Big Ideas Company, The United Service Institution of india (USI) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) have this week launched the ‘India Remembers’ project to remember, honour and commemorate the valour and sacrifice of personnel of the Indian Armed Forces in conflicts, both before and after independence.
The project, which launched in Delhi on 14th July, aims to transform the culture of remembrance in India. It proposes that the Marigold flower join the poppy as a new Indian symbol of remembrance and that India adopts a Day of Remembrance or Sainik Smriti Divas, coinciding with the Armed Forces Flag Day, to be held annually on 7th December .
‘India Remembers’ is a holistic project that seeks to engage communities in a range of remembrance activities to Discover, Explore and Remember the role of Indian servicemen and women in the service of the nation over the last century. Apart from engaging with an Indian audience, the project also aims to globally highlight the sacrifice of Indian servicemen in the cause of world peace including those who fell in the two World Wars.
An India Remembers resource pack has been produced which will be the basis for our community engagement programme. It covers a century of military heritage and sites of commemoration of the Indian Armed Forces in India and around the world. In addition, it contains activities for schools, colleges, NCC and other organisations. Those taking part in the project will also be encouraged to identify a serving or retired serviceman or servicewoman and present them with a marigold to acknowledge their service and sacrifice for the nation.
The project has been developed by the United Service Institution of India, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Flags of Honour Foundation and Big Ideas Company.
The project was officially launched on 14th July 2016 at a formal event being organised at the USI in Delhi. The date also marks the centenary of the first Indian Cavalry Charge on the Western Front during World War I.
For more information visit http://indiaremembers.in
