India’s Army Officially Honours Operation Pawan Martyrs After 38 Years

The Indian Army will, for the first time, hold an official ceremony to honour the martyrs of Operation Pawan, India’s major overseas military mission after Independence.

Operation Pawan was launched in 1987 by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka to control violence during the Tamil–Sinhala conflict and disarm militant groups, mainly the LTTE.

The mission lasted until 1990 and involved intense combat in Sri Lanka’s challenging forest terrain, resulting in 1,171 deaths and over 3,500 injured Indian personnel.

Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra—the nation’s highest military gallantry award—during Operation Pawan for his extraordinary bravery.

The operation marked one of the highest casualties and toughest overseas engagements in modern Indian military history, with many soldiers falling in ambushes and close-quarter combat.

Until now, there was no official national remembrance day for IPKF’s Operation Pawan martyrs; families and veterans organized private memorials.

In contrast, Sri Lanka built an IPKF memorial in Colombo, recognizing the mission’s international significance, while India lacked a formal tribute.

On 26 November 2025, the Army Chief and senior leaders will lay wreaths at Delhi’s National War Memorial, joined by veterans and families of fallen soldiers, marking a historic first.

The ceremony reflects national appreciation and aims to bring overdue recognition to the sacrifices made by thousands and their enduring legacy in India's defense history.

Recognizing Operation Pawan’s martyrs officially is seen as a critical step in national reconciliation, military morale, and honoring those whose service and sacrifice had long gone without formal tribute.