Tales of the Brave
A living wall of veteran stories, curated by ABCEL
A living wall of veteran stories, curated by ABCEL
Like rooms in a museum, each theme opens a door to different aspects of the military experience. Explore the galleries that resonate with your journey.
All Stories
Explore all stories from our digital museum.
By Flying Officer Nitu Thapliyal (Retd) In 1996, I had the honor of being part of a historic milestone—the first batch of women officers inducted into the operational branch of the Indian Air Force as Fighter Controllers and Air Traffic Controllers. Selected as a Fighter Controller, I stepped into a role that had, until then, […]
Read StoryBy Lieutenant Colonel Romil Barthwal (Retd) In January 1998, I walked into the Indian Military Academy after three years at NDA. Like every cadet, I carried dreams of glory—but I also carried a sobering truth: I was terrible at academics, poor in cross-country, and only average in physicals. The only real quality I could cling […]
Read StoryBy Major Deependra Singh Sengar, SM (Retd) When I was nominated for for Tales of the Brave, I hesitated. There are countless soldiers with stories of greater sacrifice and quieter courage, including many who paid a price I did not. But perhaps that’s why I decided to share mine—not because it’s extraordinary, but because it’s […]
Read StoryBy Lieutenant Vinod Subramanian (Retd) For seven defining years, I wore the uniform of the Indian Navy. Those years were less about routine duty and more about learning how to stay composed when precision was non-negotiable. Goa’s skies were notoriously complex—a shared space where fighter jets, helicopters, and civil airlines crisscrossed constantly. It was here, […]
Read StoryBy Group Captain Harvinder Singh (Retd) On 14th December 2001, the desert was silent but tense. The previous evening, the Indian Parliament had been attacked, and readiness orders were racing through the system. I had barely reached my Bravo Missile Battery Headquarters when my Commanding Officer arrived and said, “Harvinder, our flight also has to […]
Read StoryBy Major Devendra Omkar (Retd) On 21 February 2019, I took over as Company Commander of Pallel Company Operating Base, 18 Assam Rifles. Barely weeks into my command, I faced a situation that tested leadership, courage, and decision-making under fire. On 13 March 2019, at about 1430 hours, while leading a Road Opening Patrol along the Pallel–Machi axis, a […]
Read StoryBy Lieutenant Colonel Shubham Shukla (Retd) When I was commissioned into the Bihar Regiment, I was elated. But my first posting took me straight to Drass, Jammu & Kashmir — the “Land of Snow,” infamous for the Kargil War, Tiger Hill, and temperatures that make refrigerators feel warm. The journey began with postcard views of the Kashmir Valley, but paradise quickly turned to purgatory. Green valleys gave way to […]
Read StoryBy Captain Karthik Chakrapani (Retd) When I transitioned out of uniform nearly two decades ago, there was no ecosystem to support veterans. No hiring verticals, no networking platforms, no organizations translating military skills into corporate language. Veterans were left to figure it out alone. I quickly realized the biggest gap was communication. Recruiters didn’t understand military titles like “Adjutant” or “Company Commander.” […]
Read StoryBy Commander Amit Arvind (Retd) As a schoolboy, I was always at the top of my class. But joining the National Defence Academy was a wakeup call. Surrounded by brilliant peers excelling in academics, sports, and leadership, I struggled. For five terms, I scraped through, just passing. In my fifth term, I chose sailing over studying for exams — and […]
Read StoryBy Commander Nandakumar Das (Retd) In June 2015, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft went missing off the coast of Chennai. Despite extensive search operations by the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, no trace was found. Pressure mounted as rumours swirled and families waited for closure. At the time, I was commanding INS Sindhu, a Kilo-class submarine fitted with an indigenous sonar system capable of […]
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An event that shaped a life forever
By Group Captain Lalit (Retd) In 1996, I was a Physics Honours graduate from Delhi University, juggling formulas by day and an MBA by evening. The Armed Forces were nowhere in my plans. My world was campus corridors, canteens, and carefree confidence. One afternoon, a close friend convinced me to apply for the Air Force Selection Board, promising […]
Read StoryBy Brigadier Animish Ranade (Retd) In May 1994, Agra simmered at 42°C as we prepared for our penultimate jump in the Combat Freefall Course — the High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) dive from 23,000 feet. Fifty jumps had brought us here, and only two remained before we could wear the coveted Combat Freefall Badge. This one was special: the highest […]
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By Colonel Rahul Sahni (Retd) I was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1999, just as Operation Vijay unfolded in the heights of Kargil. My first posting was supposed to be in Suratgarh, Rajasthan, but a single telegram changed everything: “Report to Jammu Transit Camp.” In those days, telegrams carried the weight of fate. I […]
