1971 War Memorial / 1971 போர் நினைவுச்சின்னம், Chengalpattu, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this lesser-known “1971 War Memorial” at Chengalpattu was a part of “Shiva Temples and Heritage sites Visit in Madurantakam and Chengalpattu”, on 16^th January 2026.

A war memorial is a monument or building honouring those who died or served in wars, symbolizing national gratitude, sacrifice, and pride, like India's National War Memorial (honouring post-independence soldiers) or the Victory War Memorial in Chennai (WWI/WWII), often featuring names, murals, eternal flames, and oblique  to ensure remembrance of fallen heroes.

 

In this 1971 war memorial, an oblique with a full-bloomed lotus on the top is erected in the park, at the junction of the Kanchipuram – Chengalpattu Road and Ullavur – Chengalpattu Road. This was erected for the Soldiers who lost their lives in the 1971 war against Pakistan for the liberation of Bangladesh. The foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on 07^th January 1972. This was declared open by His Excellency K K Sha on 27^th March 1974. The same was renovated, and a park was created by the Canara banks and declared open by the Collector Mr Santhosh K Mishra, on 21^st Feb 2009. 

This war memorial obelisk stands in the middle of a park with flowering plants. Both side walls have the banners of our Indian army, Air-force and Navy’s action. The names of the Heroes of Chengalpattu District, who lost their lives in the 1971 war, are inscribed, and later war Heroes are also added on the face of the obelisk.

1.   Flight Lieutenant      P S Murali
2.   Sepoy                       Thalaipakatti
3.   Major                       Dulip Singh, SM(P)   1987
4.   Lt.                            Parthipan, KC(P)       2006
5.   Major                       D. Raguraman AC(P) 2007
6.   Major                       Mukund  AC(P)         2014

On one side, an appropriate Thirukural is written. The same reads as…

புரந்தார்கண் நீர்மல்கச் சாகிற்பின் சாக்காடு
இரந்துகோள் தக்கது உடைத்து"

“purandhthaarkan neermalkach saakitrpin saakkaadu
irandhthukoal thakkathu utaiththu”

…….. (Thirukkural 780).

Meaning/விளக்கம்:

If heroes can so die as to fill with tears the eyes of their rulers, such a death is deserved to be obtained even by begging.  

தம்மைக் காத்த தலைவனுடைய கண்கள் நீர் பெருகுமாறு சாகப்பெற்றால், சாவு இரந்தாவது பெற்றுக் கொள்ளத் தக்க  பெருமை உடையதாகும்.

…. மு. வரதராசனார்

Arrangements were made to meet the persons in charge of this memorial from 10.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, every Saturday.

LOCATION OF THIS WAR MEMORIAL: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---