Before the famous words “Yeh Dil Maange More” became associated with the Kargil War, there was a young Indian Army officer behind them.

Captain Vikram Batra of 13 JAK Rifles became one of the most remembered heroes of the Kargil War after leading his men in some of the conflict's fiercest battles.

From the capture of Point 5140 to the battle for Point 4875, Captain Batra repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership under intense enemy fire.

On 7 July 1999, he was killed in action while leading his men during the battle for Point 4875.

He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military gallantry award.

But this episode goes beyond the medal.

It explores the man behind the legend—his childhood, his family, his journey into the Indian Army, his comrades, his leadership, his famous words, and the final battle that ended his life.

The slogan became famous.
The soldier became a hero.
But behind the legend was a son, a brother, a friend and an officer who chose to lead from the front.

Beyond the Battlefield — Stories of India's Martyrs

Episode 7: Captain Vikram Batra
13 JAK Rifles | Kargil War | 1999

We remember.

#CaptainVikramBatra #VikramBatra #IndianArmy #ParamVirChakra #KargilWar #Point5140 #Point4875 #OperationVijay #BeyondTheBattlefield #IndianMilitaryHistory

In the summer of 1999, the mountains of Kargil became the scene of one of India's most difficult military campaigns.

Among the soldiers fighting to reclaim the heights was a young Grenadier from 18 Grenadiers — Yogendra Singh Yadav.

During the assault toward Tiger Hill, his team faced steep, exposed terrain and intense enemy fire. Yadav was seriously wounded during the operation, yet continued to fight and perform his mission.

He was just 19 years old.

For his extraordinary courage and actions during the Kargil War, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military gallantry award.

But this is not simply a story about a medal.

It is the story of a young soldier who climbed into one of the most dangerous battles of the Kargil War—and survived to carry its memories home.

In this episode of Beyond the Battlefield, we explore Yogendra Singh Yadav's childhood, his journey into the Indian Army, the assault on Tiger Hill, the wounds he endured, his determination under fire, and the life that followed Kargil.

One mountain.
One mission.
One young soldier who kept climbing.

Beyond the Battlefield — Stories of India's Martyrs

Episode 6: Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav
18 Grenadiers | Kargil War | 1999

We remember the courage. We honour the soldier.

#YogendraSinghYadav #TigerHill #KargilWar #IndianArmy #ParamVirChakra #OperationVijay #Kargil #BeyondTheBattlefield #IndianMilitaryHistory

On a dark night in Sri Lanka in 1987, Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran and his men were returning from an operation when they came under a sudden ambush.

Wounded in the encounter, Major Parameswaran did something extraordinary.

He continued to lead.

He reorganised his men, confronted the attackers and fought despite his injuries.

His courage came at a terrible cost.

Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran was killed in action during Operation Pawan, the Indian Peace Keeping Force's deployment in Sri Lanka.

For his exceptional bravery and leadership in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military gallantry award.

But behind the medal was a man.

A soldier.

A leader.

A son.

A husband.

And a human being whose life ended far from home while serving India.

In this episode of Beyond the Battlefield, we go beyond the medal to tell the story of Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran—his military journey, the ambush that became his final battle, his extraordinary courage and the legacy he left behind.

He was wounded.
He was surrounded.
He could have stopped.
He chose to lead.

Beyond the Battlefield — Stories of India's Martyrs

Episode: Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran
Operation Pawan — Sri Lanka, 1987

We remember.

#MajorRamaswamyParameswaran #ParamVirChakra #IndianArmy #OperationPawan #IPKF #IndianMilitaryHistory #BeyondTheBattlefield #VeerGatha #IndianArmyHeroes

He was only 21.

In December 1971, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal found himself in the middle of one of the fiercest armoured battles of the India-Pakistan War.

Serving with the 17 Poona Horse, the young officer entered the Battle of Basantar in a Centurion tank and faced advancing enemy armour under intense battlefield conditions.

What happened next would earn him India's highest military gallantry award—the Param Vir Chakra.

But behind the uniform was a young man with a family, ambitions and an entire life ahead of him.

In this episode of Beyond the Battlefield, we go beyond the legend to explore Arun Khetarpal's journey from a young officer to one of India's most remembered wartime heroes.

This is a story of youth, leadership, courage and sacrifice.

A story of a 21-year-old who faced his moment of duty—and never returned home.

2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal
17 Poona Horse
Battle of Basantar — 1971
Param Vir Chakra

We remember.

#ArunKhetarpal #IndianArmy #ParamVirChakra #BattleOfBasantar #1971War #BeyondTheBattlefield #IndianMilitaryHistory #VeerGatha

At a remote mountain position near Bum La in 1962, a small group of Indian soldiers faced repeated attacks during the India-China War.

At the centre of the defence stood Subedar Joginder Singh of the 1 Sikh Regiment.

Wounded and under immense pressure, he continued to lead his men and refused to abandon his position.

But before he became a Param Vir Chakra awardee, he was a man with a family, a life and a duty to his fellow soldiers.

In this episode of Beyond the Battlefield, we go beyond the medal to explore the life of Subedar Joginder Singh, the Battle of Bum La, the soldiers who fought alongside him, and the courage that made his story part of India's military history.

This is a story about leadership when the odds are overwhelming.

A story about standing with your men.

A story about duty.

Subedar Joginder Singh.
1 Sikh.
Param Vir Chakra.

We remember.

Sources: Government of India, Ministry of Defence, official gallantry-award records, Indian Army/regimental historical material and reputable historical sources.

High in the mountains of Ladakh, in November 1962, a small group of Indian soldiers found themselves facing an overwhelming attack.

At the centre of the defence stood Major Shaitan Singh of 13 Kumaon.

In freezing conditions, isolated from the rest of the force, he moved among his men and continued to lead as the battle intensified.

What happened at Rezang La became one of the most remembered episodes of courage in Indian military history.

But behind the battlefield was a man.

A son.

A husband.

A soldier.

A leader.

This episode goes beyond the legend to explore Major Shaitan Singh's life, the Battle of Rezang La, the men who fought beside him, and the sacrifice that earned him the Param Vir Chakra.

This is not simply the story of a last stand.

It is the story of duty when retreat was no longer an option.

BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD — Stories of India's Martyrs

Episode 3: Major Shaitan Singh
13 Kumaon | Rezang La | 1962

We remember.

#MajorShaitanSingh #RezangLa #IndianArmy #ParamVirChakra #1962War #IndianMilitaryHistory #BeyondTheBattlefield #VeerGatha #IndianArmyHeroes

In September 1965, an Indian soldier faced one of the most dangerous challenges of the war: advancing Pakistani Patton tanks.

His name was Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers.

He wasn't inside a tank.

He was operating a recoilless rifle mounted on a jeep.

Yet, under intense battlefield conditions, he repeatedly engaged enemy armour until he made the ultimate sacrifice.

Posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military gallantry award, Abdul Hamid became a symbol of extraordinary courage and duty.

But behind the medal was a human being.

A son.

A husband.

A father.

A soldier.

This episode goes beyond the battlefield to tell the story of the man, the battle of Asal Uttar, his extraordinary courage, and the family he left behind.

This is not just the story of a battle.
It is the story of the man who stood his ground.

Beyond the Battlefield — Stories of India's Martyrs

Episode 2: Abdul Hamid
Battle of Asal Uttar — 1965

We remember.

#AbdulHamid #IndianArmy #ParamVirChakra #AsalUttar #1965War #IndianMilitaryHistory #IndianArmyHeroes #BeyondTheBattlefield #VeerGatha #JaiHind

Before he became the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, Major Somnath Sharma was a son, a brother, a soldier, and a young officer serving a newly independent India.

In November 1947, as danger approached Srinagar, Major Sharma and his men were ordered to hold their position at Badgam. Outnumbered and under intense pressure, he chose to remain with his soldiers when withdrawal could have meant survival.

This is not just the story of a battle.

It is the story of duty, leadership, courage, sacrifice—and the family waiting at home for a soldier who would never return.

In Episode 1 of Beyond the Battlefield — Stories of India's Martyrs, we remember Major Somnath Sharma: the man behind the medal, the soldier behind the legend, and the sacrifice that became part of India's history.

Some heroes are remembered for how they fought.
The greatest are remembered for why they stood.

India remembers Major Somnath Sharma.

Jai Hind.