New Delhi: Back from a significant three-nation tour spread over five days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the ongoing ceremonies to commemorate the contribution of Indian soldiers in the First World War in New Delhi.
Before departing for the tour on March 10, Modi had laid wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate.
In the honour of 1.5 million Indian soldiers who fought in the war and over 74000 who were martyred, the Indian Army is commemorating the Centenary of the First World War which was fought from 1914- 1918.
The events to mark ten decades since the First World War are being held since 10th March.
10th March coincides with the Battle of Neuve Chapelle marking the British Offensive in Artois region of France in which the Garhwal Brigade & Meerut Division of the Indian Corps participated.
The time period 2014 to 2018 is being commemorated as the Centenary of World War-1.
As part of the commemorative events, on the eve of the centenary of the Battle of Neuve Chapple in which maximum Indian soldiers were martyred, President Pranab Mukherjee and diplomatic heads of nations part of World War I participated in a wreath-laying ceremony organised on March 9 at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate.
During the First World War, India contributed over 1.5 million men from 12 Cavalry Regiments, 13 Infantry Regiments and several other units of arms and services, out of which 74,000 were killed and over 67,000 were wounded in various battle fields of Europe, Africa and Asia.
Nearly every sixth soldier fighting on behalf of the British Empire came from the Indian subcontinent.
