As a symbolic gesture of friendship with Israel, India renamed the iconic Teen Murti Chowk, a war memorial, during the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The new name of the war memorial located in a roundabout near the Teen Murti Bhavan, the official residence of the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will be, Teen Murti Haifa Chowk.
Reports suggest that the decision to rename the iconic landmark of the national capital was taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in July 2017. However, the formal ceremony to rename the landmark took place after Prime Minister Netanyahu landed in Delhi on January 14. He is on a six-day visit.
Mr. Modi had indicated at the renaming during his visit to Haifa last year where he unveiled a plaque commemorating the leadership of Major Dalpat Singh who led the successful operation. 2018 marks a centenary of the end of the World War I and the Battle of Haifa.
Teen Murti War Memorial has three life-size bronze statues representing the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who participated in the Battle of Haifa for the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade. The victorious operation by the Indian soldiers carried out on 23 September 1918 targeted the fortification of the city of Haifa which was then controlled by a joint Ottoman, German and Austro-Hungarian force. The Indian soldiers fighting for the Allied Powers, captured Haifa and cleared a crucial route for the Allies. A total of 44 Indian soldiers from the three princely states died during the liberation of Haifa.
However, there was some confusion in the naming process as initial photographs from the venue suggested that both the memorial as well as the Teen Murti Marg which radiates from the roundabout will be renamed.
Photographs had shown that New Delhi Municipal Corporation’s workers were printing ‘Teen Murti Haifa Marg’ on the road signs as well. However the NDMC sources said though the name of the Teen Murti Chowk had been changed to Teen Murti Haifa Chowk, the civic body had had new boards made for Teen Murti Marg as well. Workers were testing out the ‘Teen Murti Haifa Marg’ boards on Saturday evening, before the NDMC got confirmation from the MEA about the name change of the chowk alone, said an NDMC official. The official added that name displayed on the boards on Teen Murti Marg had gone back to the old one, without Haifa.
PTI adds:
Teen Murti Chowk in central Delhi was formally rechristened as Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in a ceremony attended by Mr. Modi and Mr. Netanyahu on January 14.
The two leaders also laid a wreath and signed the visitors’ book at the memorial.
In the visitor’s book, Mr. Modi wrote that he saluted the “great Indian traditions of selfless sacrifice and penance” of Indian soldiers, who laid down their lives during the liberation of the city of Haifa and the First World War.
“One of these pages was written 100 years ago, in the sacrifice of Indian soldiers at Haifa. The sacrifice commemorated at Teen Murti observes its centenary. Naming this spot as Teen Murti-Haifa Chowk marks this historic occasion.
In the presence of the Prime Minister of Israel, we pay homage to the brave soldiers,” Mr. Modi wrote in the visitors’ book.
The three bronze statues at Teen Murti represent the Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers who were part of the 15 Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.
The brigade carried out the victorious assault on the fortified city of Haifa on September 23, 1918, during World War I.
There are various accounts of this battle — all narrate the valour with which the lancers undertook the assault on the garrisoned city protected by a joint force of Ottomans, Germany and Austria-Hungary.
The liberation of Haifa cleared a supply route for the Allies to the city through the sea.
Forty four Indian soldiers died during the liberation of the city. Till date, the 61 Cavalry celebrates September 23 as its Raising Day or “Haifa Day”.
