President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, marking a significant step in honouring India’s highest military heroes.
The newly inaugurated gallery features portraits of all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration awarded for exceptional valour, courage and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy during war. The Param Vir Dirgha has been created to educate visitors about the bravery and sacrifice of the nation’s finest soldiers and to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives in the service of the country.
The gallery has been established in corridors that earlier displayed portraits of British Aides-de-Camp. Replacing them with portraits of Indian national heroes reflects a conscious effort to move away from colonial-era symbolism and reaffirm pride in India’s own history, values and traditions.
According to President’s Secretariat, the initiative seeks to inspire future generations by preserving the legacy of the Param Vir Chakra awardees and highlighting their contribution to the nation’s security and sovereignty.
