Remembering the bravest of the brave

Families of 2 Param Vir Chakra awardees recall Republic Day parades that are still fresh in their memories.

All they have been left with is memories, and some of them they have cherished day after day and year after year. This Republic Day too, Poornima Thapa will sit with her 81-year-old mother Shukla Thapa in front of the television set and recall how smartly her father Major Dhan Singh Thapa of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles saluted during each parade in New Delhi till he passed away at the age of 75.

“My father used to say every soldier who fights a war to defend his nation is a hero. In 1962, we lost the Indo-China war but it was a war against mighty odds. A soldier fights a war as his duty and his right, it is our duty to give him due recognition,” says Poornima, who recalled how proud her family was when her father saluted during each Republic Day Parade.

Poornima is writing a biography of her father — who was taken prisoner of war (POW) after the fiercely fought Battle of Sirijap. She says it was unbelievable when he came back. Outnumbered and ill-equipped, Maj Dhan Singh inspired his brave Gorkhas to fight to the last. Believing he was dead, Maj Thapa was awarded a Param Vir Chakra posthumously.

“My mother somehow knew he would come back,” recalls Poornima, who is still trying to understand what sacrifice means for soldiers fighting in the freezing cold or searing heat and also their wives and family who live away wondering all the time about the welfare of the men on the border.

Maj Thapa features in a book, ‘The Brave’, authored by Delhi-based Rachna Bisht Rawat who has chronicled the heroism of 21 men awarded the Param Vir Chakra — India’s highest military decoration for valour in the face of the enemy. “I am grateful that authors like Rawat and poet Shyam Kumari are striving to keep the memories of war heroes and freedom fighters alive as an inspiration for us all and the future generation,” Poornima adds.

Another soldier among the 21 PVC winners was Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore of 17 Horse, who lost his life in the Battle of Chawinda that was part of the Sialkot Campaign in the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. In September 1965, during the biggest tank battle fought between India and Pakistan at Phillora in the Sialkot sector, an enemy shell hit his tank and he lost his life.

Lt Col Tarapore’s 66-year-old daughter Zarine Mahir Boyce, who lives in Pune, still remembers how tears rolled down her mother’s face when she accepted the award. “I was just 16 years old and my mother was 42,” says Zarine, adding: “My heart cramped at that moment.”

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Zarine, who could not join the forces as women were not allowed in the Army then, went on to become a teacher. Just back from the Army Day Parade held on January 15, Zarine feels proud to see so many women in the armed forces now and reiterates that people must realise that the Army is not just for providing help during famines or earthquakes. “It will be 50 years since the Indo-Pak war of 1965 and I still feel intensely about our soldiers who have lost their lives for the country,” she says.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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