Put India first: Governor’s message at war memorial

“Put India first.” His words said it all. Punjab Governor and Union Territory administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (retd) chose the gro...

“Put India first.”

His words said it all.

Punjab Governor and Union Territory administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (retd) chose the ground-breaking ceremony of the Chandigarh War Memorial to remind the august gathering of what motivates our men in uniform—and what should be the guiding principle for those who want to honour them.

The function at the Bougainvillea Garden in Sector 3 was also attended by the Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjab Finance Minister Surender Singla, GOC-in-C Western Command Lt. Gen. S. Pattabhiraman, Chandigarh MP Pawan Bansal and Air Officer Commanding Air Force Station 12 Wing Air Commodore T K Venugopal.

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Hooda promised the memorial all support from his government — “Haryana will fill (in) if there is a shortage in the funds.” He added that his government has taken several steps for the welfare of ex-servicemen and war widows.

Regretting that the youth had not been infused with the spirit of nationalism that prevailed around Independence, Hooda said no country could progress if it forgets its freedom fighters and martyrs.

Singla announced a Rs 5-lakh grant on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. He also appreciated the lead taken by the The Indian Express in building the War Memorial.

Pattabhiraman also applauded the efforts of the The Indian Express Group: “(The) Army would provide all possible institutional help required for the construction of the memorial.” He also termed the memorial as a symbol of the Western Command’s brilliance and its wartime contribution.

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S S Kaushal, father of martyr Capt. Rohit Kaushal, urged the authorities to allocate a fixed amount for the upkeep of various war memorials.

Mementoes were given to the dignitaries and the architects of the memorial.

CEO of The Indian Express Group Shekhar Gupta said it was fitting that the memorial was coming up at Chandigarh for the region has the largest representation in the armed forces.

But this wasn’t a regional initiative.

He said contributions have come from The Indian Express readers across the country and abroad, from Rs 100 to Rs 11 lakh—evidence of how far-reaching this initiative has been.

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Earlier, Vipin Pubby, resident editor of The Indian Express, thanked the citizens for helping in the construction of the memorial.

HOW THE MEMORIAL WAS BUILT

		Punjab Governor Gen S F Rodrigues (retd) said on Saturday that The Indian Express has done what soldiers do—‘‘Put India first.’’ The Governor was being generous—on the way to the memorial have been the Express readers across the country and abroad, the Army, several civic agencies and the state governments. And a letter from the President. • Led by The Indian Express in Pune, a war memorial built through civilian initiative comes up in 1996, the 25th anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation. This memorial, with the names of 1,100 martyrs from Maharashtra, dedicated to the nation on August 15, 1998. • Need felt for a Chandigarh War Memorial as the erstwhile Greater Punjab had the most war heroes and martyrs. • Then Punjab Governor and UT administrator Lt Gen J F R Jacob (retd) supports a 2003 proposal for such a memorial. The Indian Express suggests building the memorial through a citizens’ initiative if land is provided. • Jacob wants students of Chandigarh College of Architecture involved in the project. Open competition held with final-year students. Model by Nanki Singh and Shivani Guglani selected. • The Indian Express starts funds collection. UT Architecture Department estimates the cost: Rs 57 lakh. • Jacob selects a 20,000-square-foot area in Bougainvellea Garden. Plaque unveiled on April 28, 2003. • Supreme Commander, President A P J Abdul Kalam, praises this “noble venture”. And calls for setting up schools and health-care facilities for families. • So The Indian Express doubles the target of Rs 57 lakh to Rs 1.14 crore. And promises to match the same amount for the welfare of needy war widows and their wards. • In May, the Engineering Department floats tenders to award contract for the memorial. • Ground-breaking ceremony performed on Saturday.

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