Kargil Braveheart Anuj Nayyar's Mother Remembers Her Son Through His Letters

(This video has been republished from The Quint's archives to mark 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' on 26 July 2024. It was originally published on 28 August 2023, the birth anniversary of Captain Anuj Nayyar, an Indian soldier who lost his life in the Kargil War.)

Cameraperson: Ribhu Chatterjee

Video Editor: Karuna Mishra

As the calendar marks what would have been Captain Anuj Nayyar’s 48th birthday, a Kargil War hero, his sacrifices are brought back to life through a collection of letters. Meena Nayyar, Captain Nayyar's mother, opened up about these letters that were penned 24 years ago, each one carefully laminated, offering a glimpse into the life of a young hero at only 24 years.

In a quiet corner of her home, Meena Nayyar unfolded a file that contained letters sent by her son during his time in the Indian Army. Each letter offered a window into his thoughts, emotions and the bond he shared with his family. As she flipped through the file, one particular page captured her attention – a letter that began with the words, "Dearest Mani, Hi, How are you? Your Sunny is fine and completely safe. So you please don’t worry. Also, don’t scold Dad for letting me join Army.”

In the era before mobile phones, these letters served as a lifeline connecting Captain Nayyar with his family. The letters served not only to boost the morale of his loved ones back home but also to shield them from the harsh realities at the frontline. “Everything he shared was always positive, and even if there was something negative, he never let us know,” she said.

Meena Nayyar vividly recalled her worries about her son's safety even before he went to war.

When Anuj left for his posting in Ganganagar, I was very emotional. I was unsure if we had made the right decision by letting Anuj go. However, he told me that if all mothers thought the way I did, Pakistan would take India over.

Meena Nayyar, Captain Anuj Nayyar's Mother.

To ensure that Captain Anuj Nayyar's story remains alive, Meena Nayyar penned a book titled "Tiger of Drass." Through this book, she aims to share her son's journey and his dedication to the nation.

In his final days, he requested us to send some shirts and a few 'Hu Tu Tu' cassettes. Subsequently, after we sent them, we received a call from his senior, Major Ritesh, inquiring if we had sent supplies for Anuj. It was then that he informed us that Anuj was at war. This was how we discovered he had gone to the Kargil war; otherwise, Anuj had never mentioned it to us.

Meena Nayyar, Captain Anuj Nayyar's Mother.

Captain Anuj Nayyar displayed remarkable leadership during the Kargil War. Nayyar killed nine enemy soldiers and destroyed three medium machine gun bunkers in the Pimple complex but lost his life when an enemy RPG directly hit him. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for exemplary valour in combat during the operation.