Mysuru: The District Administration has taken a decision to erect a War Memorial at a cost of Rs. 2 crore to honour the soldiers who have laid down their lives for the country. This decision is also taken in a bid to instil patriotism among  students and youth of the city.

The Ex-Servicemen Association had submitted a memorandum in this regard in 2010 to the District Administration. A beginning was made to search for a place to house the Memorial. Due to some reasons, it was put in cold storage. In 2012, the process to set up the Memorial began once again.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) C.L. Ananda, who himself had served in the army for 15 years, took up the cause and completed the necessary process and through the District Administration sent the proposal to the State Government.

It has been decided to construct the War Memorial in the five-acre park that is to the right of the DC Office. Ananda recently held a meeting with the War Memorial Trust Chairman Maj. Gen. C.K. Karumbaya (retd.) and based on the approval of this Trust has drawn a plan to also set up an auditorium to inspire the youth about the army.

The five-acre park that comes under the District Administration is lying in a state of neglect. As it is in a prominent place, once a War Memorial comes up then it will gain importance. Opposite to the garden is the NCC Office, behind it the Scouts and Guides Baden Powell School and surrounded by other colleges. Hence, it could attract the students’ attention and instil in them a sense of patriotism besides raising their curiosity about the armed forces.

The Memorial in the form of a Square will have the elements of the city’s heritage by using Hassan’s green stone. The main entrance depicting the three symbols of the armed forces combined will be constructed. The remaining three sides will have the Army, Air Force and Navy insignia separately and will display the army tanks, fighting planes, Navy ships, guns and other weapons used by the armed forces.

Auditorium: A motivational hall will come up near the War Memorial and it will showcase the paintings and photographs of the wars waged by the three divisions of the armed forces. A library, the details of the martyrs, the gallantry award decorated officers, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, General K.S. Thimayya and others’ photos will be displayed. After the War Memorial in Delhi, the one that is going to come up in the city will attract the maximum attention.

Honour to martyrs: There is a Memorial for the Police, Excise and Forest Department personnel. There is a practice to pay respect to the soldiers, who have laid down their lives by placing the body before the War Memorial. Sadly, until now, since there is no such place, an open ground is being used to pay respect to the soldiers killed in action.

In the light of this, once the War Memorial is constructed then it could be used for this purpose.

This proposal requires the approval of the Cabinet. If the Chief Minister who hails from Mysuru minds it will immediately get the nod. And, if he releases the Rs. 2 crore required for the purpose then the War Memorial will be a reality soon.