military heroism
The Real Ikkis Story: How 21-Year-Old Arun Khetarpal's Supreme Sacrifice Secured India's Victory in 1971
Dec 11, 2025 08:23 pm CST
This article chronicles the extraordinary heroism of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. At just 21, this tank commander from 17 Poona Horse regiment sacrificed his life in the Battle of Basantar, preventing Pakistan from cutting off Kashmir and helping secure India's decisive victory. His bravery, immortalized in Indira Gandhi's personal letter to his family and now in the film 'Ikkis', led to him being posthumously awarded India's highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra.
The Legendary Stand: How Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat Single-Handedly Fought 300 Chinese Soldiers in the 1962 War
Oct 30, 2025 05:27 pm CST
During the 1962 Indo-China War, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat of the 4 Garhwal Rifles made an extraordinary last stand at what is now Jaswantgarh in Arunachal Pradesh. For 72 hours, this 21-year-old soldier created the illusion of a full battalion, eliminated approximately 300 Chinese soldiers, and delayed the enemy advance by three days before making the ultimate sacrifice. His incredible bravery earned him the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously and a place of reverence in Indian military history.