When India went into war with Pakistan back in 1971, a lot of soldiers were martyred. Therefore, in memory of the brave soldiers who valiantly fought for the country, ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ was constructed.
The memorial constructed under India Gate at Rajpath in New Delhi consists of a marble pedestal atop which stands an L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle with a helmet of an unknown soldier. It also has an urn on which a flame continuously burns. The names of the martyrs are also inscribed on the India Gate.
On visiting the India Gate, one would immediately feel the energy and love around this memorial which makes our chest swell with pride and reminds us of the soldiers who courageously fought during the battle and got victorious.
However now, we won’t be able to witness the iconic burning flame at this spot as the government has decided to extinguish it and merge it with the perennial flame burning at National War Memorial that is dedicated entirely to the Indian Armed Forces, reported The New Indian Express.
Delhi | The Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate will be merged with the flame at the National War Memorial tomorrow in a ceremony: Indian Army officials
(File pic) pic.twitter.com/dNl3BJGyXY
— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2022
Reasoning why they wanted to merge the two flames, the government said that the names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars are housed at the National War Memorial. “Hence it is a true ‘Shraddhanjali’ to have the flame paying tribute to martyrs there.”
The names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 & wars before & after it are housed at the National War Memorial. Hence it is a true 'Shraddhanjali' to have the flame paying tribute to martyrs there: GoI Sources
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2022
This is how people felt about the relocation of the iconic eternal flame.
"One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present."
– Golda Meir#AmarJawanJyoti #IndianArmy #indiagate #nationalwarmemorial #Delhi https://t.co/vWoCkywRXj
— CL Ramakrishnan (@kishen05journo) January 20, 2022
As a former IAF fighter pilot, felt sad to read about the 50 year flame at India gate, in honour of the martyrs of 1971 war being extinguished.
Highly inappropriate! Most countries have several war memorials!! No need to extinguish existing Amar Jawan Jyoti!!#AmarJawanJyoti pic.twitter.com/C379FkY2Ol
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamINC) January 21, 2022
What is the point of merging it with another flame? Why can’t it remain the way it is? Or government wants to do laser show here? #AmarJawanJyoti https://t.co/OvhKpFK11S
— Vijaita Singh (@vijaita) January 21, 2022
High time that senior officers in uniform adopt to make “Constitutionally” correct statements rather then “politically” correct statements.#AmarJawanJyoti
— Lt Col Anil Duhoon (Veteran) (@LtColAnilDuhoon) January 21, 2022
Eternal Flame will be Extinguished Flame for sometime. How many more ideas & monuments we hold dear need to be reworked to make way for a ‘New India’?
Sad & Anguished. #AmarJawanJyoti
PS : Spare me gyaan on merging it with another flame at War Memorial. Why can’t we keep both?
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) January 21, 2022
There are corners in the heart of a nation. The #AmarJawanJyoti is one. You don’t break a piece of your heart to make room for another , you just make space for more. Just sad to imagine India Gate without the flame https://t.co/kzgUMVgAmL
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 21, 2022
How do you extinguish an eternal flame? This feels wrong, and sad. Is there a reason there can’t be two burning separately, together? #AmarJawanJyoti https://t.co/Hk7VffD8o2
— Maya Mirchandani 🇮🇳 (@maya206) January 20, 2022
It’s hardly the worst thing to have happened in the last 8 years, but the extinguishing of the #AmarJawanJyoti ahead of Republic Day to make way for the new flame feels particularly sad.
It really feels like the light of our Republic is going out.
— Uday Rana (@UdaySRana) January 21, 2022
After 50 years, The Eternal Flame at India Gate Will be Extinguished Today !
Sad !! #AmarJawanJyoti pic.twitter.com/UzunqzA0xi— Aarti (@aartic02) January 21, 2022
The Eternal Flame is Gone
Only He could do it with disdain#AmarJawanJyoti
Their sacrifices all in vain
And we bow our heads in SHAME
R.I.P #Jawans pic.twitter.com/KtBsXjnCzj— #DharamSankat #VanJeevi (@terence_fdes) January 21, 2022
This is the vast open and elegant space where a great country used to honour its fallen soldiers for generations. Notice how the #AmarJawanJyoti is the centrepiece 👇 Now that flame will be extinguished.https://t.co/WWB3P7AhTJ pic.twitter.com/Z1ORV9EylE
— serish (@serish) January 21, 2022
#AmarJawanJyoti There are corners in the heart of a nation. The #AmarJawanJyoti is one. You don’t break a piece of your heart to make room for another , you just make space for more. Just sad to imagine India Gate without the flame pic.twitter.com/p3RQ49uZ5d
— JEETU SAINI (@Jeetu_Jhunjhunu) January 21, 2022
The second “Amar Jawan Jyoti” was installed at the National War Memorial on 25th February 2019.
Indeed, India Gate won’t be the same again without the eternal flame. “Why can’t we have both the flames burning?” people asked. What do you think?