Work on Korean War Memorial starts in Delhi, to be developed as Indo-Korean Friendship Park
Memorial park will exhibit contribution of Indian Army in the Korean War fought between South and North Korea in 1950-53.
NEW DELHI: The work on setting up a Korean War Memorial in the form of Indo-Korean Friendship Park in New Delhi has finally taken off.
Coming up at Thimayya Park in Delhi Cantonment area near Army Base Hospital, the Memorial park will relate to the memories of the Korean War fought between South and North Korea in 1950-53, and the Indian Army’s contribution to this 3-year old war.
Indian General K S Thimayya in whose name the Thimayya Park was christened, has a strong connection with the Korean War. This celebrated soldier had played an important role in ending the war and making both the warring sides sign the Korean Armistice Agreement in July 1953.
Indian Army, Korean War Veterans Association and Embassy of the Republic of Korea in India are jointly developing the memorial, which is likely to be completed by February next year.
“Indian Army has initiated construction of Indo-Korean Friendship Park. This park will not merely celebrate the achievement and contribution of Korean War veterans from India but also help the younger generations from India and Korea to know about their history, and also remember the sacrifices that were made for the future so that we could live in the time of peace,” Col. Lee IN, Defence Attaché, ROK told Asian Community News (ACN) Network.
Just like India helped 69 years ago, Korea also would like to go with India for peace and prosperity for the whole world, he added.
Attractions of the Indo-Korean Friendship Park
While explaining the memorial park, Col. Lee said that the project was divided into four portions.
“Besides a memorial, the park will have a bust of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. A section of the park will have the detail of 60 Para Field Ambulance of Indian Army that had participated in the Korean War. Another section will be about General K S Thimayya explaining Indian armed force’s mission in Korea,” said Col. Lee.
Rabindranath Tagore’s connection with Korea
India’s Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore who never visited South Korea had written a small poem linking Korea’s historical legacy to its future as the ‘illumination of the East’. In early 20th century he had written:
In the golden age of Asia
Korea was one of its lamp bearers
And that lamp is waiting to be lighted again
For the Illumination of East
–Rabindranath Tagore (1929)
In 2011, on the occasion of the 155th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, a bronze bust was instituted at the heart of Seoul.
Role of 60 Para Ambulance of Indian Army
Led by Lt. Col. AG Rangaraj, the 60 Para Ambulance of Indian Army with 364 paramedics had skydived in Korea during the Korea war in 1950. The memorial will have information about the entire operation of the Indian Army during the war.
