25-Jul-2022: In honor of the martyrs of Kargil War, Ministry of Culture organizes a special performance of the play 'Kargil Ek Shaurya Gatha at the National War Memorial today
National School of Drama, organized a special performance of the play 'Kargil Ek Shaurya Gatha' directed by Shantanu Bose for the dignitaries and Army Officers at the National War Memorial, New Delhi in honor of the martyrs of Kargil War today.
Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi ,Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs graced the occasion as Guest of Honor.
On the occasion, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi recalled the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers during Kargil War and thanked PM Modi for taking the initiative to build National War Memorial for the soldiers.
She added that today’s celebration at National war memorial gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude and cherish the memory of our National heroes.
Organized as a part of the series 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' year, this play becomes even more relevant as it is a tribute to the soldiers deployed in the security of the country's borders, who lay down their lives day and night to help us lead a secure life.
The Kargil war took place in year 1999. In the winter of 1998-99, when the high peaks of India's borders with Kargil are covered with snow, and under an agreement, soldiers from both sides do not carry out any kind of activities in each other's borders, in such a situation, the Pakistani army, taking the advantage of this, had made their bases there, by infiltrating the Indian border. The Pakistani army was strategically at a height. On discovering this in May 1999, Indian soldiers, despite being in a strategically vulnerable position, took the inaccessible peaks of Kargil back from the enemy by sacrificing their lives, assuming strength from devotion to truth and the motherland.
Kargil Ek Shaurya Gatha presents to the audience, the valor of such anonymous Indian soldiers who died for the cause of the motherland. The play is written by Asif Ali Haider Khan and directed by Shantanu Bose. In addition to this performance the play will be performed on 26th and 27th July at 7.00 p.m. at Abhimanch Auditorium NSD.
3-Jun-2022: Release of Banda Singh Bahadur Martyrdom Monument Poster, ahead of his 306th Martyrdom Day on 9th June organised by National Monuments Authority
Minister of State for Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in an event organised by National Monuments Authority(NMA) released ‘Banda Singh Bahadur Martyrdom Monument Poster’, ahead of his 306th Martyrdom Day on 9th June in New Delhi today. Chairman, National Monuments Authority, Shri Tarun Vijay also graced the occasion.
Addressing on the occasion, Minister of State for Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said that Banda Bahadur must have been very courageous that despite killing of his son by the administration of that time he kept his cool. He also added that his sacrifices to protect the religion must be seen with highest regard. Union Minister also added that demand of NMA for declaring Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom Monument in Mehrauli as National monument under ASI will be taken to the Prime minister and culture ministry will do everything possible to fulfil it.
NMA chairman Shri Tarun Vijay disclosed that he and Member Shri Hemraj Kamdar ( Gujarat) met union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri G. Kishan Reddy today to apprise him about the martyrdom monument of great Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in Mehrauli. Shri Kishan Reddy appreciated the move and assured support from ministry.
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was a great warrior to defend India and defeat the Mughals. His original name was Baba Madhav Das and he was a Bairagi Sadhu. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur aimed at National awakening and Liberation of the country from the oppressive rule of the Mughals. Though Independence came to India much later, yet it was Baba Banda Singh Bahadur who first taught the Indians to fight, conquer and establish their independent rule.
Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his son Ajai Singh were martyred on 9 June, 1716 A.D. along with his other 18 companions near a gate en-route the tomb of so-called Sufi saint Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar kaki at Mehrauli. The butchers first killed his son Ajai Singh in his lap. But Banda Bahadur remained unmoved and sat in a composed state. After that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s cruelly martyred. His glorious martyrdom validates Bhagat Kabir’s rendition in Guru Granth Sahib.
27-May-2022: Inverted Rifle & Helmet, symbol of fallen soldiers of 1971 war, shifted by Armed Forces from India Gate to National War Memorial
Armed Forces today in a ceremony shifted the Inverted Rifle and the Helmet from India Gate, which was the symbol of Fallen Soldiers of 1971 War, to Param Yodha Sthal at National War Memorial and installed the same in the midst of Busts of Param Vir Chakra Awardees.
With this ceremony, the integration of the Memorial of Fallen Soldiers of 1971 war with National War Memorial has been completed.
The ceremony was led by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal BR Krishna and attended by Adjutant General equivalents from the three Services.
As part of the ceremony, a final salute was given and CISC offered a wreath at India Gate. Thereafter the Inverted Rifle and Helmet was removed and carried in a ceremonial vehicle to the Param Yodha Sthal and installed at a newly created monument. CISC accompanied by the AGs equivalents from three Services presented a salute to the new monument.