Memorial to honour Punjab’s soldiers planned

NEW DELHI, FEB 10: Ludhiana will soon have a unique memorial dedicated to the valiant soldiers of Punjab and commemorating their contributio...

NEW DELHI, FEB 10: Ludhiana will soon have a unique memorial dedicated to the valiant soldiers of Punjab and commemorating their contribution to the defence services down the ages, beginning from the Mughal era.

Planned on a sprawling four acres on the Ludhiana-Jalandhar highway, the State Army Museum proposes to commemorate the bravery of soldiers from Punjab and other northern states, while motivating the younger generation to be a part of the glorious tradition.

Speaking with mediapersons, Gurvinder Chahel, principal secretary (defence welfare) to the Punjab government said the idea to have the exhibition came about following the realisation that the younger generation’s interest in defence services is waning. Almost 65 per cent of retired and serving defence personnel have traditionally been from north India.

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The museum will have a permanent “sound-and-light” show depicting various movements, such as the famed Anglo-Sikh wars beginning 1845 A D, the Ghadar movement, Akali movement and theresolution of complete independence during the British raj. The freedom struggle and the contribution of Punjabis will be the hall mark of the show.

“The young have seen only the negative side of the war and seem to have almost forgotten the glorious phases wherein the soldiers bravely fought to protect their motherland,” Chehal said.