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 Six
hundred and thirtyfive officers who had passed out of the hallowed portals
of IMA have achieved martyrdom in the defence of the country. As a
befitting tribute to these alumni and also to keep afresh their valiant
deeds, a war memorial was constructed at IMA.
 The
project was conceived in 1994 and saw its completion in 1999. The memorial
is an imposing structure which commands respects from one and all. The
main structure replicates the Chetwode Tower and is made of concrete and
red Dholpur stone. The sanctum of the war memorial consists of a 7.5 feet
tall bronze statue of a gentleman cadet with a sword in saluting position,
adorning the winter uniform in which the cadets pass out. Mr Ram Sutar, an
eminent artist of international repute, sculptured the statue. To the rear
of the main structure semicircular steps have been constructed to
accommodate gentlemen cadets (GCs) for various ceremonies. The front half
comprises a semicircular platform in red Agra stone lined with pillars,
beams and arches in monolithic Dholpur stone. The arches add to the beauty
of the structure. The wall on the side of the steps bears the names of the
martyrs.
The war memorial was inaugurated on
November 17 last year by none other than the senior most living Field
Marshal in the world, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw. Besides the Field
Marshal, others who laid wreaths at the war memorial on the auspicious day
were Lt Gen Yuvraj Mehta, Commandant, IMA, Maj Gen Ranveer Bakshi (Retd),
Lt Col BD Joshi (Retd), Mr GL Batra, father of late Capt Vikram Batra, Sub
Maj Vijay Singh Drill, IMA and Academy Cadet Adjutant, K Balhara.
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