India Gate

India Gate, once called the All India War Memorial, is a big and important monument in New Delhi, India. It remembers the soldiers of the Indian Army who sadly passed away between 1914 and 1921 during the First World War in places like France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli, and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The names of around 13,300 soldiers, including some British soldiers and officers, are written on the gate.

The gate was designed by Edwin Lutyens and looks like ancient Roman triumphal arches, such as the Arch of Constantine, and is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, a special memorial was added beneath the archway. This memorial, called Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Immortal Soldier), includes a black marble base, a reversed rifle with a war helmet on top, and four eternal flames. From 1971 to 2022, it served as India’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Important people, including the Prime Minister of India, often visited this site to pay tribute on special national days like Republic Day. In January 2022, the eternal flame at Amar Jawan Jyoti was joined with the flame at the National War Memorial nearby.

Today, India Gate is one of the largest war memorials in India and is a well-known national landmark. Many tourists visit, and it is also a popular place for people to gather.

History

The India Gate was built to honor soldiers who served in the First World War. It was created by the Imperial War Graves Commission, which formed in 1917 to build memorials for soldiers who lost their lives during the war. The first stone for the gate was placed on February 10, 1921, by the Duke of Connaught. At the time, it was called the All India War Memorial.

The gate was finally opened to the public on February 12, 1931, by Lord Irwin. Over those ten years, railway tracks were moved, and the New Delhi Railway Station opened in 1926. Today, the India Gate is a popular tourist spot in Delhi and is lit up each evening from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. It used to allow cars to pass through, but now it is closed to traffic. The Republic Day Parade starts at Rashtrapati Bhavan and goes around the India Gate.

In 2017, the India Gate formed a special connection with the Arch of Remembrance in Leicester, England. Both memorials were designed in a similar style, though the one in Leicester is smaller. During a ceremony, India’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom laid a wreath at the arch in Leicester, and the British High Commissioner in India laid a wreath at the India Gate.

Design and structure

The India Gate was designed by Edwin Lutyens, a famous architect who also designed many war memorials in Europe, including the well-known Cenotaph in London. The India Gate is similar to the Arc de Triomphe but has its own special style. It is very tall, standing at 42 metres, and has a wide arch in the middle. The gate is made from red Bharatpur stone and has decorations like sunburst patterns.

The India Gate has four large arches, with the two longer sides having bigger and taller arches. There are special stone decorations above the arches, and the ceilings under the arches are beautifully designed with spaced-out patterns.

Inscriptions

The top of the India Gate has the word INDIA with the years 1914 and 1919 next to it. Below this, there is a message remembering all the soldiers who died in many places during their service. Many names of these soldiers are written on the gate, though you need special permission to see them up close. You can find the names online through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

Canopy

About 150 metres east of India Gate, there is a tall cupola, or dome-shaped structure, inspired by an old design from Mahabalipuram. It has columns supporting a domed canopy.

Statue of King-Emperor George V

In 1930, leaders in India wanted to build a statue to honor King-Emperor George V because he had recently become well again. The statue was planned to show him standing, but the final design included a tall pedestal and a canopy. The statue showed the king in special clothing and a crown, holding important symbols.

The statue was placed under the canopy in 1936. Over time, some people did not like the statue because of India’s fight for independence. In 1943, activists covered the statue to show their disagreement. In 1958, parts of the statue were removed. In 1968, the statue was moved to Coronation Park in Delhi.

Subhas Chandra Bose statue

Main article: Statue of Subhas Chandra Bose

In 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose would be placed under the canopy at India Gate. A large, special 3D statue of Bose was put there on 23 January 2022 to honor his birthday. Later, another statue of Bose was also placed nearby.

Amar Jawan Jyoti

Main article: Amar Jawan Jyoti

The Amar Jawan Jyoti, or the flame of the immortal soldier, is a special structure built under the India Gate. It has a black marble base, a rifle turned downward, a soldier’s helmet on top, and four small lights burning from natural gas. This flame was lit to honor the brave Indian soldiers who fought in the war to help Bangladesh become free in December 1971. It was first lit by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 26 January 1972, which was India’s Republic Day.

Since it was built, the Amar Jawan Jyoti has been a place where people come to remember unknown soldiers who gave their lives for their country. Soldiers from the Indian army watch over it all day and night. Every year on special days like Republic Day, Vijay Diwas, and Infantry Day, important leaders place flowers there to show respect.

In 2022, the flame at India Gate was joined with another flame at the National War Memorial.

National War Memorial

Main article: National War Memorial (India)

In July 2014, the government announced plans to build a National War Memorial near India Gate and a museum beside it. They set aside a large amount of money for this project. The National War Memorial was finished in January 2019. Starting in January 2022, it has held a special flame called the "Flame of the Immortal Soldier".