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India Gate is one of the politically and historically significant places in Delhi. It is represented as an All India War Memorial as it displays its grandeur to honor the martyrdom of valor fore-taken by the India Army. It was constructed as a war memorial by the British Raj in order to pay tribute to the martyrdom of British Indian Army during the First World War. The deemed designer of this structure was Sir Edwin Lutyens. The foundation of this structure was laid in the year 1921. After ten years of planning and construction, it was finally inaugurated by the then Viceroy of India Sir Lord Irwin in February 1931.
Now, it is seen as an honorary monument not only to the 72,000 soldiers who were martyred in the First World War, but also 13,300 servicemen who fought in the Anglo-Afghan War that later came to be known as the Bangladesh Liberal War. Within the premises of India Gate lies Amar Jawan Jyoti, or the Flame of Immortal Soldier that remains constantly flamed or lit up as a gesture of respect and honor to the martyrs. There is a huge parade that crosses India Gate on Republic Day to honor this tradition.
A canopy is situated at an area about 150 meters from the Gate. The architecture of this canopy was inspired from that of Mahabalipuram pavilions in the 6th century, thus embarking a journey of decadence. The canopy constitutes of a dome, and four pillars with ornate architecture.
However, the original structure constructed at the site of the canopy was that of King George V, the then Emperor of India. It encountered a lot of opposition after independence, and the statue was then placed with the other ancient ruins of pre-independent India. India Gate is a galore of independent India which salutes the brave martyrs for their endless sacrifices.
India Gate: History
This stupendous structure was constructed by the Imperial War Graves Commission aka IWCG, which was established in 1917 to build war memorials and graves for soldiers who lose their lives in the First World War. The memorial was designed by a famous English architect by the name Sir Edwin Lutyens and its foundation was laid by the Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria, on 10 February 1921. After 10 long years, on February 12, 1931, Viceroy Lord Irwin inaugurated and dedicated this structure to the nation and its future generations. The names of over 13,000 soldiers who lost their lives during the war are also inscribed on the memorial.
In the honor of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, a new structure was added to the India Gate in 1972. Known as Amar Jawan Jyoti (which means the Flame of the Immortal Soldier), this was inaugurated by Indira Gandhi, who was the then PM of India.
India Gate Architecture
Sir Edwin Lutyens, who designed the India Gate, was a leading war memorial architect and was also a member of IWGC. He built it as a secular memorial free of any religious association or cultural ornamentation. Also, Lutyens wanted the monument to be a classical one, so refused to incorporate any Asian motifs such as pointed arches. The architectural style of India Gate is that of a triumphal arch and is often compared with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Gateway of India in Mumbai, and the Arch of Constantine.
Situated in the middle of a hexagonal complex, the structure is 42 meters tall and 9.1 meters wide. The whole structure is made using yellow and red sandstone which was brought in directly from Bharatpur.
About 150 meters towards the east of the India Gate, there is a canopy that was built in 1936 as a tribute to former Emperor of India, King George V. There used to be a marble statue of George V, but it was removed due to opposition from some political parties after India’s independence. Currently the statue is located in Delhi’s Coronation Park.
India Gate also houses a small structure called Amar Jawan Jyoti, which consists of a marble pedestal with a cenotaph on its top. The cenotaph has the words ‘Amar Jawan’ written on all four sides in golden letters and also has a reversed rifle, capped by a soldier helmet, installed on it. The structure is surrounded by permanently burning flames fueled by CNG on all the four sides.
Delhi Tourism, for all the right reasons, is the national capital of incredible India. Synonymous with diversity, Delhi tour has always been the epicentre of all activities in India which is reflected in its tourism. Right from the time of Pandavas, it has served as a major strategic and cultural hub of the country and rightly so, today it’s an exhibition of the history of India. Travelling in Delhi isn’t just limited to history but it’s a step to take past and present hand in hand. Blended with modern advancements, Delhi is the modern-day city of Troy. The amalgamation of all religion and spiritual hubs of different faiths coexisting together in peace is the testament of the unity in diversity. Delhi offers numerous tourist attractions ranging from monuments, museums, shrines to modern day markets. Exploring the city is like witnessing a mini-India, with Delhi Tourism being a reflection of rich culture of India.
