Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the construction of Param Vir Digha, a new gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan that displays portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, is an excellent example of moving away from the “mentality of slavery” and connecting the country with “a new consciousness.”
PM Modi emphasised that the new gallery serves as a “tribute to the country’s indomitable heroes” who offered supreme sacrifice for the unity and integrity of India. The gallery where the Param Vir Dirgha was created previously displayed portraits of British ADCs. The initiative to display portraits of Indian national heroes marks a meaningful step toward shedding the colonial mindset and embracing, with pride, the richness of India’s culture, heritage, and timeless traditions.
“In the Param Vir Gallery of Rashtrapati Bhavan, these portraits of the country’s indomitable heroes are a heartfelt tribute to our nation’s defenders. Those heroes who protected the motherland with their supreme sacrifices, who gave their lives for the unity and integrity of India… the nation has expressed its gratitude to them in yet another form. Dedicating this gallery of the country’s Param Virs to the nation, in the dignified presence of the families of two Param Vir Chakra winners and other awardees, makes it even more special,” he said in a post on X.
“For a long period, portraits of soldiers from the British era were displayed in the gallery of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Now, in their place, portraits of the country’s Param Vir Chakra awardees have been installed. The construction of the Param Vir Dirgha in Rashtrapati Bhavan is an excellent example of the campaign to move away from the mentality of slavery and connect India with a new consciousness. A few years ago, the government also named several islands in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands group after Param Vir Chakra winners,” PM added.
PM Modi added that the gallery serve as the vibrant site for our young generation to connect with India’s tradition of valor. “This gallery will inspire the youth that self-confidence and determination are essential for the nation’s purpose. I hope that this place will become a vibrant pilgrimage site for the spirit of developed India,” he said.
The Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying the most exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war. The gallery was inaugurated on the occasion of Vijay Diwas on December 16. Vijay Diwas is annually observed on December 16, commemorating India’s decisive victory in the 1971 war, which led to the freedom of Bangladesh.
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