since 1947. Situated in the heart of the capital at the India Gate C-Hexagon, the memorial will be spread over approximately 40 acres, and have a 15-meter-high obelisk at its center. Names of martyrs killed in wars in 1947–48, 1961 (Goa), 1962 (China), 1965, 1971, 1987 (Siachen), 1987-88 (Sri Lanka), 1999 (Kargil), and other Operations is inscribed on a memorial wall. The memorial would honor 25,942 fallen soldiers. The identity designed for the National War Memorial is emblematic of the sacrifice and service of the Indian Armed Forces. The Memorial has five concentric circles, a central stone obelisk, and an eternal flame. The centre of the complex lies at a lower level than the surrounding features. Ishan Khosla Design LLP was commissioned by Web Design Lab, Chennai, to design the Identity and Wayfinding system for National War Memorial. The Memorial has been built at a cost of Rs. 176 crore. The Memorial is of significance. It is a way of showing respect to the soldiers who have lost life for people of this country, guarding our borders, saving us from the enemy nations and terrorist attacks of any nature whatsoever. The Memorial certainly gives respect and makes proud the soldiers and their family members. But at the same time questions are raised about the building of this Memorial. Questions such as- Is it “really” required? Is it just waste of the tax payer’s money? Why build now after so many years? Will the lost life of the soldier be brought back by this act of government? Where the soldiers family members are awaiting compensations for the lost life of the soldier, for months and years, does this Memorial remedy there condition or situation? Is this an act of politics, played upon with the lives of the army men to win the upcoming elections? Are they used as pawn in the political campaign? These are the tough questions the government is facing today. These questions are disturbing and create an unpleasant environment. No doubt the economy of the country, how the government plans its expenditure is important and a matter of concern for every citizen of this country. But to raise question when important structure is built up, when due recognition is given to someone’s hard work, it would belittle not only for whom it is built but also the good intention and motive of people involved in the work. What people fail to realize that these sentences and questions involving “is”, “if”, “then” and “why” thrown at the government are also thrown unmindfully at the army men and their family members who have lost their lives for our country. Whose dignity, integrity and hard work is been pointed at just because of the possibility or doubt of ill-motives or behaviour of a particular group of people. People should refrain themselves mingling it with political issues as this will only diminish its value. No law stops a person or authority from giving due recognition to someone’s hard work. It should be a matter of pride for the people to honour these soldiers. The politicians should not indulge in “blame-game”, “credit takers” and compare it with other areas where attention and expenditure are required. The Memorial should not be remembered or restricted to the expenditure and cost attached to it, but in fact, it should be count in the sentiments and the respect of the army men and their families. This Memorial is a way of marking respect to them where people can visit and acknowledge them, else what is done just a few speeches by the politicians, songs on them played on every 15th August and 26th January, debate on news channels about their life on the border. However, at the same time, this Memorial shouldn’t only be considered as just a masterpiece or tourist spot for people to generate money. Its importance, values, history is what should reach people. Only then the purpose of constructing this Memorial will be fulfilled.