13 August, 2026 – Jalandhar : Punjab State War Memorial in Jalandhar, a monument built to honour the state’s war heroes and preserve the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation since Independence, is struggling for even basic upkeep.
The neglect is evident from the moment one enters. The main signage identifying the memorial is missing near the entrance, leaving only the frame that once carried its name.
Adding to the sense of abandonment, cracks have started appearing in the ceilings of some hexagonal structures, while overgrown shrubs have taken over large stretches of the premises.
Several important installations are also missing. An Army tank earlier placed near the main boundary wall is no longer there, while at the rear, a statue of a soldier holding the Tricolour is almost hidden behind bushes.
At the centre stands a 50-foot-high monument made of white marble and red sandstone, rising from the hexagonal structures.
The sides of its platform bear the names of gallantry award recipients since 1947, engraved on black granite.
Among them are Punjab’s three Param Vir Chakra recipients, including Flying Officer Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon, honoured for his bravery while defending Srinagar during the 1971 War; Subedar Gurbachan Singh Salaria, martyred during a UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in 1961; and Subedar Joginder Singh, honoured for extraordinary courage during the 1962 India-China War.
Their names, etched in stone to ensure their courage lives on, now stand amid poor upkeep.
Similarly, the Punjab Hall of Fame, a museum in the basement, also remains locked. Built in the memory of soldiers who died in operations since August 15, 1947, it was associated with the commemoration of the silver jubilee of the 1965 India-Pakistan War.
Designed to preserve Punjab’s military history, it was to house models of tanks, weapons, insignias, photographs and other memorabilia.
The memorial also lacks a proper boundary wall, leaving it vulnerable to unauthorised entry.
The road outside the memorial is dotted with craters and garbage while some passers-by use the roadside as a urinal.
Reportedly, the poor upkeep is attributed to a tussle between the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) and the Defence Services Welfare Department.
The JIT had handed over the memorial to the Defence Welfare Department for maintenance. The Defence Services Welfare Department, however, maintains that the JIT is responsible for its repairs.
A veteran army officer in Jalandhar said, “Earlier, there used to be some staff from the Defence Services Welfare Department to look after basic hygiene and the Hall of Fame. But, I am surprised to see the memorial is in such a bad condition. I will raise this issue with the department in a day or two.”
Rajesh Chaudhary, Executive Officer of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust said, “It is not clear who is responsible for the upkeep of this memorial. However, I will look into the matter to fix responsibility.”
The Tribune