New Delhi: ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ has been merged with ‘National War Memorial’ Jyoti on Saturday.
The existence of Amar Jawan Jyoti was questioned two years ago after the National War Memorial came into existence.
Questions were being raised that now that the War Memorial has been set up for the martyrs of the country, then why should a separate flame continue to be lit at the Jawan Jyoti.
Although earlier the Indian Army had said that the Amar Jawan Jyoti would continue, as it is an inseparable part of the country’s history.
Heads and visiting representatives of the three armies used to bow their heads at the Jawan Jyoti and have been paying respect to the martyrs.
On all important days like Republic Day and Independence Day, the chiefs of the three armies have been making their presence felt at the Jawan Jyoti.
But with the new eternal flame at the National War Memorial and the wreath laying ceremony at the memorial on all scheduled days, the force will now merge the Amar Jawan Jyoti into the same flame.
What is Amar Jawan Jyoti?
Let us tell you that the eternal flame known as Amar Jawan Jyoti was built in 1972 under the India Gate arch in the memory of the soldiers who were martyred in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
It was built in December 1971 and was inaugurated in 1972 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi under the India Gate at Rajpath in New Delhi.
Amar Jawan Jyoti has a marble pedestal with a tomb on it. “Amar Jawan” (Immortal Sainik) is written in golden letters all around the memorial. At the top stands an L-1A-1 self-loading rifle with the helmet of the Unknown Soldier on its barrel. The asana is tied to four urns, one of which holds a continuously burning flame.
What is the National War Memorial?
The National War Memorial has been built in the memory of all the soldiers and unsung heroes who have sacrificed their lives while protecting the country since independence.
It is spread over 40 acres near the India Gate complex. It is dedicated to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Indo-China war of 1962, Indo-Pak in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 Kargil wars.
Along with this, it is also dedicated to the soldiers martyred during the operations of Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and during the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.
