Amar Jawan Jyoti Flame To Be Merged With National War Flame Today, Details Here

The Amar Jawan Jyoti Flame and National War Flame will be merged on the 21st of January, said the Indian Army Official.

Announced on the 20th of January, Thursday the step is said to be a historic move ahead of the 75th Republic Day, the 26th of January.  

Notably, the Integrated Defence Staff Chief Air Marshal Balabadhra Radha Krishna would extinguish the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at the India Gate Memorial at 3:54 P.M., and merge it with the National War Flame at the National War Memorial.

It is to be noted, the India Gate Memorial was constructed by the British, for soldiers who died between 1914 to 1921, in World War 1.  Meanwhile, the National War flame was lit in 1972  for soldiers of the war against Pakistan, which also witnessed the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops to the Indian Army.  While the National War flames represent the immortal soldier, the India Gate is representative of Colonial India.

Therefore, the decision to merge the two flames was taken as there cannot be two war memorials in close proximity to each other.  Also, it is the National War Memorial which represents independent India and eternal soldiers. 

However, the Indian National Congress once again raised voices and criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government for the decision.  Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the former President of the INC took to Twitter and said, “It is a matter of great sadness that the immortal flame that used to burn for our brave soldiers will be extinguished today.  Some people can’t understand patriotism and sacrifice – never mind…We will once again light the Amar Jawan Jyoti for our soldiers! (sic).”

Meanwhile, the merger of flames ceremony would begin at 3:30pm with the arrival of CISC at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.  The flame would then be moved as a torch to the National War Memorial along with the Guard Contingent and the two flames would be merged.

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