From Operation Sindoor to Rashtrapati Bhavan: Honouring India's Bravest

On 8 June 2026, during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu conferred 51 gallantry awards upon members of the Armed Forces , Central Armed Police Forces, and other security personnel. The ceremony was more than a celebration of bravery, it was a reminder that while military operations may end, the sacrifice made in service of the nation are never forgotten.

More than a year has passed since Operation Sindoor became a symbol of India’s resolve against terrorism. The operation may have ended, but the stories of courage born during those days continue to live on. Time moves forward, headlines fade, and new events take centre stage, yet a nation never forgets the blood that was shed in its defence.

This week, as President Droupadi Murmu honoured India’s bravest soldiers and security personnel with Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, and Vir Chakra awards, Rashtrapati Bhavan witnessed moments of both pride and heartbreak. Some heroes walked up to receive their medals. Others were represented by families carrying memories instead of smiles.

A Mother’s Pride, A Mother’s Pain

The most emotional moments were not when medals were presented, but when families accepted them on behalf of loved ones who never returned home.

Among them were bravehearts like Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, Lance Dafadar Baldev Chand, Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj, Constable Deepak Chingakham, and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar. Each name carried a story of sacrifice. Each medal carried the weight of an unfinished life.

For the nation, these awards are symbols of courage. For a mother, they are reminders of a son who will never return home.

The applause that echoed through Rashtrapati Bhavan honoured their bravery, but it also acknowledged the silent sacrifices of the families who continue to live with their absence every day.

The Heroes Who Returned

Not every story ended in tragedy.

This year’s Shaurya Chakra recipients included brave soldiers such as Lt Cdr Dilna K, Lt Cdr Roopa A, Lt Col Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar, Major Leishangthem Deepak Singh, Captain Yogender Singh Thakur, Subedar PH Moses, and Rifleman Dhurba Jyoti Dutta, who displayed extraordinary courage while carrying out dangerous operations.

The Vir Chakra awardees included Colonel Koshank Lamba, Lt Col Sushil Bisht, Naib Subedar Satish Kumar, Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, and Group Captain Manish Arora, whose bravery during military operations earned the nation’s highest respect.

Their stories remind us that heroism is not only about making the ultimate sacrifice. Sometimes, it is about returning home after staring danger in the face and continuing to serve with the same dedication.

More Than Just Medals

A medal cannot replace a son. It cannot erase grief. It cannot bring back the laughter that once filled a home. But it does something equally important, it tells every soldier and every family that India remembers.

More than a year after Operation Sindoor, the message remains unchanged. Some heroes returned carrying scars. Some returned wrapped in the tricolour. But all of them left behind stories that will inspire generations. Because military operations may become history.

Heroes never do.