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Reported by Mubarak Ansari & Tikam Shekhawat
Camp, 5th October 2024: In a significant tribute to the often unsung heroes of defence forces, Satark Heroes Park, India’s first military intelligence memorial, was inaugurated on Saturday. It is located between Wanowrie Bazar Police Chowky and the Military Intelligence Training School and Depot (MINTSD) in the Pune Cantonment Area.
The park honours the supreme sacrifice of 40 military intelligence officers and Jawans who sacrificed their lives to protect the nation.
The event was inaugurated by Lieutenant General PK Chahal, Commandant of MINTSD and Ameet Gadhoke, MD of Roadway Solutions India Infrastructure Ltd.
B.K. Singh, Director of Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd, expressed deep respect for the contributions of these war heroes. “India has a rich history of Military Intelligence personnel making the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the nation’s safety and security. The Satark Heroes Park is our humble tribute to their courage and service,” he said.
The park reflects the critical and covert nature of military intelligence operations. The key features of the park include a central monument with an abstract sculpture of Bharat Mata, symbolizing the invisible but vital role played by intelligence officers. Additionally, the park’s “Walls of Valor” showcases 40 busts inscribed with the names and stories of the fallen intelligence officers and soldiers, allowing visitors to honor their memory.
The park also provides peaceful spaces for reflection, with reflection pools and gardens designed to offer quiet moments of remembrance. “This park will not only serve as a symbol of gratitude but also ensure that the brave contributions of Military Intelligence personnel are remembered, honored, and respected by generations to come,” Gadhoke added.
Eighteen of the 40 Veer Naris (widows) or Next of Kin (NOKs) of the fallen heroes attended the event.
Lt Col Leena Bajaj, widow of Captain Jitesh Bhutani, another honored MI hero, attended the ceremony with her own connection to the memorial. Captain Bhutani, awarded the Sena Medal for his gallantry in a counter-insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian in November 2003, inspired her to join the armed forces. “My husband’s sacrifice continues to inspire me every day,” said Bajaj, who now serves as an education officer with Bombay Engineering Group and Centre (BEG&C).
Palak Kumar, the daughter of Subedar Rakesh, who lost his life in Ladakh’s Chushul region on October 14, 2020, during an intelligence mission, expressed both pride and sorrow as she viewed the bust of her late father at the newly inaugurated park. “It was my father’s dream to see me become a doctor. Today, he would have been proud,” said Palak, who is currently pursuing her first year of MBBS at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital in Himachal Pradesh.
Octogenarians Ganesh Chaurasia and Meenakumari, the parents of Major Ganesh, were also present at the event. Major Ganesh gave his life in a counter-insurgency operation in Assam on January 6, 2005. Reflecting on the day’s significance, Ganesh Chaurasia said, “Seeing my son’s bust brought back memories and emotions I hadn’t felt in years.”
Sunita Mehta, the widow of Brigadier Ravi Datt Mehta, a Kirti Chakra awardee who made the ultimate sacrifice, shared, “Through this park, people will learn about my husband’s extraordinary contribution to the nation.”
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