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President to inaugurate event hailing India’s WWI heroes
The army is set to honour the sacrifices of Indian soldiers who took part in World War 1. Commemorating the centenary of the Great War, President Pranab Mukherjee will on Tuesday inaugurate a five-day event that will showcase the gallantry and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
The army is set to honour the sacrifices of Indian soldiers who took part in World War 1. Commemorating the centenary of the Great War, President Pranab Mukherjee will on Tuesday inaugurate a five-day event that will showcase the gallantry and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
In the run-up to the event, Mukherjee on Monday laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will place a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Tuesday before he embarks on a three-nation official tour.
Nearly 75,000 Indian soldiers perished in that war and another 67,000 were injured. More than 15 lakh Indian soldiers took part in the war.
The inauguration coincides with the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in which Indian soldiers were involved in an attack on Germans positions in northern France.
The army will put up a photo exhibition of 13 campaigns of the war, replicate 12 international war memorials, display props to depict the lives of soldiers and showcase memorabilia such as medals, photographs and uniforms.
Eleven soldiers from the Indian subcontinent were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British award for gallantry.
Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh, whose has authored a book on WW-I, said, “I am delighted we are remembering the contribution of Indian soldiers. A soldier knows no politics and it’s great we are not looking at them as soldiers who fought for the British Empire.”
