Indian Army reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of veer naris, veterans, their families and to the people of Naushera while continuing to uphold the sacred tradition of service to the Nation.

By M S Nazki

That night, I thanked God for seeing me through that day of days and prayed I would make it through D plus 1. I also promised that if some way I could get home again, I would find a nice peaceful town and spend the rest of my life in peace. I was there till D plus 17 and by that time we had won the war! The Nation was in a celebration mood and so were we! It was nice that we won the war but it was sorrowful to look back at those comrades of ours who died while fighting!……………………..(A war veteran from RS. Pura Jammu, now no more)!

-There is nothing untruthful, distorted or invalid or inexact, unsound or made up in the header! When bullets whizz all over it is not easy and it is not easy at all to find out as to which direction they are coming from!

-Another anecdote I will relate: ‘The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you’re already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it. After all you are in a combat where mercy is the last word which is in mind! It is the finger on the trigger that matters the most (Extract from Major’s diary)!

• Sir? These men aren’t really concerned about the stories. They’re just glad to have you as our CO. They’re happy to have a good leader again. Good leaders have inbuilt qualities in them and the men following a leader will always smile and follow the instructions as delivered to them! -Within Easy Company they had made the best friends they had ever had, or would ever have. They were prepared to die for each other; more importantly, they were prepared to kill for each other. It was a time when the enemy was staring at us and we were glaring at him! Now the question was who would fire first! Suddenly there was a thud and a bang behind our lines! The war had started (Retired Subedar Manjeet Singh (Samba)
• In a solemn and momentous occasion, Indian Army, under the aegis of White Knight Corps, organised a grand Ex-Service Men Outreach Programme in Naushera district to make the culmination of the Commemoration ceremony of Naushera Day. The event was attended by 400 plus locals and honored the gallant sacrifices of veterans,
• No war can be won without young men dying. Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice. Some did not live the tales of their valor but the survivors still are alive to tell as to what exactly happened!

Facts about the function:

• Veer Naris and Bal Sainiks, while celebrating the indomitable spirit of the locals who fought alongside the Army with little disregard to their own life or property to save the Motherland.

-Maj Gen Kaushik Mukherjee, SM, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spade Division, Mr Abhishek Sharma, DC Rajouri and other military and civil administration Dignitaries laid wreath at Veer Bhoomi in remembrance of Nk Jadunath Singh, PVC and other fallen heroes who made supreme sacrifice in service to the nation.

-The event was followed by a cultural program by the school children of the border village, Jabbar and Sai Baba School, Naushera. Their excellent performances displayed the local culture and talent.

• GOC, Ace of Spade Division awarded the school children and teachers for their enthusiasm, passion and dedication. GOC also interacted with people of Naushera & ESMs wherein heartfelt felicitation to the esteemed gallantry awardees and Veer Naris of Naushera town and nearby border villages was performed. The event also witnessed the institutionalisation of Shan-e-Naushera Award to recognise outstanding contribution of the people of Naushera in the varied fields of academics, sports, social work and journalism. Notable personalities from these domains were presented with the prestigious Shan-e-Naushera Award, a testament to their exceptional achievements and service to the nation.

-Veterans of the region, who have long served the nation with unwavering dedication, were honoured with respect and admiration. The heartfelt tributes to Veer Naris underscored the immense sacrifices made by the families of our fallen heroes. The event also provided an opportunity for interaction and camaraderie amongst the ex-servicemen, fostering a sense of pride and unity.

-The occasion was marked by emotional moments and a renewed commitment to the ideals of duty, sacrifice, and nation-building. The GOC, in his address, reaffirmed the Army’s unwavering support to the families of veterans and the local populace, emphasizing the critical importance of preserving the legacy of courage and resilience that Naushera stands for.

-In the run up to Naushera Day Celebrations

Indian Army conducted various events to include Brig Usman Inter District Cricket Tournament, outreach to Hill Community, Multi Speciality Medical Camp wherein 38 Artificial Limbs and 15 Wheel chairs were distributed, Cross Country Run for School Children and various other professional and Vocational Courses.

The event concluded on a note of gratitude, as Indian Army reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of veer naris, veterans, their families and to the people of Naushera while continuing to uphold the sacred tradition of service to the Nation.

Anything was better than the blood and carnage, the grime and filth, the impossible demands made on the body—anything, that is, except letting down their buddies…………..(Raghubeer Singh, a veteran, Heeranagar)