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Army Chief to Lead First Official Operation Pawan Commemoration at National War Memorial

The Army’s wreath-laying signals long-sought institutional recognition after decades of quiet private tributes by IPKF veterans.

Overview

  • General Upendra Dwivedi will lay a wreath on November 25 in New Delhi to honor Major R. Parameswaran and all personnel who died during the IPKF mission in Sri Lanka.
  • Vice Chief Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh will accompany the Army chief, having served in Operation Pawan as a young officer.
  • This marks the first official, Army-led remembrance for IPKF casualties in India, whereas prior gatherings at the National War Memorial were informal and low-profile.
  • Operation Pawan from 1987 to 1990 resulted in 1,171 Indian soldiers killed and roughly 3,500 wounded, with Major Parameswaran receiving the Param Vir Chakra.
  • The Ministry of Defence has considered formal recognition for years, and the ceremony represents a concrete step toward acknowledging the IPKF’s legacy.