The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas. The newly unveiled gallery showcases portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, India’s highest recipients of military gallantry.
According to an official release, the Param Vir Dirgha has been created to educate visitors about India’s national heroes who demonstrated extraordinary courage, indomitable spirit and supreme sacrifice while defending the nation. The gallery also serves as a tribute to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the motherland.
The corridors where the Param Vir Dirgha has been established earlier displayed portraits of British Aides-de-Camp (ADCs). Replacing them with portraits of Indian war heroes marks a significant step towards shedding colonial legacies and celebrating India’s rich culture, heritage and timeless traditions with pride.
The Param Vir Chakra is the country’s highest military decoration, awarded for the most exceptional acts of valour, courage and self-sacrifice in times of war.
Vijay Diwas is observed annually on December 16 to commemorate India’s decisive victory in the 1971 war, which led to the liberation of Bangladesh.
On the occasion, the Indian Army also remembered the courage and valour of the Armed Forces during the 1971 War by sharing the historic account of Bangladesh’s liberation on social media through the Additional Directorate General of Public Information.
In a post on X, the Indian Army stated, “Vijay Diwas is not just a date; it stands as a symbol of the historic and decisive victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 War.”
The Army described the conflict as a defining triumph that reshaped India’s military history, highlighting the joint efforts of the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Armed Forces. “It was a victory where the Mukti Bahini and the Indian Armed Forces fought shoulder-to-shoulder, giving the Bangladesh Liberation struggle its decisive thrust towards freedom—a triumph that redrew the map of South Asia and gave birth to a new nation, Bangladesh,” the post said.
