Amar Jawan Jyoti

Amar Jawan Jyoti is an Indo-Pakistan war memorial that was established in December 1971 under India Gate. The memorial was conceptualised post the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and was unveiled on 26 January 1972. Made as per then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s wishes, the Amar Jawan Jyoti is a reminder of the countless brave lives that fought the 1971 war.

In February 2019, the memorial was moved to the National War Memorial and was merged with the new memorial there. Find out more information about the Amar Jawan Jyoti, its history, significance and movement here.

About Amar Jawan Jyoti

Amar Jawan Jyoti translates to “Immortal Soldier Flame”, and it was seen as the national memorial of India till February 2019. After that, the new National War Memorial was built in New Delhi. On 21 January 2022, the older flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti was merged with the new flame at the National War Memorial.

Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was inaugurated on 26 January 197 by Indira Gandhi, who also ordered the memorial to be built in the first place. The memorial was constructed in a very short duration after the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.

Amar Javan - Dimensions and Structure

Amar Jawan Jyoti consists of a base of 15 sq ft with a height of 4 ft 3 inches. On the base, there's a black marble pedestal that is 3 ft 2 inches in height. The black pedestal has the words “Amar Javan” scripted in Hindi with gold on all four sides. On the top of the black pedestal, there's a reversed rifle that is capped by a war helmet.

Here are more details about the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame:

• The setup had 4 urns on it with 4 burners.
• On regular days, only one of the 4 burners was lit. However, on important days such as Republic Day, all 4 burners of the Amar Javan were lit.
• These burners were known as the eternal flame, and it was by no means allowed to be extinguished.
• The responsibility of keeping the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame lit was with the Military Engineering Services.

Amar Jawan Jyoti - History

Established under India Gate in 1972, the Amar Jawan Jyoti was to mark India's victory over Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, which was the reason why Bangladesh was created. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Amar Javan later on 26th January 1972, after Pakistan faced defeat in the war of 1971 with India.

The flame of the Amar Jawan Jyoti used to be fueled by Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders from 1971 to 2006. Here are some more details about the lighting of the urn:

• The lighting of the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was looked after by the Military Engineering Services.
• A single LPG cylinder was capable of providing fuel for one urn of the Amar Javan for approximately 36 hours.
• Sanctioned in December 2005, LPG cylinders were replaced with the aid of using Piped Natural Gas (PNG), a more secure and greater reasonably-priced option.

Amar Jawan Jyoti at the National War Memorial

Presently, the Amar Jawan Jyoti is situated in the inner ring, the Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality), of the National War Memorial. It was moved from India Gate to the National War Memorial in February 2019. Later, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was officially merged with the new flame in the National War Memorial.

Ever since the creation of the Amar Jawan Jyoti in 1972, it has been customary for the Prime Minister of India and three service chiefs and dignitaries to place a wreath here on 26th January. The Amar Jawan Jyoti plays a significant role as the whole nation pays homage to the martyred and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the liberation war in East Pakistan.

FAQs on Amar Jawan Jyoti

Q.1) What is Amar Jawan Jyoti?

Amar Jawan Jyoti is an Indian memorial that was constructed to honour the memory of the brave soldiers who fought the Ind0-Pakistan war in 1971. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was established on 26th January 1972 under India Gate and was inaugurated by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Q.2) Who built Amar Jawan Jyoti?

Indira Gandhi ordered the construction of the Amar Jawan Jyoti after the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971. The responsibility of constructing the Amar Jawan Jyoti was fulfilled by the Indian Army Corps of Engineers. The flame of the memorial was managed by the Military Engineering Services.

Q.3) What is the meaning of Amar Jawan Jyoti?

Amar Jawan Jyoti means “Immortal Soldier Flame”. It was established in 1971 after the Indo-Pakistan war by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was seen as the national memorial of India till February 2019, after which it was moved to the National War Memorial.

Q.4) Where has the Amar Jawan Jyoti been shifted?

Amar Jawan Jyoti has been moved to the National War Memorial. In February 2019, the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame was merged with the new flame lit at the National War Memorial. Presently, the Amar Jawan Jyoti is situated in the Amar Chakra (Circle of Immortality) of the National War Memorial.

Q.5) What is the significance of Amar Jawan Jyoti?

Amar Jawan Jyoti was considered significant because it was a memorial for all the lives that were lost during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. The memorial was a place where the whole nation paid homage to the martyred and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the liberation war of East Pakistan.

Q.6) How does the Amar Jawan Jyoti keep burning?

Amar Jawan Jyoti kept burning through its lifetime under India Gate. As it was a war memorial, it was ordered that the Amar Jawan Jyoti flame must keep burning at all times. The burning of the flame of this memorial was overlooked by the Military Engineering Services, who refilled the urn with LPG when needed to keep the flame burning.