In a significant move to foster patriotism and respect for the nation’s heroes, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a new poem and chapter into the Class VI curriculum. Developed in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, these additions aim to imbue school children with values of courage, duty, and sacrifice.

The newly included poem, “National War Memorial,” celebrates the spirit and significance of the National War Memorial, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 25, 2019. The memorial, located in Central Vista near India Gate, New Delhi, serves as a tribute to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending the country. It stands as a symbol of national pride, moral values, and collective belonging.

Additionally, the curriculum now features a chapter titled “Veer Abdul Hameed,” which honors the valor of CQMH Abdul Hameed. Hameed, who posthumously received the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, demonstrated extraordinary bravery during the India-Pakistan war of 1965. This chapter aims to teach students about his supreme sacrifice and inspire them with his example of unwavering courage.

This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education, underscores a broader action plan to brand the National War Memorial as an iconic national monument. By integrating references to the memorial and its associated values into educational materials, the government seeks to cultivate a deeper sense of patriotism and encourage active participation in nation-building among the youth.