Concept Notes 1: Architectural Sanctity — Inside the National War Memorial
1. Historical & National Context
Inaugurated on February 25, 2019, the National War Memorial (Rashtriya Samar Smarak) in New Delhi stands east of India Gate at the C-Hexagon. It honors over 26,000 soldiers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force who made the supreme sacrifice in post-independence conflicts (including the 1947–48 Kashmir War, 1962 Sino-Indian War, 1965 & 1971 Indo-Pak Wars, Kargil Conflict 1999, and UN Peacekeeping Missions).
2. The Four Concentric Chakras Architecture
The design of the memorial draws upon the ancient Indian concept of the Chakravyuha and the eternal cycle of duty and rebirth, expressed through four concentric circular zones:
THE SACRED CHAKRAS
[ RAKSHA CHAKRA (Protection) ]
600+ Trees forming living shield
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[ TYAG CHAKRA (Sacrifice) ]
26,000+ Granite bricks with names
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[ VEERTA CHAKRA (Bravery) ]
6 Bronze battle mural galleries
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[ AMAR CHAKRA (Immortality) ]
15.5m Obelisk & Amar Jawan Jyoti
Detailed Breakdown of the Chakras
| Chakra | Sanskrit Name & Meaning | Physical Architectural Feature | Philosophical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amar Chakra | Circle of Immortality | 15.5-meter central stone obelisk with the eternal flame (Amar Jawan Jyoti). | The immortal soul of the fallen soldier living forever in the nation's memory. |
| Veerta Chakra | Circle of Bravery | A sunken semi-circular amphitheater gallery housing six massive cast-bronze murals. | Depicts celebrated army, naval, and air battles fought with valor across varied terrain. |
| Tyag Chakra | Circle of Sacrifice | Circular concentric walls constructed of 16-sided granite bricks arranged like a honeycomb. | Each brick is etched in gold leaf with the name, rank, regimental number, and unit of a fallen hero. |
| Raksha Chakra | Circle of Protection | Outer perimeter ring planted with over 600 dense evergreen trees (mostly Neem). | Represents the armed forces standing as a living, protective wall shielding Indian citizens. |
3. The Graphic Murals of Veerta Chakra
The six bronze murals in the Veerta Chakra commemorate watershed military actions:
- Battle of Gangasagar (1971 Naval/Amphibious operations)
- Battle of Longewala (1971 Armor & Air defense in the Thar desert)
- Operation Vijay (1999 High-altitude warfare in Kargil, Tololing, and Tiger Hill)
- Operation Meghdoot (1984 Siachen Glacier alpine operations)