rediff.com: Independence Day 2008 Images: The icons that make India

The Indian soldier: For being the nation's pride

'Every soldier is doing a gallant job'

August 15, 2008

Meet Major Jamini Dutta, Major Ashish Hooda, Major Jawed Ali Khan: Gallantry award winners, The Indian Army.

On the eve of India's 61st birthday, Prasanna D Zore spoke with Major Jamini Dutta, Major Ashish Hooda and Major Jawed Ali Khan on what it means to be an Indian soldier.

Major Ashish Hooda is 33 and part of the Indian Army's Special Forces unit. He won a gallantry award for his act of bravery against insurgents in Jammu & Kashmir.

Despite his achievement Major Hooda considers himself a humble soldier of this country.

India, 61: The icons that make India

"It's not only that Major Hooda is a gallantry award winner," he says. "There are a number of officers in the Indian Army who are doing a gallant job every day. You must remember that each and every soldier of the Indian Armed Forces is doing a gallant job every day."

Major Jawed Ali Khan, who was awarded a Sena Medal for his bravery in Manipur, says: "The sense of belonging that it gives me, makes me feel proud of this great institution called the Indian armed forces."

All three officers show an identical trait that has now come to define the Indian Army -- Team effort is more important than individual acts of bravery.

Videos and Photographs: Reuben NV.
Photograph: Major Jawed Ali Khan, left, Major Ashish Hooda, second from left, and Major Jamini Dutta, right, with Captain Sanket Baweja, officiating public relations officer.

Also see: Remembering Captain Harshan

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