Army insignia replaces painting installed in place of 1971 war artwork at HQ

The Indian Army insignia has replaced the Karam Kshetra painting in the Army Chief’s lounge, marking another change to the backdrop after the iconic 1971 surrender artwork was moved out in 2024.Recent photographs shared by the Army on social media show the insignia on the wall where Karam Kshetra had been displayed.The change comes after General Dhiraj Seth took over as Chief of the Army Staff on June 30 this year. The Army has not issued an official statement explaining the replacement or indicated where the painting will be installed.SECOND CHANGE SINCE 2024In December 2024, the Army replaced the long-standing artwork depicting the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka with Karam Kshetra, or “Field of Deeds”. The surrender artwork was moved to the Manekshaw Centre. The historic image captured Pakistan’s Lt Gen AAK Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender in 1971, symbolising India’s decisive military victory and the creation of Bangladesh.Its replacement drew attention because of the significance attached to the surrender image and its place in the Army Chief’s official surroundings.WHAT KARAM KSHETRA DEPICTED Karam Kshetra combined modern military imagery with references to Indian history and mythology.It depicted the Pangong Lake region along the India-China border, alongside tanks, boats, all-terrain vehicles and Apache helicopters. It also featured Chanakya and Lord Krishna guiding Arjuna’s chariot.The artwork was seen as reflecting the Army’s focus on modern warfare, high-altitude operations and preparedness along the northern frontier.There is no official indication that its removal represents a change in the Army’s operational or strategic priorities.- Ends