D’sala war museum awaits completion

Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, July 19

The war museum in Dharamsala, which was inaugurated by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh before the last Assembly elections, is still awaiting completion, though Rs 14 crore has already been spent on it.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati recently held a meeting to review the status of the museum. Talking to The Tribune, Prajapati said the Public Works Department (PWD) had been directed to complete work related to platforms so that artefacts, including a tank, procured from the Army could be displayed.

He said the process to recruit permanent staff, including curator, gardener and clerks at the museum had been started. “We expect the museum to be thrown open to the public by December-end,” said the Deputy Commissioner. The war museum is the first -of-its-kind in the region and a fitting tribute to the martyrs, servicemen and ex-servicemen from the state, especially from Kangra district.

The wooden outer structure that has been designed on the theme of old Himachali architecture by the PWD stands majestically and attracts attention of visitors in the martyrs’ park of Dharamsala. Only the first floor of the museum has been furnished with busts of war heroes from Himachal, especially Kangra district, models of gallantry medals such Victoria Cross that was awarded during British India, Param Vir Chakras, Vir Chakra and other gallantry awards. The first floor of the museum also has the photos of gallantry award winners from the state.

Like other monuments in the state, the maintenance of the structure is still an issue. Nearly 60,000 ex-servicemen and an equal number of servicemen from Kangra district are in the Indian Armed Forces — the highest for any district in the country.

Soldiers from the hill state have been honoured with over 1,100 gallantry awards. The district alone has 409 gallantry award winners. The first Param Vir Chakra awardee in Independent India, Major Somnath Sharma, and Kargil war hero Capt Vikram Batra were from Kangra.

The museum was constructed to inspire the younger generation. However, 54 arms donated by the Army, a tank, HP-32 aircraft and rifles are gathering rust in the Yol Cantonment area.

Land of bravehearts

• The first Param Vir Chakra awardee in Independent India, Major Som Nath Sharma, and Kargil war hero Capt Vikram Batra were from Kangra.
• The museum was constructed with an aim to inspire the younger generation. 
• As many as 60,000 ex-servicemen and an equal number of servicemen are from Kangra. Soldiers from HP have been honoured with over 1,100 gallantry awards.

409 gallantry award winners in the district
HP-32 aircraft and rifles gathering rust in the Yol Cantonment area