<p>Bengaluru: In a tribute to Army Day and to honour India’s armed forces and martyrs, around 40 citizens walked a 15-km circuit along footpaths around key military landmarks in Bengaluru on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The participants included Army veterans and curious civilians eager to learn more about Bengaluru’s role in India’s defence history.</p>.<p>Starting at the Tejas Fighter Jet display on Cubbon Road, the group visited prominent sites such as the National Military Memorial, FM Manekshaw Parade Ground, Gallantry Walkway, FM Cariappa Park, the War Memorial, the Rashtriya Military School, and the Corps of Military Police. The route also included an eight-km loop around the ASC (South) and ASC (North) campuses in Koramangala and Ejipura.</p>.US consulate to open in Bengaluru tomorrow, says Tejasvi Surya.<p>A wreath-laying ceremony at the 74-foot Veeragallu in the National Military Memorial marked a poignant moment of the walk.</p>.<p>Organised by BangaloreWALKS and the Metamorphes Foundation, the ceremony honoured all post-Independence martyrs.</p>.<p>Shakunthala Ajit Bhandarkar, author and director of Metamorphes Foundation, and wife of Lt Col Ajit Bhandarkar SC, who was martyred in 1999, reflected on the event: “There were aspects of the Cantonment even I wasn’t aware of. It was moving to meet civilians unfamiliar with Army life. The most meaningful part for many of us was visiting the memorial to pay homage to our heroes.”</p>.<p><strong>Building bridges</strong> </p>.<p>The walk was an extension of the December BLR Walk Fest, which saw over 1,300 participants walk 100 km of footpaths over 15 days in partnership with BBMP (East). This event added 10 km to the circuit.</p>.<p>“The walk facilitated unique civilian-military interaction, with veterans, Veer Naris, and Army veterans-turned-BBMP marshals sharing their stories,” said Arun Pai, the walk's organiser.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: In a tribute to Army Day and to honour India’s armed forces and martyrs, around 40 citizens walked a 15-km circuit along footpaths around key military landmarks in Bengaluru on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The participants included Army veterans and curious civilians eager to learn more about Bengaluru’s role in India’s defence history.</p>.<p>Starting at the Tejas Fighter Jet display on Cubbon Road, the group visited prominent sites such as the National Military Memorial, FM Manekshaw Parade Ground, Gallantry Walkway, FM Cariappa Park, the War Memorial, the Rashtriya Military School, and the Corps of Military Police. The route also included an eight-km loop around the ASC (South) and ASC (North) campuses in Koramangala and Ejipura.</p>.US consulate to open in Bengaluru tomorrow, says Tejasvi Surya.<p>A wreath-laying ceremony at the 74-foot Veeragallu in the National Military Memorial marked a poignant moment of the walk.</p>.<p>Organised by BangaloreWALKS and the Metamorphes Foundation, the ceremony honoured all post-Independence martyrs.</p>.<p>Shakunthala Ajit Bhandarkar, author and director of Metamorphes Foundation, and wife of Lt Col Ajit Bhandarkar SC, who was martyred in 1999, reflected on the event: “There were aspects of the Cantonment even I wasn’t aware of. It was moving to meet civilians unfamiliar with Army life. The most meaningful part for many of us was visiting the memorial to pay homage to our heroes.”</p>.<p><strong>Building bridges</strong> </p>.<p>The walk was an extension of the December BLR Walk Fest, which saw over 1,300 participants walk 100 km of footpaths over 15 days in partnership with BBMP (East). This event added 10 km to the circuit.</p>.<p>“The walk facilitated unique civilian-military interaction, with veterans, Veer Naris, and Army veterans-turned-BBMP marshals sharing their stories,” said Arun Pai, the walk's organiser.</p>
