For nearly forty years, the veterans of Operation PAWAN have borne a burden few can understand: the weight of sacrifice, heavy memories, unanswered questions, and a silence that persisted too long. Their service in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force was brave, costly, and driven by duty. Yet for many years, public memory hardly recognised the extent of what they went through. Recognition was limited, and official remembrance was lacking.
The respect flowing in finally brings hope and comfort to families and veterans, emphasising that their sacrifices are truly valued and understood. But even as this respect flows in, one truth remains clear: honour has arrived, but closure is still awaited.
However, the Veterans of OP PAWAN extend their gratitude to Gen Upendra Dwivedi for breaking the ice and officially recognising the supreme sacrifice.
Today, during the 27th Defence Strategy Seminar being held at Army War College (AWC), the COAS, in an online address to the audience at AWC and around 100 outstation participants, began his talk, saying that he had just arrived after the commemoration of the IPKF at the National War Memorial. He specifically mentioned that he is not dwelling on it being missed out previously; from now on, it will be held annually.
Why is the closure still Due?
The rationale is simple. The communication from the Adjutant General’s Branch, Army Headquarters states, “Homage Ceremony at NWM, New Delhi to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Maj Ramaswamy Parmeshwaran, PVC (Posthumous) during OP PAWAN on 25 Nov 25.” Now that the COAS, in his address, has stated that it will be an annual event, the veterans of OP PAWAN await this official promulgation.
A Turning Point: 25 November 2025
The wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial on November 25, 2025, commemorates a significant milestone. For the first time, the nation publicly honours the ultimate sacrifice of Maj R. Parameshwaran, PVC, whose Veer Gati on this date holds profound symbolic importance for all OP PAWAN veterans.
Wreaths were laid with solemn dignity by: –
- Col PS Ganpathi, MVC
- Maj Gen Ashok Mehta, AVSM, FRGS (Retd), former GOC 57 Mountain Division
- Smt Uma Parameshwaran
- VCOAS Lt Gen P.P. Singh, AVSM, SM**
- COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM
This moment, captured in the group photograph that followed, symbolises the first official national acknowledgement of OP PAWAN. For the men who served, the families who grieved, and the loved ones whose sons did not return, this ceremony is not the end; it is the beginning of recognition.
What remains incomplete is the formal declaration of OP PAWAN as a recognised national operation. This key step will fill veterans and families with pride and bring full institutional acknowledgement and closure.
The Operation and Its Untold Cost
Operation PAWAN started in 1987 under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, aimed at stabilising a volatile civil conflict and enforcing its terms. The IPKF operated in rugged terrain, against an enemy skilled in irregular warfare, and amid sudden political changes.
The cost was immense: –
- 1171 soldiers were killed.
- Over 3500 people were wounded, many seriously.
- Countless others came back with emotional scars and memories that changed their lives.
Despite the magnitude of sacrifice, OP PAWAN gradually faded from public consciousness. Veterans often described the disconnect they felt: they had fought, bled, and lost brothers-in-arms, yet the nation seemed unaware of their service. The absence of formal recognition deepened that silence.
This is why every step taken now, every gesture of honour, is so important. And why the ongoing effort for full recognition and closure remains vital for veterans and their families.
The Veterans’ Struggle for Recognition
The shift in national recognition is deliberate. It stems from years of respectful, persistent engagement by OP PAWAN veterans with the Service Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence.
What began as modest requests developed into organised interactions with the AG Branch and Ceremonial & Welfare Directorate. Veterans carefully presented history, lists, records, and the scope of losses. They argued clearly and convincingly that OP PAWAN deserved the same institutional recognition as other primary operations.
By 2025, the momentum was undeniable. The veterans’ resolve, combined with receptive military leadership and a proactive Ministry, finally converged, leading to the official wreath-laying at the National War Memorial.
But for veterans, the ceremony is not the end; it is a milestone in a longer journey that must end with the official recognition of the operation.
Why 25 November Must Stand as OP PAWAN Day, as it symbolises the nation’s commitment to formally recognising and honouring the sacrifices of OP PAWAN veterans, making it a pivotal milestone in their recognition journey and a key date for national remembrance.
Over the years, senior leaders have consistently supported the idea of recognising 25 November, Maj Parameshwaran’s Veer Gati Day, as the day to honour all who served in OP PAWAN. The choice is deliberate: –
- It is apolitical, ensuring universal acceptance.
- It anchors remembrance to the heroism of the only Param Vir Chakra awardee of the operation.
- It symbolises the courage of the 1171 martyrs and the endurance of the 3500 wounded.
Former GOC of the Dakshin Bharat Area, Lt Gen Karan Singh Brar, played a crucial role in supporting this cause. His interaction with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Shri M.K. Stalin helped reopen long-closed doors. Although initially met with hesitation, the dialogue gradually fostered understanding of the moral duty to honour IPKF soldiers.
In 2024, despite widespread caution, veterans independently observed Amarkal Dinam at the Victory War Memorial in Chennai, an event that received local media coverage and reignited public awareness.
The details of these engagements were later shared with the Chief of Army Staff, who agreed that 25 November was suitable for an annual remembrance.
These combined efforts ultimately resulted in the first official commemoration on 25 November 2025, now engraved into the national memory.
Yet the veterans remain clear.
Recognition is appreciated, but proper closure depends on formal institutional acceptance of OP PAWAN as a recognised national operation, which remains a vital goal for honouring veterans’ sacrifices.
Ceremony at the National War Memorial: A Moment of Truth
For veterans, the National War Memorial is sacred ground. It is where the nation honours all sacrifices, free from political filters or selective narratives.
The inclusion of OP PAWAN in this revered space sends a powerful message. It reclaims a chapter that had long been absent from the nation’s military memory. It affirms that the men who fought in Sri Lanka did so with honour, courage, and unwavering dedication.
The ceremony also educates the next generation of Indians who know little of the operation beyond fragments or misconceptions. It reinforces that OP PAWAN was not a political misadventure but a difficult, demanding, and honourable military mission.
Closure: The Journey Still Unfinished
For the families of the fallen, this ceremony offers a measure of healing but not closure. Closure demands more than a wreath; it calls for a formal, written, and public acknowledgement of the operation.