PM Modi Reclaims Rashtrapati Bhavan For India’s War Heroes With Param Vir Dirgha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed India’s highest symbols of courage at the very heart of the Republic.

In a powerful assertion of national pride and historical correction, he highlighted the inauguration of the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a permanent gallery dedicated to all 21 recipients of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour.

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the gallery on 16 December 2025, coinciding with Vijay Diwas, a date etched deeply into India’s military memory.

The choice of the day underscored the enduring legacy of sacrifice and victory that defines India’s armed forces.

The ceremony brought together families of Param Vir Chakra awardees, senior military leadership, and top constitutional authorities, transforming Rashtrapati Bhavan into a space of collective remembrance, gratitude, and national resolve.

Sharing his reflections on social media, Prime Minister Modi wrote:

Replacing Colonial Memory with Indian Valour

The Param Vir Dirgha replaces portraits of British-era soldiers that once adorned the historic halls of the President’s House.

In their place now stand oil portraits of Indian warriors, men who fought and laid down their lives to safeguard India’s sovereignty.

From Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient, to Captain Vikram Batra, the iconic hero of the Kargil War, the gallery honours courage across generations and conflicts.

The transformation sends a clear political and cultural message: India will honour its own heroes, on its own terms.

Each portrait is accompanied by a detailed plaque and a QR code, allowing visitors, especially young Indians, to access comprehensive accounts of battlefield leadership, sacrifice, and bravery.

The design ensures that the story of valour is not frozen in time but actively carried forward.

Emphasising the gallery’s role in shaping future generations, the Prime Minister noted that since 1950, all 21 Param Vir Chakras have been awarded posthumously, underscoring the ultimate price paid for national unity.

In another post, he wrote:

According to the Prime Minister, the gallery is not merely a tribute to individual bravery. It reflects the spirit of selflessness that binds the nation together.

PM Modi linked the Param Vir Dirgha to a broader initiative to decolonise India’s public memory. He referred to earlier decisions, including the renaming of islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago after Param Vir Chakra recipients, replacing colonial-era names with identities rooted in Indian sacrifice and strength.

Together, these measures aim to reshape how India remembers its past and frames its future.

A Statement in Stone and Silence

Key moments from the inauguration captured in images:

• Families of Param Vir Chakra awardees stand beside the portraits of the fallen heroes,
• Senior military officers salute the bravehearts in solemn tribute, and
• The President unveils the gallery inside the ornate halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan

The visual message is unmistakable: courage, not colonial legacy, now defines India’s national narrative.

Through the Param Vir Dirgha, Prime Minister Modi has delivered a clear statement.

A self-reliant and developed India must draw strength from those who defended it with their lives.

The gallery is not just an exhibition. It is a declaration that India’s heroes will occupy the highest place in the nation’s conscience.