In a move to commemorate India’s fierce military pushback during Operation Sindoor — the country’s strategic response to cross-border terrorism — the Gujarat government is preparing to construct a memorial park on the India-Pakistan border. Officials have confirmed that this initiative is meant to honour the unwavering courage of the armed forces and the spirit of national unity demonstrated in the face of external aggression.
The proposed memorial, titled Sindoor Van (literally, “Forest of Vermilion”), will rise in Kutch district, the region that absorbed the brunt of enemy fire from across the border. The site lies in Mirzapar along the Bhuj-Mandvi road, on eight hectares of land belonging to the forest department. Officials said this location includes the very spot where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a public gathering during his first visit to Gujarat after Operation Sindoor.
Collector Anand Patel stated that the memorial is being spearheaded by the forest department to enshrine the collective resolve exhibited by civilians, the Army, the Air Force, the BSF, and other forces during the operation. The project, now in its initial stages, is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.
The memorial will serve as more than just a symbolic forest. It is designed to function as a ‘van kavach’ — a dense forest shield — with 10,000 plants per hectare, making it one of Bhuj’s most tightly packed green zones. Chief Conservator of Forests for Kutch Circle, Sandeep Kumar, disclosed that around 35 different species of plants suited to the region’s soil and climate have been selected, with Sindoor plants forming the thematic core. Kumar explained that Sindoor Van will incorporate herbs, shrubs, and trees in a dense, theme-based layout, and include murals representing various wings of the armed forces — the BSF, Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Sindoor Van is also set to include a solemn section dedicated to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Of the 26 civilians killed in that attack, three were from Gujarat — a tragic connection that has deeply influenced the planning of the memorial.
Adding to its historical and symbolic value, the project will feature displays of combat equipment and aircraft used during Operation Sindoor, allowing visitors to engage with the scale and intensity of the military effort. The plan aims to create an immersive experience that goes beyond static tributes.
A significant element of the memorial’s narrative is rooted in the symbolic act during the May 26 public meeting, when women from Madhapar — known for their contribution during the 1971 war by helping repair the Bhuj air base runway in 72 hours — presented Prime Minister Modi with a sindoor plant. He had remarked that he would take it to the Prime Minister’s residence, where it would grow into a vatvriksh (banyan tree), a gesture representing enduring strength.
During a recent briefing, Inspector General Abhishek Pathak of the BSF’s Gujarat frontier had emphasized the gravity of Operation Sindoor, stating that over 600 missiles and drones had been intercepted by security forces across the Bhuj sector in Gujarat and the Barmer sector in Rajasthan. He noted that approximately 40% of the attacks had targeted Gujarat, with the remainder hitting Barmer.
Sindoor Van is not merely a memorial — it is being envisioned as a living, breathing forest of remembrance, honouring the courage of India’s forces and the resilience of its people in the face of calculated terror.
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