President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated the Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 16, 2025, on Vijay Diwas.
The gallery showcases portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, honoring India’s national heroes for their exceptional valour, courage, and self-sacrifice.
The initiative replaces former British ADC portraits, symbolizing a shift toward celebrating India’s military heritage and national pride.
Key highlights:
- The Param Vir Dirgha is a dedicated gallery at Rashtrapati Bhavan that showcases the portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
- The gallery has been designed to educate visitors about India’s national heroes who displayed extraordinary courage and unwavering resolve in the defence of the nation.
- It serves both as a memorial and as a space for public awareness about India’s highest traditions of military bravery.
- The corridors where the Param Vir Dirgha has been established earlier displayed portraits of British Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) from the colonial period.
- Replacing them with portraits of Indian gallantry awardees symbolises a conscious move away from colonial legacy towards celebrating India’s own heroes.
- This step reflects India’s broader effort to shed colonial symbols and embrace its cultural heritage, values, and indigenous traditions with pride.
