Pune Diaries Part 1 – 27.11.2021

National War Memorial Southern Command – A tribute to the brave hearts of the Indian Army.

If I die in a warzone Box me up and send me home.

Put my medals on my chest, tell my mom I did my best.

Tell my dad not to bow, he won’t get tensions from me now.

Tell my brother to study perfectly, keys of my bike will be his permanently.

Tell my sis not to be upset, her bro will not rise after this sunset.

Tell my love not to cry. Because I AM A SOLDIER AND I AM BORN TO DIE.

A poem by a soldier

The Indian War Memorial at Pune is dedicated to the post-independence war martyrs. This is the only war museum in South Asia that is constructed entirely on the donation provided by citizens. The memorial was dedicated to the general public on 15 August 1998.

How to Reach?

The war memorial is situated a short distance from Pune Station. You can hire a cab or an auto. The auto will drop you at the main gate in 10 mins.

History

The National War Memorial in Pune, which is an unmissable landmark that stands at the Morwada junction in Camp, is arguably the only war memorial in the country that has been constructed through citizens’ contributions. The memorial depicts the names of post-independence martyrs from the Army, Navy and Air Force hailing from Maharashtra inscribed on marble.

The citizens’ initiative in constructing a post-independence war memorial in Pune has its origins in the December 1996 celebration of the silver jubilee of India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 leading to the birth of Bangladesh. Hosted by a Joint Committee led by The Indian Express and comprising citizens of Pune, the celebrations of the silver jubilee was also one of its kind in the country at the time.

The committee of citizens formed by the Express Group passed a resolution in January 1997, without waiting for a push from the government, that the citizens would construct a war memorial in Pune as a mark of their gratitude for the guardians of the land, sea and air frontiers.

The committee, which was chaired by Brigadier NB Grant (Retd), approached the Headquarters, Southern Command, for a suitable piece of land, which was immediately earmarked by the Cantonment Board. The committee functioned as a catalyst for fund-raising. A Military Engineers Services contractor under the supervision of the Chief Engineer, Pune Zone and Headquarters Pune Sub Area, carried out the construction. The committee, which was chaired by Brigadier NB Grant (Retd), approached the Headquarters, Southern Command, for a suitable piece of land, which was immediately earmarked by the Cantonment Board. The committee functioned as a catalyst for fund-raising. A Military Engineers Services contractor under the supervision of the Chief Engineer, Pune Zone and Headquarters Pune Sub Area, carried out the construction.

Work began on August 15, 1997, and exactly one year later, the then Governor of Maharashtra, Dr P C Alexander, dedicated the memorial to the nation.

What to expect?

There’s an entry fee (approx Rs. 80 or 50 not sure). You’ll also need to be completely vaccinated to enter the premises. The memorial has an 18-metre-high obelisk, signifying ‘Blessings from Heaven’, dressed in cherry brown granite with marble panels carrying names of the martyrs on three sides. Names of 1,480 officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks hailing from Maharashtra, who laid down their lives in action since independence till date have been inscribed on the marble panels.

Additions to the war memorial premises.

In 2008, the war memorial underwent a major renovation to include the construction of a compound wall and gate, pathways, a display of Vijayanta Tank, a MiG-23 aircraft, a scaled model of Indian Navy’s guided-missile Frigate INS Trishul and improving the landscape with stone-engraved galleries, providing an account of major battles in the Southern Command theatre. It was around this time that the memorial was rechristened as National War Memorial, Southern Command.

In 2015, new additions were made to the museum, comprising paintings, murals, artefacts and photos depicting Southern Command’s martial history, post-independence operations humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, along with a display of real tanks – some of them captured from the enemy forces during past operations.

Initially, due to the COVID-19 restrictions and later due to renovation work, the war memorial and the museum remained closed for several months. In its renovated avatar, eight Pillars of Valour, depicting major operations by the Indian Armed Forces since Independence, four murals depicting the bravery and valour in various battles and busts of Param Vir Chakra awardees have been added to the National War Memorial.