“War memorials need to be treated with same respect as places of worship”
Arecent report on Dehradun administration seeking names of World War ‘ martyrs’, to be inscribed at the proposed Sainya Dham at Guniyal Gaon, is intriguing on two counts. The first, the proper term used for fallen heroes is either ‘ war dead’ or ‘ killed in action’- and not ‘martyr’ as the latter more commonly signifies ‘ a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs’. Using this is disrespectful to the war dead.
The proposed Sainya Dham at Guniyal Gaon appears to be a combination of a war memorial alongside other office and welfare facilities for the benefit of veterans. During the foundation laying ceremony, the then CM also hinted at it being a potential venue for oath taking ceremonies of future state governments. In the absence of any concept being available, it would appear that the proposed Sainya Dham will over time become a public place — for work, formal functions, play and recreation. Hence, any attempt to blend elements of a ‘war memorial’ within it are misplaced and would amount to sacrilege.
On visits to war memorials in India and abroad, one notices the serenity and dignity with which these places are treated by authorities and visitors alike. Personally, the experience has been more overpowering than a visit to a place of worship. Perhaps, it is the immortal spirit of those that are commemorated that makes these places inspiring and emotionally touching. At the Kohima memorial, when one reads a simple epitaph that reads, ‘When you go home, tell them of us and say — For your tomorrow, we gave our today’ — few can hold back emotions!
War memorials, however modest, need to be treated with the same degree of reverence and respect as are innumerable places of worship of all faiths. Many memorials lie neglected across this state and the one near Rajpur post office — dirty uncared for and surrounded by hawkers — is a classic example. A good start would be to document each such memorial and its history and make administrations accountable for upholding their upkeep and dignity.
It would be a sad day for the honour of our war dead, if the state authorities move ahead with an ill- conceived proposal of co-locating any sort of war memorial within the Sainya Dham. This would not be in keeping with the dignity with which a caring society honours its fallen soldiers — least of all, a land of ‘Dev Bhoomi-Veer Bhoomi’. Let the authorities spell out their concept for Sainya Dham for public debate and proceed through consensus amongst not just veterans and their kin, but concerned citizens of the state as well.