In Picture: India Gate; A Timeless Tribute to Valor

By Neha Choubey

| Published: Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 21:34 [IST]

The India Gate, a monumental sandstone arch in New Delhi, stands as a tribute to British India’s troops who died in wars between 1914 and 1919. It is located on the eastern end of Rajpath, reaching a height of about 138 feet (42 meters)

In Picture: India Gate; A Timeless Tribute to Valor

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The India Gate, formerly known as the All India War Memorial, is a monumental sandstone arch located near the Kartavya path on the eastern edge of the “ceremonial axis” of New Delhi. It stands as a tribute to the 74,187 soldiers of the Indian Army who died between 1914 and 1921 during the First World War.

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Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the India Gate evokes the architectural style of ancient Roman triumphal arches. It bears resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

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The India Gate features 13,300 servicemen’s names inscribed on its structure. These include both Indian soldiers and officers as well as some from the United Kingdom.

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Beneath the archway of the India Gate, there is a structure called Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Immortal Soldier). Constructed after the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1972, it consists of a black marble plinth with a reversed rifle, topped by a war helmet and surrounded by four eternal flames.

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India Gate is counted among the largest war memorials in India. Every Republic Day, the Prime Minister pays tribute to the Amar Jawan Jyoti here, marking the start of the Republic Day parade

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India Gate is not only a memorial but also a popular location for civil society protests.

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The foundation stone for the gate, then known as the All India War Memorial, was laid on 10 February 1921 by the visiting Duke of Connaught. The ceremony was attended by officers and men of the Imperial Indian Army, Imperial Service Troops, and other dignitaries.