Suseong District in Daegu (headed by Kim Dae-kwon) held the "Colonel Nayar Memorial Service" at Beomeo Park in Daegu at 9 a.m. on June 6, in commemoration of the 70th Memorial Day.
This memorial event, held under the slogan "Living Remembrance in Everyday Life, Remembrance for All," was organized to honor the spirits of those who died for the nation and to commemorate the noble sacrifice and contributions of the late Colonel Unni Nayar, who fought as part of the UN forces during the Korean War and gave his life.
Colonel Unni Nayar was born in 1912 in the village of Palli in Kerala, southern India, as one of nine siblings. He began his career as a journalist and worked as a war correspondent. During World War II, he volunteered for military service and was active on the Burma (now Myanmar) front and in North Africa. In July 1950, he was dispatched to Korea as a member of the Indian delegation to the United Nations. On August 12 of the same year, he was killed by a landmine explosion while inspecting the Waegwan front line.
Due to the ongoing war, it was difficult to repatriate Colonel Nayar's remains to his homeland, so he was cremated at 156 San, Beomeo-dong, Suseong District, Daegu, an area locally known as Juilgol. On December 7, 1950, Jo Jae-cheon, then Governor of North Gyeongsang Province, collected donations from various sectors and erected the Colonel Nayar Memorial at the same site.
At the time, Colonel Nayar left behind his wife, Vimala Nayar, whom he had been married to for three years, and their two-year-old daughter, Parvathi Mohan, in India. After his death, Vimala Nayar visited Korea several times and left a will expressing her wish to be buried beside her husband. She passed away in 2011. Her daughter, Parvathi Mohan, conveyed this wish to Suseong District Office, and the burial ceremony was held on August 24, 2012. In September 2003, Suseong District Office had the Colonel Nayar Memorial designated as a National Memorial Facility by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to honor his sacrifice as a foreigner who died for Korea's peace and freedom.
On this day, the memorial service was made even more meaningful by the attendance of Dr. Parvathi Mohan, Colonel Nayar's daughter, and her family, who traveled from the United States to Korea. Also present were Lee Inseon, a member of the National Assembly representing Suseong District from the People Power Party, Ashish Gairola, Defense Attach? at the Embassy of India in Korea, Seo Jungho, CEO of Ajin Industrial Co., Ltd., Kim Dae-kwon, head of Suseong District Office, Cho Kyuhwa, chairman of Suseong District Council, council members, heads and members of local veterans' organizations, and about 150 local residents. Together, they expressed their respect and gratitude to the UN veterans.
The ceremony proceeded in the following order: saluting the national flag, singing the national anthem, a moment of silence, laying flowers and incense by bereaved families and key guests, a memorial address, recitation of a memorial poem, singing the Memorial Day song, and a commemorative photo session. Dr. Parvathi Mohan and her family also held the Indian traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, "Panch Diya," to honor the deceased and pray for peace.
In her memorial address, Dr. Parvathi Mohan said, "I returned here to fulfill my mother's last wish, as she spent her life longing for my father after his death," and expressed her deep gratitude for the strong ties and warm hospitality between Korea and India.
This year's Memorial Day event stood out for the solidarity shown between the local community, businesses, and international bereaved families. At the official welcoming ceremony held by Suseong District Office on June 6, Seo Jungho, CEO of Ajin Industrial Co., Ltd., donated 27 million won to express gratitude for the sacrifices made by the UN forces. The fact that the local community actively participated in this act of remembrance added further significance.
CEO Seo stated, "I was deeply moved that the family of a UN veteran who served a foreign country traveled such a long way, and I hope this donation will serve as an opportunity to express our gratitude and respect to India and other countries that participated in the war."
In addition, Dr. Parvathi Mohan and her family also donated $2,500 for local children in Korea. Suseong District presented the bereaved family with commemorative gifts, including scarves featuring Indian folk paintings, lacquerware boxes, and high-quality folding fans.
During their visit, Suseong District prepared a variety of programs to warmly welcome the bereaved family. On June 5, they experienced Korean traditional culture through a tea ceremony demonstration and hands-on activities at the Korean Traditional Culture Experience Center. They also viewed an exhibition of Indian folk paintings at "Museum Su" and visited Kansong Art Museum, participating in a rich array of cultural experiences.
Dr. Mo Han, daughter of Colonel Na Ya, who visited Suseong District in Daegu, is taking a commemorative photo with Kim Dae-kwon, head of Suseong District Office, after donating $2,500 for use by children.
On the afternoon of June 6, Dr. Parvathi Mohan and her son, Aditya Mohan, were invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch and hit at a professional baseball game held at Samsung Lions Park. Their participation symbolized the noble dedication of the late Colonel Unni Nayar and the friendship between Korea and India, and they received enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Afterward, the bereaved family took part in a healing tour, walking along the Suseongmot lakeside trail and experiencing the beauty of Korea firsthand.
Kim Dae-kwon, head of Suseong District Office in Daegu, said, "This event was a valuable opportunity to once again realize the preciousness of the freedom and peace we enjoy. We will continue to remember the noble sacrifice and love of Colonel Nayar and his family, further strengthen the friendship between Korea and India, and strive to spread the culture of remembrance."
Suseong District plans to use this memorial service as an opportunity to further solidify the friendship between Korea and India and to continue promoting various commemorative projects to encourage voluntary participation from the local community and strengthen international solidarity.
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