The Indian Army is set to formally commemorate for the first time the brave soldiers who lost their lives during Operation Pawan, which stands as the country’s first major overseas military mission after Independence. Conducted in Sri Lanka from 1987 to 1990, this operation resulted in the deaths of 1,171 personnel and over 3,500 injuries, making it one of the heaviest wartime losses in India’s modern military history.
Operation Pawan commenced in 1987 when the Indian Peace Keeping Force was deployed to Sri Lanka to mitigate the escalating violence during the Tamil–Sinhala conflict. The primary objective was to disarm militant factions, including the LTTE, in accordance with the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. However, the LTTE's rejection of the agreement led to fierce combat, characterized by ambushes and close-quarter battles within challenging forested landscapes.
The scale of casualties during this operation rendered it one of the most formidable challenges faced by India on foreign soil. Among those who made the ultimate sacrifice was Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his extraordinary valor during an encounter on 25 November 1987. Numerous military units endured ongoing hostilities, often without the opportunity to recover the remains of their fallen comrades.
Despite the significant sacrifices made, India has never observed an official remembrance day for Operation Pawan. Each year, former soldiers, widows, and families have gathered privately at memorials to honor the fallen, lacking any formal institutional recognition. In contrast, Sri Lanka has established an IPKF memorial in Colombo, recognizing the mission's importance.
On 26 November, the Army Chief along with senior leadership will lay wreaths at the National War Memorial to honor the personnel who served in Operation Pawan. Veterans of the operation and families of the martyrs will participate in the ceremony, which represents a long-overdue recognition of their sacrifices. This tribute signifies a pivotal moment in acknowledging a mission that tested the resilience and commitment of the Indian armed forces.
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