AMRITSAR: French government has allotted nearly 15000 square meter land to Interfaith Shaheedi Commemoration Association (IFSCA) for installing a twelve-ton bronze statue in memory of unsung Indian soldiers of World War 1.

President of IFSCA Ramesh Chander Vohra informed TOI over phone from Paris on Saturday that French authorities had rendered their support by allocating nearly fifteen thousand square meters dedicated space adjacent to the Neuve Chapelle Memorial, on the outskirts of Richebourg city which is about 245 kilometres from Paris, for installing the statue which would remind the world about the unprecedented valour of Indian soldiers.

“Presently the statue is under final stages of construction at Haridwar and is likely to reach France by October following which it will be installed in November,” said Vohra.

About the statue, Vohra informed that the twelve-ton brass statue measuring 3.8 x 12 meter is a first of its kind in the world that would depict Indian soldiers from all faiths on a single platform.

He said that the mayor of Richebourg city Guy Warein had extended all possible help to IFSCA for the project.

In addition, he informed that IFSCA would also install miniature versions of the proposed statue at the entrance of all the 82 cemeteries of Indian soldiers in France. “We will also release a book titled “Unsung Indian Heroes of World War-1,” he said.

IFSCA president informed that they were getting oil paintings prepared from different parts of world depicting scenes of involvement of Indian soldiers during the first world war .”Paintings are being prepared from Japan, Vietnam India, and other countries for exhibitions” he said.

He said Association's aim was to revive the memory and pay homage to thousands of gallant Indian soldiers who went miles away from their families to fight for people unknown to them.

“Over 4700 Indian soldiers have no known grave but are commemorated at Neuve Chapelle and Ypres , Belgium,” he said.

He informed that for the first time prime minister Narendra Modi had visited the Indian Memorial at Neuve-Chapelle in Richebourg, France but globally it had not been recognised to the extent it deserved.

