Neglect visible at entry and central monument
The Punjab State War Memorial in Jalandhar, constructed to honour the state’s war heroes and preserve the memory of those who sacrificed their lives since 1947, is reportedly suffering from basic neglect, according to The Tribune. Visitors find missing signage at the entrance, cracked ceilings in hexagonal structures and large patches of overgrown shrubs within the premises.
Missing installations and locked museum
Several prominent installations that once formed part of the memorial complex are no longer in place. An Army tank that stood near the main boundary wall has been removed, and a rear statue of a soldier holding the Tricolour is now largely hidden by vegetation. At the centre of the site stands a 50-foot-high monument made of white marble and red sandstone; its platform bears the names of gallantry award recipients since 1947, including Punjab’s three Param Vir Chakra recipients.
"The Punjab Hall of Fame, a museum in the basement, also remains locked," The Tribune reported.
The museum, designed to house models of tanks, weapons, insignias, photographs and other memorabilia, was meant to preserve Punjab’s military history and commemorations. Its closure restricts public access to material that documents the state’s contribution to national security.
Public safety and access concerns
The memorial compound reportedly lacks a proper boundary wall, exposing it to unauthorised entry. The road outside is pockmarked with craters and littered with garbage; some passers-by are using the roadside as a urinal, the report said. Cracks in the ceilings of certain hexagonal memorial structures have also been observed, raising concerns about the site’s upkeep and visitor safety.
- Entrance signage: Missing frame remains but no identification board
- Central monument: 50-foot marble and red sandstone structure intact but surrounded by neglected grounds
- Missing exhibits: Army tank removed; statue partly obscured by bushes
- Punjab Hall of Fame: Basement museum locked and inaccessible
- Perimeter: Inadequate boundary wall and poor external road condition
Names on stone amid neglect
The sides of the central monument’s platform carry the names of gallantry award recipients since 1947, engraved on black granite. Listed among them are Flying Officer Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon, Subedar Gurbachan Singh Salaria and Subedar Joginder Singh — names meant to anchor public memory now standing amid overgrown shrubs and visible deterioration.
| Feature | Status (reported) |
|---|---|
| Entrance signage | Missing |
| Central monument | Intact but surroundings unkempt |
| Army tank exhibit | Removed |
| Punjab Hall of Fame | Locked |
| Boundary wall | Incomplete |
The Tribune’s report links the poor upkeep to an administrative tussle between the Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) and other agencies, though details of that dispute were not elaborated in the story. The absence of a clear maintenance responsibility appears to have left the memorial vulnerable to neglect.
For residents of Jalandhar and families of veterans, the memorial’s condition raises broader questions about how civic bodies prioritise and protect sites of collective memory. The locked museum and disappearing exhibits restrict educational access for students, cadets and citizens who might otherwise visit to learn about Punjab’s military contributions.
Local civic groups and veteran associations often seek assurance that memorials remain accessible and well maintained so that tributes to sacrifice do not fade. With Independence Day and other commemorations drawing people to public monuments, the state of the war memorial has put the spotlight back on the need for regular upkeep, clear custodianship and minimal security and sanitary arrangements.
Until an administrative resolution is reached, the memorial’s future maintenance and the restoration of its missing installations remain uncertain, affecting both the dignity of the site and its role as a living classroom of Punjab’s military history.
