First photo clicked in 2009 and latest photo clicked today in 2021 along with the wife, daughter and son of COLONEL JOJAN THOMAS 45 RR - 11 JAT Colonel Jojan Thomas has immortalized while commanding 45 RR at Kupwara in J&K in 2008. #VeerYatra continues... #KnowYourHeroes

Meet Smt Brijesh Devi. Her only son SQUADRON LEADER PRASHANT SINGH 43 Squadron #IndianAirForce was immortalised in an AN-32 crash at Jorhat in Assam in June 2026. Even in his final moments Sqd Ldr Prashant Singh ensured his co-pilot's survival. Smt Brijesh Devi’s husband is an army veteran and her son in law a serving army officer. MATA RANI keeps giving her strength. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Meet Dr Gurpreet Kaur. She today completed 24 years sans her father DySP JAGTAR SINGH @JmuKmrPolice who was immortalised fighting terrorists at Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002. Her grand father DySP SHITAL SINGH was also immortalised fighting terrorists at Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir in 1992. MATA RANI keeps giving her and her mother strength. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Major Vinay was all set to get married on October 29, 2007. Leave was already sanctioned and his parents were just waiting for him at Hyderabad to come and wind up the last minute preparations. But on October 2, 2007 in an anti insurgency operation in Jammu & Kashmir MAJOR K P VINAY Kirti Chakra 34 RR 53 MEDIUM #IndianArmy was immortalised. Dreams shattered for ever. Now his parents have also reunited him somewhere in the heaven. MATA RANI keeps giving @kpvikram Bahiya strength to bear all this. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

86 year old, Sh Nathuni Jha, showing Kirti Chakra, which he received on behalf of his son Captain Dilip Jha 7 JAT Corps of Ordnance #IndianArmy who was just two years old when he lost his mother. Nathuni ji raised him and lost him #OnThisDay fighting terrorists at Poonch in Jammu & Kashmir in 2002. 24 years later, he is still waiting for the piece of land promised to him by Bihar government. Why make promises that you can’t fulfill? #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

RASHTRIYA RIFLES #IndianArmy 36 years of Dridhta aur Virta #FreedomisnotFree a few paid #CostofWar.

*Lest we Forget* By COLONEL HARJINDER SINGH, SM While we celebrate birth anniversary of Father of Nation today, let's remember two fallen brave officers of Indian Army who laid down their life 19 years back on this day. *Maj Raghu Raman, Ashok Chakra & Maj KP Vinay , Kirti Chakra of 34RR (JAT)* were truly patriotic officers. I learned many tricks of Counter Insurgency Operations from them. It was Maj KP Vinay, who broke the news of contact which our unit 34 RR(JAT) had established with freshly infiltrated Pakistani terrorists. Vinay was directed to take stock of Battalion Headquarters since he was Adjutant and get Quick Reaction Teams mobilized. He insisted on leading one of the Ghataks, which he finally did. While he was moving to operational area, we mobilised Maj Raghu Raman enroute as per our plan. Both were about 30 minutes ahead of me enroute to place of contact. When I reached the location, first information was that both were shot while fighting and leading their men from front. All hell had broken loose thereafter since terrorists were not letting bodies of both officers to be retrieved. After great difficulty we could get them out, in bargain two more boys got injured. KP was dead by the time he came in my arms. However, Raghu had a single bullet injury. We spoke at length and he gave me the actual state of situation. JATs were down but up and furious. It took almost an hour to get firing stopped. Another hour or two to readjust. Now my team leaders, one who had joined from BB Cantt (Srinagar) after listening to news on TV, were sure and ready to settle score. By now it was evening. Boys were mobilized to get patromax from neighbouring villages and generator from Battalion Headquarters. I, for sure knew that actual action would be at night since terrorists would like to break out in hours of darkness and that would checkmate them. Surely all hell broke loose at night. With single tube of 81 Mortors, we kept the target illuminated, firing almost 450 rounds, unbelievable to many. At mid night 3 to 4 desperate attempts were made to break cordon. However, JATs played well displaying valour, calmness and bravery. Reports of dead bodies started trickling. I kept my fingers crossed hoping and praying, none were civilian . Around 3 am one of the terrorist broke our cordon. A cool and calm officer, who latter commanded 34RR followed him risking his life under Mortor illumination and knocked him down in maize field. Yes, you heard it right, in maize field at night. At first light there was total mayhem since every staff offr wanted to know number of kills. Since I had not physically seen bodies, I refused to commit on count. GOC was on line and wanted figures but couldn't get any. By 7 am, Army Cdr was on set. He said he was mobilising Para SF. I reasoned out with him that I had lost two officers and it was our responsibility to settle score. I assured him that he will not be let down and he needed to give us time. He agreed and wished me well. By 3 in afternoon, when I gave my first report that we had 9 dead bodies of terrorists, all Pakistanis, no one believed. Corps Cdr who had retired for the day asked for a chopper and was with us in no time. When I received him he again asked if I was sure of my count. In evening Army Cdr was on line. His words '' I am proud of your unit, since you have lived up to your commitment, well done". Immediately after the operation, I got my officers together and asked about their recommendations for their comrades. In true spirit of Olive Greens, they agreed that highest respect be given to the fallen soldiers for valour, raw courage, for going beyond the call of duty and laying their life in the service of Nation. Had they not rushed in and pinned them down, all Nine terrorists would have got away. *Rest in Peace, Raghu Raman & KP Vinay. Till date you inspire us. You are the legends and brightest stars up in the sky. Keep shining as ever till we meet and raise a toast together.*

Change of guards at White Knight Corps … MATA RANI keeps blessing..

Her only son MAJOR ABHIJAI THAPA Shaurya Chakra 39(I)ROF #IndianArmy was immortalized in a heli crash #OnThisDay in 2014. Son was married so as per the policy matter, she is not entitled to pension, no medical facilities, no invitation for the raising day celebrations. Just pride to show in public and pain to bear at home. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Hello Smit Machchhar .. Eager to see you walking upto the @rashtrapatibhvn to receive a much deserving gallantry award .. MATA RANI keeps blessing you..

Shri Yashwant Somvanshi and Smt Janeshwari today completed 12 years sans their son CAPTAIN AVINASH SOMVANSHI Sena Medal 39 R&O Flight 12 DOGRA #IndianArmy who was immortalized in a helicopter crash at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh in 2014. MATA RANI keeps giving them strength. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Happy raising day to all the Officers & Jawans of 16 JAT on their 62nd raising day today. MATA RANI keeps blessing them. जाट बलवान, जय भगवान

Let’s meet Mrs Baljeet Kaur. Her son Harman Singh was just a year old when her husband LANCE NAIK KARNAIL SINGH 10 JAKRIF #IndianArmy was immortalized fighting pakis in the Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir on this day in 2020. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Harman Singh paying homage to his father LANCE NAIK KARNAIL SINGH 10 JAKRIF #IndianArmy on his balidan diwas today. Harman was a year old when his father was immortalized fighting pakis in Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir in 2020. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Meet Smt Kulwant Kaur. Today she completed 23 years sans her husband MAJOR HARPAL SINGH 22 SIKH #IndianArmy who was immortalised during Operation Parakram at the Dera Baba Nanak sector in Punjab in 2003. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Homage to CAPTAIN DAVINDER SINGH JASS Kirti Chakra 1 PARA SF Corps of Signals #IndianArmy on his birth anniversary today. Only son of his parents, Captain Davinder Singh Jass was immortalised fighting terrorists at Sopore in Jammu & Kashmir in 2010. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Meet Smt Kulwant Kaur, her daughters Ms Dalwinderjit Kaur & Ms Gurinderjit Kaur and her son Bikramjit Son. Today they all completed 23 years sans MAJOR HARPAL SINGH 22 SIKH #IndianArmy who was immortalised during Operation Parakram at the Dera Baba Nanak sector in Punjab in 2003. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Homage to LANCE NAIK ARUN KUMAR SINGH 36 RR - 81 FIELD REGIMENT on his birth anniversary today. Lance Naik Arun Kumar Singh was immortalised at an age of 23 fighting terrorists at Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir in 1999. His son Nitesh was just five months old then. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Homage to MAJOR SOURJYA CHAKRABARTY 19 GRENADIERS MAJOR ROHIT YADAV 98 FIELD on their balidan diwas today. Both #IndianArmy aviators were immortalized when a Cheetah helicopter on a routine training flight crashed in Nasik in 2006. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Smt Dalbir Kaur showing the KIRTI CHAKRA, which she received on behalf of her only son CAPTAIN DAVINDER SINGH JASS 1 PARA SF Corps of Signals #IndianArmy who was immortalised fighting terrorists at Sopore in Jammu & Kashmir in 2010. Today she is the celebrating the 43rd birthday of her son but with his memories. MATA RANI keeps giving her strength. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.

Meet Dr Sheetal Singh. Her father NAIB SUBEDAR KARNAIL SINGH 20 RR 6 DOGRA #IndianArmy was immortalised fighting terrorists at Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir in 2009. Her mother ensured that today she is a doctor and married to an army officer, whereas her brother is serving in his father’s unit. #FreedomisnotFree a few pay #CostofWar.