India Gate

    The India Gate is located in the centre of New Delhi, the capital of India.  It was made by Edwin Lutyens in 1921.  This landmark in Delhi commemorates the members of the erstwhile British Indian Army who sacrifice their lives fighting for the Indian Empire in the Afghan Wars and World War.  And India got its independence, India Gate became the site of Amar Jawan Jyoti - Indian Army's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  It is counted among the largest war memorials in India.

India Gate, New Delhi

    The shrine of the Amar Jawan Jyoti is burning since 1971.  It represents the flame of the immortal warrior that marks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The shrine is made of black marble with a rifle placed on its barrel.  This rifle is crested by a soldier's helmet.  The words - "Amar Jawan" (Immortal Warrior) is inscribed in gold on each face of the cenotaph which is placed on an edifice.  The edifice has four torches on its four corners, these torches are kept alive.

India Gate and Canopy

    The cornice of the India Gate is inscribed with the Imperial suns while both sides of the arch have INDIA, flanked by the dates MCMXIV (1914 left) and MCMXIX (1919 right).  Below the word INDIA, in capital letters, is inscribed :

TO THE DEAD OF THE INDIAN ARMIES WHO FELL AND ARE HONOURED IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA EAST AFRICA GALLIPOLI AND ELSEWHERE IN THE NEAR AND THE FAR-EAST AND IN SACRED MEMORY ALSO OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE RECORDED AND WHO FELL IN INDIA OR THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER AND DURING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR.

    13,218  war dead are commemorated by name on the India Gate.  Due to security reasons access to read the names on the memorial is restricted.  The names can be however be seen on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate website, which lists the names with date of death, unit, regiment, place on gate where name is inscribed, location, and other information.)  The names on the gate include that of a female staff nurse from the Territorial Force, killed in action in 1917.

Inscription on Top of India Gate

    This shrine of the India Gate in Delhi was uncovered on January 26, 1972 by the Prime Minister of India during that time - Indira Gandhi.  Since then, it is customary for the President and the Prime Minister to pay homage at the site during State ceremonies.  Even while guests visit the state, they come here to visit the India Gate in Delhi and pay homage at the site.

India Gate in Night

 
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