Chandigarh, Nov 21 (IANS): Paying homage to the soldiers of the Indian Army, who sacrificed their lives during World War-I, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday underlined the need to sensitize the youth about the significant role played by the soldiers in the Great War.

The Chief Minister, who honoured 15 out of a total of 152 descendants of martyrs of World War-I at a commemoration ceremony in Ludhiana on Wednesday, stressed the need to preserve the rich legacy of the Indian Army, which played a commendable role along with the French and British forces in the War.

Amarinder, who is himself a war historian and defence writer, said: "It is high time to sensitize the younger generation about the exemplary courage and indomitable spirit of the martyrs so that the undying war stories scripted by them could be keep alive."

The Chief Minister said he had visited war museums in France and Belgium a few years back, and recently in Turkey where he paid tributes to soldiers of the Commonwealth nations who attained martyrdom in the Great War.

"The history of the wars and the Indian armed forces should be preserved with a high spirit so that our younger generation could be cognizant about the glorious past of the Indian soldiers," he added.

Recalling the valour shown by Indian platoons in various war theatres in Europe, Amarinder said the indomitable courage of martyrs could never be forgotten.