Tribute to braveheart: Saluting immortal courage of Major Sudhir Walia

Tributes were paid on Friday to Major Sudhir Walia on his 26th death anniversary. The valiant officer laid down his life on August 29, 1999, while fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir. For his unparalleled bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.

Civil and Army officers garlanded the martyr’s statue installed in the town, as a company of local Army regiments presented a ceremonial salute. Major Walia’s family members also paid their respects by garlanding his statue.

Widely remembered for his fearlessness, Major Walia had earlier been decorated twice with the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for combating militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. General VP Malik, then Chief of the Army Staff during the Kargil War, devoted an entire chapter to him in his book From Surprise to Victory, describing the “braveheart of Palampur”, who also served as his ADC.

During the Kargil War, Major Walia’s team successfully recaptured the Zulu Ridge. After the war ended on July 26, 1999, the Army remained on high alert to counter fresh threats. It was then that Major Walia and his commando unit were tasked with busting militant hideouts.

On August 29, 1999, Major Walia led a squad of five commandos on a mission in the Hafruda forests of Kupwara. They discovered a heavily camouflaged hideout housing nearly 20 militants. In the fierce gun battle, Major Walia single-handedly eliminated at least six terrorists before sustaining fatal gunshot wounds. Though airlifted to the Army base hospital, he succumbed on the way. His ultimate sacrifice earned him the nation’s highest recognition for bravery in peace.

Born into a military family, Major Walia was the son of Subedar Major Rulia Ram Walia. Determined to follow his father’s footsteps, he joined Sainik School, Sujanpur Tihra (HP), cleared the NDA in his first attempt and graduated from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in 1988. Commissioned into the 4 JAT Regiment, he first served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka before joining the elite 9 Para (Special Forces). Renowned for daring covert missions, his unit conducted numerous high-risk operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Major Sudhir Walia’s legacy continues to inspire generations of soldiers and citizens alike — a reminder of unwavering courage, duty and sacrifice.