In a solemn ceremony on 24 March 25 at the National War Memorial (NWM), more than a hundred armed forces veterans, Veer Naris (war widows), families of gallantry award winners, and citizens gathered to pay tribute to the soldiers who served in Operation Pawan-India’s first major overseas military mission in Sri Lanka in 1987. The event included decorated officers, gallantry award recipients, and the families of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major R. Parameshwaran (posthumously) and Vir Chakra recipient 2nd Lt A.S. Bedi (posthumously). Soldiers from regiments that played key roles in the operation also attended.

Despite repeated requests from veterans, Operation Pawan is still not officially recognised at the National War Memorial. The names of those who died in the mission are missing from the memorial displays. “There is hesitation within the Service Headquarters and the Ministry of Defence to formally honour the bravery of Operation Pawan veterans,” said Lt Col Manoj K Channan (retd), one of the event organisers.

Veterans and the families of fallen soldiers have called on the Government of India, the Ministry of Defence, and the National War Memorial committee to take action and ensure these sacrifices are properly honoured. As wreaths were laid for the fallen, veterans pledged to keep fighting for recognition of Operation Pawan and hope the government will act soon so that this important chapter of India’s military history is not forgotten.

Between 1987 and 1990, the Indian Army undertook a difficult and challenging military operation in Sri Lanka under the banner of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). The aim was to help restore peace in the island nation, which was then torn apart by civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Tamil militant group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The IPKF mission was part of India’s wider effort to stabilise its neighbourhood and prevent external powers from interfering in the region. The intervention began with the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on July 29, 1987 between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene. Under this agreement, the Indian Army was tasked with overseeing the disarmament of Tamil militants and helping to implement a political settlement.

Initially, the IPKF was welcomed by many Tamils in Sri Lanka as a neutral force that could protect their interests. However, when the LTTE refused to surrender arms and began attacking Indian troops, the IPKF was forced into full-scale combat operations against the very group it had come to support. The Indian Army, trained mainly for conventional warfare, now had to fight a determined guerrilla force in unfamiliar terrain, amid a hostile population and complex political environment.

Despite the challenges, the IPKF adapted quickly and launched a series of highly coordinated military operations. These included intense urban battles such as the fierce fighting in Jaffna in October 1987, where Indian soldiers fought house to house to flush out militants. The IPKF eventually captured Jaffna, the LTTE’s stronghold in a matter of days. Over the next two years, the IPKF succeeded in pushing the LTTE out of several key areas in northern and eastern Sri Lanka and disrupted their operations significantly.

One of the most remarkable stories from the campaign was that of Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour. In a surprise encounter with militants, he led a bayonet charge despite being seriously wounded, displaying extraordinary courage and leadership until he succumbed to his injuries. His actions became a symbol of the IPKF’s bravery and selflessness.

The IPKF also undertook a wide range of civil and humanitarian efforts. Indian soldiers helped rebuild infrastructure, reopened schools, provided medical services, and tried to win the trust of the local population. Their conduct was professional and humane, especially considering the difficult conditions under which they operated.

However, the mission came at a high cost. Over 1,200 Indian soldiers lost their lives, and thousands were wounded. Many families in India still carry the pain of losing sons, husbands, and fathers in a war that the country later chose not to talk much about. Politically, the IPKF mission became unpopular in both India and Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu government withdrew its support, and anti-India sentiment grew in parts of Sri Lanka. Eventually, the IPKF was withdrawn in March 1990, without having completely defeated the LTTE or achieving a full political resolution.

In the years since, the role of the IPKF has often been overlooked in both Indian and international discussions on peacekeeping and counter-insurgency. The Indian Army’s professionalism, sacrifices, and operational achievements have not received the recognition they deserve. Soldiers who served in Sri Lanka are rarely remembered in official commemorations, and their stories are missing from public memory.

As one retired IPKF veteran said in an interview, “We were asked to fight a war and maintain peace at the same time—it was perhaps the hardest mission the Indian Army ever undertook.” His words reflect the complexity and difficulty of the mission, which many soldiers still carry in their memories with pride and pain.

It is time to correct this historical neglect. The IPKF was not a failure, as it is sometimes wrongly portrayed. On the contrary, it was a bold and honourable attempt by India to help a neighbouring country at a time of great need. The IPKF demonstrated India’s commitment to regional stability and its willingness to take risks for peace. The IPKF disrupted the LTTE’s momentum at a crucial stage and bought valuable time for Sri Lanka to reorganise its security forces. Many of the tactics later used by Sri Lanka in defeating the LTTE had their roots in the lessons learnt during the IPKF’s operations.

Recognising the IPKF’s efforts is not just about honouring the past. It is about acknowledging the Indian Army’s capabilities in complex operations and reaffirming India’s role as a responsible regional power. It is also about giving long-overdue respect to the soldiers who gave their lives in service of a larger cause.

India should formally recognise the IPKF’s contribution through war memorials, military honours, and inclusion in history books. International institutions that study peacekeeping and military history should also acknowledge the IPKF as a valuable case study in joint operations, counter-insurgency, and the politics of intervention.

The men and women of the IPKF deserve to be remembered, not forgotten. Their sacrifice was real, their service was honourable, and their mission, though politically complex, was carried out with courage and professionalism. It is time we said so—clearly, officially, and with pride.