India is home to countless organisations dedicated to celebrating its heritage — across art, literature, architecture, and more. Yet, curiously, one vital strand of that heritage has long remained underrepresented: warfare. This is despite India’s rich and storied military past. It was this striking gap that prompted a group of armed forces veterans to launch a unique initiative in Chennai in 2016 – the Colours of Glory Foundation, the first organization of its kind in the country devoted to promoting awareness of India’s military heritage.
The Foundation found early encouragement in the late Mr. S. Muthiah, the celebrated chronicler of Madras, who readily lent his support as a Founding Trustee. With his association, yet another “first” was added to the legacy of “Madras that is Chennai”.
Marching Band.
From its inception, the Foundation set out to bring the stories of India’s men and women in uniform closer to the public. Through a diverse array of evocative and engaging events – battle re-enactments, military tattoos, heritage exhibitions, commemorative marathons, candlelight vigils, military history quizzes, book launches, documentary screenings, seminars, and presentations — it has succeeded in capturing the imagination of audiences across age groups. Even young children have been drawn into this world through specially curated programmes such as painting competitions and kids’ carnivals.
Battle of Haifa – Re-enactment.
Notably, the Foundation pioneered the concept of battle re-enactments in India, staging compelling recreations of the Battles of Adyar, Colachel, and Haifa. Its flagship event, the Victory Marathon held every December to commemorate India’s landmark military triumph in 1971, attracts participants in large numbers, cutting across generations and backgrounds.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person events to a halt, the Foundation adapted swiftly. Leveraging digital platforms, it expanded its reach to national and global audiences through a series of virtual talks and webinars. These sessions featured distinguished veterans and eminent civilians, ensuring that the momentum of engagement and awareness was not only sustained but amplified.
Education has remained a central pillar of the Foundation’s work. Since its early days, it has organised military history and awareness quizzes for high school and college students, both in-person and online. Extending its footprint beyond Chennai, the Foundation has conducted annual quizzes in Bengaluru for the past three years, marking the beginning of a broader outreach vision across the country.
Military History Quiz.
Its flagship academic initiative, the All-India Online Inter-Collegiate Military History Quiz, has grown into a widely anticipated event, drawing enthusiastic participation from students as far afield as Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu. Complementing these efforts is the Foundation’s commitment to military literature. Its website hosts nearly 200 well-researched blogs, two of which earned the distinction of being reproduced in the Journal of the United Service Institution of India’s commemorative edition marking the fiftieth anniversary of the 1971 war.
Beyond events and education, the Foundation has also engaged actively with issues concerning the armed forces. Among its most notable campaigns was a sustained effort to discourage the use of the term “martyr” for soldiers killed in action, on the grounds of its religious connotations. This initiative achieved partial success, with the Ministry of Defence and the Army endorsing the position, even as its adoption in the media remains inconsistent.
Other advocacy efforts – such as urging the inclusion of military history in school curricula and proposing that “Killed in Action” (KIA) be accorded the status of the nation’s highest military honour to support bereaved families — have yet to achieve tangible outcomes. Nonetheless, the Foundation continues to engage with such issues, underscoring its commitment to preserving the dignity, image, and legacy of the armed forces.
Following the passing of Mr. Muthiah in 2019, the Foundation instituted an annual memorial lecture in his honour. The first three editions were held virtually during the pandemic, followed by in-person events in subsequent years. Since 2024, the lecture has been held in association with the Madras Management Association. While earlier held in April to coincide with Mr. Muthiah’s birth and death anniversaries, it will now be aligned with the Madras Day celebrations in August–September – a fitting tribute to a movement he initiated and cherished.
Today, the Colours of Glory Foundation has grown into a vibrant, pan-Indian community comprising serving and retired armed forces personnel, civilians, and even overseas members, united by a shared passion for military history. Guided by a Board of Trustees that includes veterans from all three services alongside distinguished civilians, the Foundation continues to chart a unique path.
A decade on, it stands as a trailblazer in its field – honouring the memory of those who gave their all for the nation, inspiring future generations, and ensuring that the stories of courage, sacrifice, and service are neither forgotten nor overlooked. As it marches into its second decade, the Foundation remains steadfast in its mission: to preserve, promote, and celebrate India’s proud military heritage, so that the nation may always remember the price of its freedom.