A memorial dedicated to Indians who fought in World War I is set to be unveiled in France. The national memorial, located at Villers-Guislain, about 200 km from Paris, will have India’s national emblem and is distinct from the Indian Memorial at Neuve Chappelle which was built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The memorial is being built by the Indian government through the USI (United Service Institution of India). It will be the second Indian national memorial overseas, the other being on the ramparts at Ypres in Belgium.

Squadron Leader (Retired) Rana T.S. Chhina, Secretary of the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research (USI-CAFHR), said at a media briefing in New Delhi that the memorial will have Ashoka Chakra in bronze and a plaque in French in honour of the Indian soldiers. A bronze marigold wreath is also part of the design. The USI, as part of ‘India Remembers’ project, has mooted the proposal to have the marigold as a uniquely Indian flower of remembrance.