The War Memorial issue has been in the news for a few weeks and the debate on where its final resting place is is gathering confusion. I am quite surprised that they want to put another War Memorial in the same park (Indira Gandhi Musical Park).
The World War I Memorial to the unknown soldier was moved from Minsk Square to this park just a few months back. This memorial also covered all the wars from 1965 through 1971 and others.
Many groups have begun to protest the war memorial in this park. It might look as if there was a movement afoot, preventing soldiers who died for the country from being honoured. However, it remains equally true that vacant land with more meaningful atmosphere is available elsewhere, for example the Agaram Cemetery, which has its own entrance on Lower Agaram Road behind the ASC Officers Mess on Trinity Church Road.
No need to clear any trees, there is enough space to build the monument. The location is also a Heritage Cemetery and what better place to lay the monument among soldiers of the past?
The right person to guide us here would be admiral OS Dawson, a retired Naval chief who has for years been the centre of action to get Agaram Cemetery restored, and even wishes to put up a monument that’ll honour all the forces who have lost valiant men and women. The ASI has even added the cemetery to their list of monuments to be looked after. To avoid any controversy, consider Agaram Cemetery to be the ideal place for the monument, and its proximity to the Army surroundings is apt to honour the soldiers it commemorates.
Let us honour those who have sacrificed their lives, let’s make them feel that they have not died in vain. Let us also cherish the memorials we have in different parts of our country and in Europe, especially to the Indian Soldier, who is highly respected.
I have summarised with some excerpts from the CWGC Book Their Name Liveth Volume I, the words used in relation to the memorial at the Neuve-Chapelle in northern France, which stands in proud memory of the Indian Army in France. This memorial was built in the memory of 4,847 Indian and Pakistani soldiers, and was unveiled on October 7, 1927, by the I Earl of Birkenhead, then secretary of state for India.
The French commander in chief, Marshal Foch, addressed the Indian Army contingent, which had come from India to honour their dead comrades, with the following words: “Return to your homes in the distant sun-bathed East and proclaim how your countrymen drenched with their blood the cold northern land of France and Flanders, how they delivered it by their ardent spirit from the firm grip of a determined enemy; tell all India that we shall watch over heir graves with the devotion due to all our dead. We shall cherish above all the memory of their example.”
Ronnie Johnson is a historian who is working towards the restoration of Agaram Cemetery
