Murals at theVeerata Chakra of the National War Memorial - Part 1

In our previous article, we learned the important facts related to the National War Memorial and its structure. The six mural paintings made of bronze located in the Veerta Chakra of the National War Memorial speak a lot about the brave soldiers of our country. In today's article, we will learn about the murals located in the Veerta Chakra of the National War Memorial, which are related to different wars, battles and operations. The source of the history of the wars associated with the mural is the website dedicated to the National War Memorial of the Government of India, whose URL is https://nationalwarmemorial.gov.in/

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Veerata Chakra & Murals

The Veerta Chakra is located outside the Amar Chakra, which is covered in the form of a gallery. In the middle of this gallery, below the national emblem of the Government of India, the bronze emblems of the three armies of India, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, are inscribed. There are a total of six bronze murals, three each on either side of this insignia, which give liveliness to the saga of indomitable courage, bravery and sacrifice of the brave soldiers of our country. Following are the details about the wars and battles related to the mural painting made in Veerta Chakra –

There are a total of six murals in the Veerta Chakra of the National War Memorial , the details of which are as follows –

1. The Battle of Longewala , 1971
2. The Battle of Gangasagar , 1971 
3. The Battle of Tithwal , 1947 – 48 
4. The Battle of Rezangla , 1962 
5. Operation Meghdoot , 1987
6. Operation Trident , 1971

1. The Battle of Longewala , 1971

Place & Time

The Battle of Longewala, 1971 (The Battle of Longewala, 1971) was fought between India and Pakistan in the border area of western Rajasthan on 04 – 05 December 1971.

Regiment & Artilary

During this war, 120 brave soldiers of India's 23 Punjab Regiment posted on the border had only jeep mounted rifle guns, mortars, machine guns. While Hunters aircraft of 122 Squadron of the Air Force took off. In this war, Brigadier EN Ramdas of 23 Punjab Regiment, Lt. Col. Mohd. Khurshid Hussain, Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, Major Atma Singh, Captain Bhairav Singh and Indian Air Force Wing Commander MS Baba, Wing Commander RS Kawasji, Wing Commander Suresh, Wing Commander Sherwin was |

Incident

On 04 – 05 December 1971 at 12:30 pm, Pakistan attacked India's Longewala outpost with a battalion of about 3000 to 4000 soldiers, T-59 tanks and Sherman tanks, a mobile infantry brigade. 120 soldiers of the Indian Army, led by Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, took command of the Longewala post due to Pakistan's numerical superiority and destroyed many of their tanks by stopping them in the morning. As soon as the morning, the Hunters aircraft of the Indian Air Force made about 18 sorties from Jaisalmer and wreaked havoc on the Pakistani soldiers by firing devastatingly on them. Hunters aircraft of the Air Force destroyed 36 tanks and about 100 vehicles of Pakistan. About 200 soldiers of Pakistan were killed and the rest of the soldiers ran away leaving their vehicles and tanks.

Result

India won in this war. Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, along with many medals and awards were given to other brave soldiers of the battalion.

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2. The Battle of Gangasagar , 1971

Place & Time

This mural painting was located at a distance of 4 km from Akhaura railway station in Brahmanbaria district in the then East Pakistan. It was an important and strategically important place, which connected Dhaka to the main railway line. This operation started on 3 December 1971 at 2 pm.

Regiment 

The responsibility of this operation was given to the IV Corps of India, controlling Assam and Western Arunachal Pradesh, and the 14 Guards specially added to it for this operation. Lance Naik Albert Ekka of the 14 Guards played the lead role in it.

Incident

At 2 o'clock in the night of 3 December 1971, according to a definite plan, 120 soldiers of 14 guards were divided into two teams A and B. Due to the swampy nature of the mainland, the feet used to sink till the knee while walking in it, that is why the soldiers are ordered to walk on the side of the railway track, which is at a height of 8-10 feet from the mainland. Both teams of 14 guards advance on both sides of the track. Lance Naik Albert Ekka is put in command of Team B and Lance Naik Gulab Singh is given command of Team A and they are asked to march. They are also ordered to attack Pakistani soldiers on sight. While walking on the railway track, a soldier's foot steps on the trip player wire laid on the side of the track, due to which the fireworks start, and the Pakistani soldiers become alert, and break down on the Indian soldiers. Pakistani soldiers opened fire with light machine guns, while retaliating, Albert Ekka destroyed the bunker, in which Ekka got shot in the arm. After that Team A moves straight ahead, while Team B turns towards the pond and moves forward destroying the bunkers. On moving forward from here, Pakistani soldiers start firing LMGs from the signal building of the railway, due to which the Indian soldiers suffer a lot. damage occurs. A bullet grazes Albert Ekka's neck, Ekka falls to the ground and gets up again and moves on. He crawls near the signal building, and removes the pin of a hand grenade and throws it inside the building, in which one Pakistani soldier is killed in the blast, while the other still survives and fires a machine gun. After that, Albert Ekka climbs the stairs and enters the building and stabs his rifle knife in his chest, due to which he dies and the machine gun becomes silent, and Albert Ekka also becomes a martyr. But due to his sacrifice, the Indian army goes ahead and succeeds in capturing Gangasagar.

Result

In this operation, the Indian Army was successful in its campaign by defeating three companies of Pakistan's 12 Frontier Force. In this campaign, Lance Naik Albert Ekka of 14 Guards was awarded Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award for his indomitable courage, intelligence, sacrifice and sacrifice. Along with this, a postage stamp was also issued in the name of Albert Ekka.

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3. The Battle of Tithwal , 1947 – 48 

Place & Time

It was a fierce and long war fought between India and Pakistan in 1947-48. After the partition of India and Pakistan, Pakistan attacked with the aim of occupying Indian territories.

Regiment 

In this battle, the brave soldiers of the Sikh Regiment of India were standing in front of the Pakistani army. Lance Naik Karam Singh had a special contribution in this war.

Incident

At the time of India's independence, in 1947-48, Pakistani Pashtuns and militias crossed the border and captured the strategically important Tithwal village on the Indian side, after which a prolonged clash between Indian soldiers and Pakistani soldiers continued. On 23 May 1948, the Indian Army captured Tithawal. The main objective of the Pakistani army to capture Tithwal was to capture Riksmar Gali located in its south and Nastachun Pass located in the east. On October 13, 1948, the Pakistani army launched a large-scale attack on Indian posts, damaging communication lines and damaging bunkers. Lance Naik Karm Singh was stationed at Rikshmar Gali. He went from one bunker to another and helped the injured soldiers and inspired the soldiers to fight the battle. That night the Pakistani army attacked a total of eight times. Karam Singh was seriously injured in the fifth attack, yet he fought the Pakistanis strongly and failed their attack with his courage and bravery.

Result 

In this battle, due to the courage, bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers of the Sikh Regiment, India won at Tithwal. The hero of this war, Lance Naik Karam Singh, was decorated with Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award. Also, Lance Naik Sarwan Singh, Sepoy Kaval Singh, Sepoy Sher Singh and Rifleman Sangara Singh were decorated with Vir Chakra.

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We will know about the battles of the remaining three murals in the next article – Murals at the Veerata Chakra of the National War Memorial – Part 2.