Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to decolonise military traditions and honour India’s own heroes, the Indian Army has renamed 246 roads, buildings and facilities across the country, replacing British-era names with those of Indian war heroes and icons of valour.
The newly renamed infrastructure now commemorates legendary soldiers such as Param Vir Chakra awardees Arun Khetrapal, Abdul Hamid, Dhan Singh Thapa, Sundar Singh, Piru Singh, among others, celebrating their courage, sacrifice and service to the nation.
Officials said the initiative is part of a broader effort to remove colonial imprints from the armed forces and reinforce India’s indigenous military heritage and ethos. The renaming exercise spans training establishments, cantonments, operational units and administrative facilities.
The Army said the move is not merely symbolic but aimed at inspiring serving personnel and future generations by rooting military traditions in India’s own history, values and heroes rather than colonial-era figures.
The initiative aligns with the government’s wider push to reclaim national narratives, strengthen cultural self-confidence, and honour those who shaped India’s post-Independence military legacy.
-OdishaAge
