Saluting You: We Are Proud of Our Indian Army

That olive-green uniform isn’t just cloth stitched together—it’s emotion, commitment, and a life signed away in the service of the motherland. A soldier doesn’t clock in and clock out. His duty doesn’t end at 6 PM. It ends only with his last breath.

When a soldier hugs his mother before leaving for the border, he knows there’s a chance it’s the last hug. When a father leaves behind his newborn, he knows the child might only hear stories of his bravery. When a young woman puts on her boots and salutes the flag, she knows she may be walking into a war zone and not coming back.

Why do they do it? Because they don’t just serve the country—they live for it, and when needed, die for it.
India’s military history is etched in valor, soaked in blood, and illuminated by unmatched bravery. Every war has left behind stories that tear through your heart and lift your spirit.
Right after Independence, when most of India was still reeling from Partition, our soldiers had already donned their uniforms to push back invaders in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army's role in securing the state was instrumental. Heroes like Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, displayed courage that legends are made of. Fighting with a fractured arm, he held his ground until his last breath to protect the Srinagar airfield.

Can you imagine holding a weapon with one hand and still fighting for your life—for your country's life? He did. And many more followed.
Outnumbered. Outgunned. Underequipped. But never out-braved.

The war with China was a harsh lesson, but also a display of indomitable courage. Stories from the Battle of Rezang La, where 120 soldiers of the 13 Kumaon regiment held back thousands of Chinese troops, are enough to bring tears to your eyes. 114 of them laid down their lives, but not before killing over 1,000 enemies. That’s not just courage. That’s sacrifice carved into time.

Colonel Shaitan Singh, who led them, died defending every inch of soil like it was his own child. Is there a greater form of patriotism?
If the 1965 war showed our strength, the 1971 war proved our might.

In 1971, the Indian Army didn’t just win a war—it birthed a new nation: Bangladesh. Over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered—the largest military surrender after World War II.

But what price did we pay? Thousands of our soldiers never returned. Some are still listed as Missing in Action. Their families still wait. Wives wear sindoor that has long turned to dust, mothers look at faded photographs, and children grow up knowing their fathers only through tales of courage.
Perhaps the most emotionally-charged war in modern Indian history—Kargil was not just about recapturing lost peaks. It was about the soul of the country.

Young men—some barely 22—scaled vertical cliffs under enemy fire, knowing full well they may not come back. Captain Vikram Batra, the lion of Kargil, roared “Yeh Dil Maange More” even as he pushed forward to retake Point 4875. He was martyred, but his courage continues to echo in every Indian heart.

"Either I will come back after hoisting the tricolor, or I will come back wrapped in it. But I will come back for sure." — these weren’t just words. They were a promise. One he kept.
It's not just during wars that the Indian Army stands tall. From natural calamities to pandemics, they are the first to respond and the last to leave.

Earthquakes, floods, landslides—when disaster strikes and systems fail, it is the Army that reaches where no one else can. Remember the 2013 Uttarakhand floods? It was the Indian Army that airlifted stranded pilgrims from the hills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided medical aid, logistics, and even cremation support.

No medal demanded. No credit taken. Just quiet service.
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to live a soldier's life?

Waking up in freezing temperatures, eating food that’s often cold and dry, living away from family for months, sleeping with one eye open. Birthdays are celebrated with comrades. Diwali is lit with bullets, not diyas. Holi is played with camouflage. There are no weekends. There’s only duty.

And yet, when they smile, it lights up the room. When they speak of India, their eyes shine with purpose. Because they believe in something bigger than themselves.
Let us not forget the silent warriors—the families.

A soldier's mother fights her own battle every day, praying her son returns safe. A wife sleeps alone, raising children who call their father's photo "papa." Kids grow up never learning to ride a cycle with their dad or getting bedtime stories. These are sacrifices too. Ones we often overlook.

Yet they stand tall. Proud. Not a tear shown in public. Not a complaint whispered. Only pride in their voice and courage in their hearts.
The Indian Army today is one of the largest, most powerful forces in the world. Technology has advanced, strategies have evolved, and warfare has changed. But one thing remains constant—the heart of the Indian soldier.

Whether it’s surgical strikes post-Uri, defending Galwan Valley in 2020, or counter-terror ops in Kashmir, our soldiers operate with surgical precision and emotional might. Every mission has a face. Every operation has a heartbeat.
So what can we do for them?

Can we ever repay them? No.
Can we ever match their sacrifice? Probably not.
But can we remember, respect, and recognize them? Absolutely.

Stand up when the national anthem plays—not out of compulsion, but out of gratitude. Teach your children about Kargil, about Rezang La, about Param Vir Chakra winners. Visit war memorials. Support Army welfare funds. Respect the jawan at the railway station. Share their stories. Keep their memories alive.

They deserve more than a moment of silence on Independence Day. They deserve a lifetime of acknowledgment.


Closing Thoughts: A Soldier Lives Forever

A soldier never really dies. He becomes a story that’s told again and again. He becomes the echo in the hills, the breeze across a parade ground, the reason we sleep peacefully. He becomes India.

Dear Soldier,
We may not know your name.
We may never see your face.
But we owe you everything.
From the bottom of our hearts—we salute you.

Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Jai Jawan.

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