The Indian Army has unveiled a statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji on the banks of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, a strategic area near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
The statue, situated at an altitude of 14,300 feet, was inaugurated on Thursday by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, General Officer Commanding of the Leh-based 14 Corps, also known as the Fire and Fury Corps.
Describing the installation, the 14 Corps stated on X, “The towering symbol of valour, vision and unwavering justice was inaugurated by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla. The event celebrates the unwavering spirit of the Indian ruler, whose legacy remains a source of inspiration for generations.”
The Army highlighted that the installation reflects an effort to integrate India’s “ancient strategic acumen” into modern military practices, symbolising the enduring relevance of historical leaders in contemporary defence strategy.
The unveiling of the statue comes on the heels of significant progress in India-China border talks, which led to the recent disengagement of troops at Demchok and Depsang.
These were the last remaining points of friction following the eastern Ladakh standoff that began in May 2020. The initial standoff escalated with violent clashes in the Pangong Tso region and marked one of the most serious border disputes between the two countries in recent history.
The disengagement process, which concluded in October this year, signifies the culmination of nearly four-and-a-half years of negotiations between the two
nations. Earlier phases saw troop pullbacks in 2021 from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.
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