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Indian community's peace memorial for soldiers killed in Afghan conflict is symbolic of their integration into their adopted country, says Ajit Jain in Toronto
A peace memorial built by the Indo-Canadian community to commemorate Canadian soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan was unveiled on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.
The memorial made of 18 tonnes of granite, sourced from India, was dedicated to 152 Canadian soldiers martyred in Afghanistan. The monument soars skywards and is in close proximity to Gandhi's life-size bronze statue, unveiled in 1988, on the grounds of the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization in suburban Richmond Hill, north of Toronto. The memorial is a gift of the Indo-Canadian community to Canada.
The maple leaf-shaped memorial two sides show the right and left shoulders of a Canadian solider and above -- the maple leaf symbolising Canada, while the poppy flower is in remembrance of fallen soldiers. An estimated $2,50,000 was spent to build the monument.
To unveil the monument, three senior federal cabinet ministers were present, including the minister for national defence, Peter Mackay and the initiators of the project Ajit Someshwar, Bhupinder Khalsa and Vasu Chanchalani.
"I am honoured to be here on such an auspicious and special occasion," Mackay said in his keynote address. "On behalf of our government I am grateful to the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization for inviting us here today."
One of the best parts of his job, Mackay said was to, "get to see from an unique vantage point, the incredible courage, commitment and professionalism demonstrated every day by the men and women who wear the uniforms of the Canadian forces. I get to see the work they do here at home and see the work they do around the world and I feel enormous pride, and I believe you do also, in seeing men and women in uniform make enormous contributions."
Mackay and other guests paid homage at Gandhi's statue before going on to unveil the memorial for fallen Canadian soldiers. "As a nation, we are very proud of Canada's contributions towards promoting peace and security throughout the world. Millions of our men and women in uniform have gone above and beyond the call of duty," said McKay.
There are 3,000 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan -- sailors, air men and women and special forces -- working as part of the UN mandate in the NATO-led mission, to bring stability and security to the people of Afghanistan.
Mackay explained the efforts came at great sacrifice as, "152 men and women of the Canadian forces lost their lives in Afghanistan and many more have come home injured."
Ajit Someshwar, who actively provided leadership, initially designed the monument and contributed towards the project financially, said new immigrants go through the three phases. In the first phase they tell themselves they are here, but their mind is back home. The second phase comes when they have an education, become professionals or are in business and say -- their body is here -- but their mind is still back home.
And the third phase is when they say their mind and body are firmly in Canada. "This monument today signifies that final phase," he said.