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A nearly six decade long wait ended on Monday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the National War Memorial to the nation in a solemn ceremonial function in the National Capital.

The memorial is a tribute to the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers who gave it their all in 4 wars versus Pakistan and one against China..Here’s how it happened.

Several decades on our soldiers who laid down their lives defending the nation, post-independence finally get their due.

The National War Memorial, near India Gate in New Delhi, is a fitting tribute to those who participated and made the supreme sacrifice in Peace Keeping Missions, and Counter Insurgency Operations.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by the three Heads of the armed forces.

Prime Minister also met three living Param Vir Chakra awardees Retired Subedar Major And Honorary Captain Bana Singh, Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav and Subedar Sanjay Kumar.

Their Busts are part of the the ‘Param Yodha Sthal’ where the 21 winners of the Param Vir Chakra have been honoured with individual bronze busts, with details of their bravery engraved below.

With the lighting of the eternal flame, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the National War Memorial to the nation.

This flame is a little to the east of Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, in honour of martyred soldiers at the country’s first National War Memorial.

The layout of the National War Memorial comprises four concentric circles, namely, the ‘Amar Chakra’ or Circle of Immortality, the ‘Veerta Chakra’ or Circle of Bravery, the ‘Tyag Chakra’ or Circle of Sacrifice, and the ‘Rakshak Chakra’ or Circle of Protection.

The complex includes a central obelisk and six bronze murals depicting famous battles fought by Indian Army, Air Force and Navy.

The project was conceptualised in 1961 but work began only in February last year. In 2014, Prime Minister had spelt out his vision for the National War Memorial as a state-of-the-art world class monument.

Names of the 25,942 soldiers who died in multiple conflicts after Independence have been engraved in gold on granite tablets, and placed on 16 ‘honour walls’ at the ‘Tyag Chakra’.

National War Memorial represents the culmination of the collective aspiration of a grateful nation to pay a fitting tribute to the martyrs.