Coming soon: India’s first war memorial for animals
NEW DELHI: A war memorial that is being planned in Meerut is set to feature a heroine who lost her life in a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir in 2016.
It is also likely to feature some others who acquitted themselves creditably in the Kargil war India fought with Pakistan in 1999.
What makes the memorial unique is that it is devoted to service animals, mostly dogs, but also horses and mules. It will be the country’s first animal war memorial and recognise heroics on the battlefield, devotion to duty and outstanding contribution to military service alongside soldiers, three senior officers said, asking not to be named.
The memorial will come up at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut where the army breeds, rears, and trains dogs, mules and horses. “Approval from the defence ministry is expected soon to construct a war memorial to commemorate RVC animals and men who have sacrificed their lives or have been commended for exceptional gallantry or distinguished service. Land has already been identified in Meerut and the preliminary design has been frozen,” said one of the officers.
He added that the monument would be similar to the National War Memorial in Delhi but on a smaller scale.
The names and service numbers of more than 300 dogs, 350 handlers and a few horses and mules will be inscribed on granite tablets at the memorial. The dogs include around 25 killed in action during counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the country’s North-east, the first officer said.
“It will be a befitting token of remembrance and a mark of respect and gratitude towards the RVC soldiers (men and animals) who laid down their lives for the country. Several western nations have memorials dedicated to animals,” said the second officer.
Topping the list of animals whose names will be inscribed on the memorial’s walls is Mansi, a Labrador who was posthumously “mentioned in dispatches” (the highest honour that a dog can get in military service in India) four years ago for her role in a counter-infiltration operation in north Kashmir, the second officer added. Her handler, Bashir Ahmed War, was also posthumously awarded Sena Medal for gallantry and his name will be alongside Mansi’s.
The highest award won by a dog handler is the Shaurya Chakra, the country’s third highest peacetime gallantry award. The army has more than 1,000 dogs, 5,000 mules and 1,500 horses.
Five Labradors were awarded commendation cards on Army Day 2020 for helping soldiers track down terrorists in J&K.
THE MEMORIAL WILL COME UP IN MEERUT WHERE THE ARMY BREEDS, REARS, AND TRAINS DOGS, MULES AND HORSES