As the country gets ready to celebrate the 17{+t}{+h}Kargil Diwas on July 26, the popular shopping destination, Select City Walk, has installed a 20-foot statue of ‘Amar Sipahi’ in the atrium of the mall to pay homage to the Kargil War heroes.
The installation by acclaimed artist Gopal Namjoshi is made up of 80,000 pieces of ornamental bullets and bullet shells. It was unveiled on Thursday and will be on display at the mall till July 26.
Speaking to The Hindu , about the installation, Mr. Namjoshi said: “I wanted to make a soldier look larger than life through my installation as a mark of respect to him, which is why I chose to construct a more than 20-feet installation. The reason that I chose bullets is because it signifies that a bullet cannot kill the spirit of a soldier.”
A separate stall has been setup for people to write their messages for the soldiers sitting at the border.
On Saturday, the mall authorities are going to hold a public event at India Gate. The event would see the laying of a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyothi by the Chairman of the Mall and would also include ‘A Walk of Tribute’ by the students of Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan. The students would carry banners and placards conveying the gratitude to the war heroes. It will be followed by a flash mob and they would call out the war cries of the various regiments of the Army.
On Sunday there will be varied performances and video films will also be screened in the mall. It will be open to the martyrs’ families, dignitaries from the Armed Forces and to visitors and shoppers.
On the anvil is also a book launch ‘Param Vir ,Vikram Batra- the Sher Shah of Kargil’. It is a father’s biography remembering his son, a soldier who was awarded the highest gallantry award - the Paramvir Chakra for making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Vikram Batra’s father, GL Batra has chronicled the life of his son.
Paramvir Chakra awardee, Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav would be the chief guest of the event. Two military tanks would also be placed in the vicinity of the mall.
Inder Sharma, Chairman, Select City Walk says: “It is both a pride inducing moment and an emotional tug in the hearts of the millions, for soldiers who courageously fought for the nation. It is a humble effort to honour these great soldiers.”
In the past they have also rented out shops to war widows. But Harpreet Surin, the head of the mall is disappointed by the level of participation shown by the crowd.
(The writer is an intern with The Hindu)
