2019 1-15 March Vol 66 No 5 ` 5 SAINIK Samachar PM Dedicates National War Memorial to the Nation Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman meets the Air Warrior Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at his hospital room in Delhi on March 2, 2019 to convey the sentiments of a grateful nation. The Minister appreciated his impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity and also interacted with his family. Parts of Air-to-Air AMRAAM missile fired by Pakistan Air Force aircraft that had violated Indian Air Space on February 27, being displayed by IAF officials at the armed forces joint press conference at South Block, New Delhi on February 28, 2019. The missile is carried only by F-16s. In This Issue Since 1909 PM DedicatesBIRTH ANNIVERSARY National CELEBRATIONS War Memorial 4 to the Nation (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 66 q No 5 10 - 24 Phalguna 1940-41 (Saka) 1-15 March 2019 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Ruby Thinda Sharma Senior Editor Manoj Tuli Maratha Light 8 Beating The Retreat 12 Editor Afaque Ahmad Ehsani Infantry: 250 Years 2019 Sub Editors Sub Maj Baiju G & Sub Maj KC Sahu Coordination Kunal Kumar Business Manager Dhirendra Kumar Our Correspondents DELHI: Lt Col M Vaishnava (Offg.); Capt DK Sharma VSM; Gp Capt Anupam Banerjee; Divyanshu Kumar; Photo Editor: K Ramesh; BENGALURU: Guru Prasad HL; CHANDIGARH: Anil Gaur; CHENNAI: M Ponnein Selvan; GANDHINAGAR: Lt Col Sombit Ghosh (Offg.); GUWAHATI: Lt Col P Khongsai; IMPHAL: Lt Col M Vaishnava; JALANDHAR : Anil Gaur (Offg.); JAMMU: Lt Col Devender Anand; JAIPUR: Lt Col Sombit Ghosh; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier; KOHIMA: Col Chiranjeet Konwer; Wg Cdr SS Birdi; Dipannita Dhar; Ms KOLKATA: LUCKNOW: 6 National War Memorial… Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Mehul Karnik, Narendra Kumar Vispute; NAGPUR: Gp Capt BB Pande; PALAM: Wg Cdr AR Giri; PRAYAGRAJ: Wg Cdr Arvind Sinha; 9 Jangi Paltan Celebrates 250… Northern Army PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: G Surendra Babu; SHILLONG; Wg Cdr 10 Army Displays Fire Power at KK… Commander Confers…20 Ratnakar Singh; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col Harsh Wardhan 11 Airborne Tacticians Join Naval… Pande; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ms Dhanya Sanal K; UDHAMPUR: Col Rajesh Kalia (Offg.); VISAKHAPATNAM: Capt CG Raju. 14 INS Trikand Participates in… Published by: 15 INS Kohassa – A New Bird’s… 16 Visit of Bangladesh Navy Ship… Col Aman Anand, Spokesperson, MoD 17 Operation Khardung La Rescue… Nampibou Marinmai, Director, PR 19 Secretary (DP) Inaugurates… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, 21 Nowshera Pays Tribute to… Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 24 Indo-Russian Technical… Editorial Office: L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, 25 Vintage Aircraft Dakota Makes… Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 26 International Conference on… Email : [email protected] 29 Chakravyuh E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] 30 Armed Forces Panorama For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas NWM : Nation Salutes Its Martyrs 22 (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number On front cover: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi salutes the Martyrs after dedicating the National War Memorial in New Delhi to the nation on February 25, 2019. For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in Follow us on: www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD https://www.instagram.com/prodefense/ PM Dedicates National War Memorial to the Nation rime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Pdedicated the National War Memorial to the nation in a solemn ceremony on February 25, 2019 in New Delhi. Located in the heart of the national capital, next to the iconic India Gate in the central vista, the National War Memorial filled a void that had existed since Independence and represents the culmination of the collective aspiration of a grateful nation to pay a befitting tribute to the martyrs of the country. As the Prime Minister lighted the eternal flame under a 15.5-metre tall obelisk, the Indian Air Force helicopters showered flower petals over the memorial and a fly-past was also made in ‘Missing Man’ formation. Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr Subhash Bhamre and the three Services’ Chiefs were present on this historical occasion. Although the India Gate in Lutyen's Delhi was constructed in 1931 by erstwhile British empire to commemorate the martyrs of India during World War I as well as Third Anglo-Afghan War, and the Amar Jawan Jyoti was installed under the India-Pakistan War in 1971, but the post-independence wars and Arch of India Gate in January 1972 there was no national memorial various operations. Spread over 40 to commemorate India's victory in to pay tributes to the martyrs of acres, the National War Memorial 4 Sainik Samachar March 1-15, 2019 has been constructed to fill this sacrifice shall continue to inspire the gap to honour and remember the Nation for generations to come. At sacrifices made by Indian soldiers present, there are 25,942 names since Independence with the name carved on the walls. of each martyr etched in stone. Earlier, addressing a large rally Built at a cost of around ` 176 of Ex-Servicemen at the nearby Major Crore, the Memorial comprises four Dhyan Chand National Stadium, concentric circles, namely, the ‘Amar the Prime Minister said that it is the Chakra’ or Circle of Immortality, the result of the valour and dedication ‘Veerta Chakra’ or Circle of Bravery, of lakhs of soldiers that the Indian the ‘Tyag Chakra’ or Circle of Army is today considered among the Sacrifice and the ‘Rakshak Chakra’ strongest in the world. or Circle of Protection. The Memorial The Prime Minister said that the complex includes a central obelisk, soldiers have been the first line of an eternal flame, murals representing defence, both against enemies and famous battles, graphic panels, and against natural disasters. The Prime above all, busts of the 21 awardees Minister recalled the CRPF jawans of Param Veer Chakra and names of the brave soldiers whose selfless who sacrificed their lives in the recent terror attack in Pulwama, and paid homage to all the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice, defending India. He said that today, a New India is growing in stature globally, and this is in large measure, due to its Armed Forces. Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said, the county now has “one more pilgrimage place” where citizens can come to pay homage to our brave soldiers. She said that it has been wonderfully designed such that it homogenously merges with the surroundings, giving an impression that it existed ever since long. Raksha Mantri added that we can now proudly say, there is one more pilgrimage place for we Indians and she expected every citizen to pay a visit to this memorial to pay homage to the brave soldiers. Later, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries had a round of all the Chakras and Param Yodha Sthal and took keen interest in the murals and graphic panels in the Memorial. pix: DPR Photo Divn, PIB, NWM website March 1-15, 2019 Sainik Samachar 5 National War Memorial : Concept & Design fter our independence, Indian AArmed Forces have been involved in many conflicts and have participated in a number of operations. India continues to engage in counter-terrorism operations due to the Proxy War being waged from across the borders where a number of our soldiers have laid down their lives in the line of duty. But no memorial at the national level had been dedicated to the sacrifices of men and women of the Armed Forces. Thus, arose the need for a memorial at the national level. The requirement to construct a sanctions from statutory authorities who have been conferred with National War Memorial had been were taken. A Detailed Project ‘Param Vir Chakra,’ the nation’s under deliberation since 1961. After Report was prepared and M/s NCC highest gallantry award. The design due deliberations the Union Cabinet Ltd was awarded the contract. The of the main memorial exemplifies on October 7, 2015 approved its Headquarters Integrated Defence that supreme sacrifice made by a construction. An area East of the Staff (HQ IDS) steered the project on soldier in the line of duty not only India Gate around the Canopy behalf of the Ministry of Defence. makes him immortal but also depicts a ‘C’ Hexagon in New Delhi was The memorial complex is in that the spirit of a soldier remains considered to be suitable for harmony with the existing layout and eternal. The memorial has distinct construction. symmetry of the majestic Rajpath scheme of concentric circles. Global competition to select a and Central Vista. Solemnity of The design of the Memorial has design for the Memorial was held in the ambience is maintained with a layout comprising four concentric 2016-17. Shri Yogesh Chandrahsan an emphasis on landscaping and circles, namely, the ‘Amar Chakra’ of WeBe Design Lab Chennai won the simplicity of architecture. Apart or Circle of Immortality, the ‘Veerta the competition and was appointed from the main memorial, there is Chakra’ or Circle of Bravery, the Project Consultant. Necessary dedicated area for busts of soldiers ‘Tyag Chakra’ or Circle of Sacrifice, 6 Sainik Samachar March 1-15, 2019 the ‘Rakshak Chakra’ or Circle of Protection.