Veterans, Veer Naris (Widow of War) and close relatives (Norke) pay tribute to those who died in Operation Pawan on March 24, 2025. Image source: Special arrangement
More than a hundred veterans from Indian Armed Forces, Veer Naris (Widow of War) and close relatives (Nok) gathered at the National War Memorial (NWM) earlier this week to pay tribute to the soldiers serving in a solemn and emotionally vibrant gathering. Operation Pawan is India’s first large-scale overseas military operation in Sri Lanka, which ends with bloody and painful notes and is not officially commemorated.
Veterans have been demanding recognition and designated Operation Pawan in commemorations of the 1971 Liberation War and the 1999 Kagir conflict. However, after detailed consideration, a three-level service committee said in a formal communication on October 17, 2024 that the Hindus had decided to maintain the status quo.
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The fifth iteration of the annual wreath ceremony held at 3:30 pm on March 24.
“This year’s commemoration has special significance as it brought together decorative officials, brave award winners and fallen hero families in 1987 who were all in service when the Indian Peace and Peace Force (IPKF) was deployed to Sri Lanka.”
“Like the past four years, there are no Army headquarters this year that only allows veterans to hold private rituals, they are called silent rituals, which are the silent rituals of buglers, which is an important part of any wreath laying ceremony when buglers play the last post, and then Rouse.”
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Under the mission of the India-Sri Lanka Agreement signed in 1987, the IPKF was deployed in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990 for peacekeeping operations. In these operations, 1,166 personnel of IPKF – 51 officials, 78 junior commissioned officials (JCOs) and 1,037 other ranks – were primarily in conflict with the liberation of Tamil Eelam’s Liberation (LTTE) (LTTE), as notified in a written reply at the box office on August 9, 2012.
Colonel Nair said that spouse, children and Nock had laid a total of 11 wreaths of the person who was killed 36-37 years ago.
According to Colonel Nair, Army Headquarters continues to deny the commemoration of veterans’ dignity – citing a vague reference to government policies. Earlier, Col Nair traveled from Chennai with his sister and brother-in-law, representing the late Major Parameshwaran (P) (p) 8 Mahar of 8 Mahar.
Colonel Nair said the party emphasized the collective pride and lasting emotional connection between the armed forces and those who made the highest sacrifice. He added: “This also draws attention to the obvious absence of Operation Pawan in the official narrative and its omissions from the NWM’s display and description.”
However, officials noted that since independence, the names of all the soldiers who died, including those from Operation Pawan, have been etched in the NWM.
The former Service Alliance of India (IESL), a veterans organization recognized by the Ministry of Defense with the Minister of Defense as its presidential patron, sent a letter to the Minister of Defense and three service directors last year to commemorate those in the 1962 and IPKF operations.
In a letter dated October 30, 2024, Brigadier General IESL President INDER MOHAN SINGH pointed out that all good military forces, especially those in democratic countries, remember and respect the heroism of past generations, whether in victory or defeat, take the United States as an example.
“The politicization of Indian sacrifice is a serious concern,” he said, noting that the victory in 1971 was the greatest of all wars since World War II, and India suffered a humiliating defeat in 1962. He added that in both wars, almost the same soldier lost his life, which is caused, this is such a mean person, this is a life sacrifice, this is a life sacrifice, this is a sacrifice, this is a person’s sacrifice. Forgotten.
Similarly, the sacrifice of our soldiers in operation IPKF remains a forgotten story.
He observed that the bravery of the Indian army was known only to the generation who served during these operations, and that many participating units were ignored – now this sentiment is enhanced by social media, where the valor of 13 Sikh light infantry and 10 Para special forces has spread the virus.
He added: “When the IPKF operation begins, everyone as chiefs may be the last generation to join the service.”
Brigadier General Singh pointed out that politically, due to the participation of the Tamil aspirations, it may not be suitable for the Indian government and the Tamil Nadu government to commemorate these events, and stressed that the military should keep it above such issues. He further pointed out that the IPKF’s actions resulted in more than 1,100 lives, which is more than twice the number of Kagir’s people – and believed that if Kagir was caused by the failure of our intelligence organization, Sri Lanka’s actions would be driven by political expediency. He called for the creation of appropriate memorials for soldiers, whose casualties were unclear, including those from the 1962 war and other skirmishes with China.
Several veterans argued that Operation Pawan witnessed the fierce jungle battle of the city. Complex peacekeeping operations remain an important but low-key chapter in India’s military history, and the lessons are increasingly important as India moves towards integrated theater orders and more joint forces.
publishing – March 27, 2025 at 2:19 am
