Sukriti Kaul
On April 22, 2025, the serene hills of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir were shaken by terror.
Tourists from across India—families, students, pilgrims—were enjoying the tranquil beauty of Baisaran Valley when militants opened fire. The brutal attack, reportedly carried out by members of The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed group, claimed 28 innocent lives and left many more injured. Among the victims were tourists from Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and several other states. What was meant to be a peaceful retreat turned into a national tragedy.
Yet in those chaotic and fearful moments, something remarkable emerged: the unwavering presence of the Indian Armed Forces. Swift and selfless, they moved in—not asking where anyone was from, not drawing lines between languages, cultures, or regions. For them, every civilian was an Indian, and every Indian was worth defending.
The response in Pahalgam was just the beginning. As tensions escalated between India and Pakistan, the threat widened across multiple fronts. In the days that followed, border regions in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Punjab came under fire. Drone sightings, cross-border shelling, and night-time blackouts became the new reality. Civilians remained indoors, fearful and anxious—but they were not alone. At every vulnerable post, Indian soldiers stood their ground.
From the very beginning of their training, these soldiers are instilled with a single powerful idea: the nation comes first—always and every time. The principle of selfless service isn’t just taught; it becomes who they are. They are trained to rise above personal interest, regional identity, or
recognition. Their only allegiance is to the nation, and it is this unwavering sense of duty that carried them through those tense and dangerous days. The Indian Armed Forces are a living example of national integration.
Soldiers from the remotest corners of the Northeast, the coasts of the South, the plains of the North, and the plateaus of the West serve together in unity. When a battalion comprising people from diverse backgrounds safeguards civilians—whether from Kashmir or Kerala, Gujarat or Goa—it reaffirms a vital truth: India is one.
That same truth lived in the relief of those rescued, in the security felt behind shuttered windows in border villages, and in the gratitude that quietly echoed across the country. Integration is not just a constitutional ideal; it is a lived practice. And nowhere is it better exemplified than in the selfless actions of our armed forces. When they evacuate civilians, defend homes, or stand vigil through cold nights under threat, they do so not for people of a particular region—but for Indians. This moment offers us more than reflection—it offers us direction. The values our soldiers embody —duty, unity, equality, and service above self—are not exclusive to battlefields. They must inspire our daily lives. Beyond the uniform, the spirit of one India depends on each of us seeing past our differences and standing up for one another.
Let us not wait for tragedy to rediscover our unity. Let us honour our forces by living what they defend every day—a truly integrated, compassionate, and united India.