Kamal Ghorui
Donald J. Trump, the U.S President, recently posted a picture of DIndia’s iconic India Gate on his social media platform and called it “India’s beautiful triumphal arch” and declaring “Ours will be the greatest of them all!” For those who don’t know, India Gate is a war memorial in New Delhi and his remark was connected to his proposal to construct a mammoth triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. The post went viral in no time and soon became a subject of global curiosity.Now let’s have a look at five surprising facts you probably didn’t know about this post which is attracting mass global attention:India Gate is not just an arch; it’s a piece of history
Canva
India Gate is an iconic architectural landmark and a war memorial designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens. It was inaugurated in 1931 and built in the memory of over 70,000 Indian soldiers who died serving the British Indian army during World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Their sacrifice is also reflected by the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame.Washington, D.C., is among the few world capitals without a triumphal archYes, you read that right. Despite being a popular global city, there’s no triumphal arch in Washington, D.C. When Trump said “the greatest of them all,” he also meant that Washington, D.C. has no triumphal arch yet. There are some 57 cities in the world which have triumphal arches.“The Independence Arch”They are calling Trump’s envisioned monument as the “Independence Arch.” The nickname aligns with the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Taller than India Gate, as per Trump’s visionAnother interesting fact is that when (if) built, it will be taller than India Gate which is around 42 meters (about 138 feet) tall. That would make it one of the tallest triumphal arches in the world. A messageBy highlighting India Gate, it is like sending a message and acknowledging India’s cultural significance. It matters because a picture along with a slogan reflect how leaders use symbolism and architecture. In this case, Trump’s reference has sparked a global debate about history, and symbolism.
