In a poignant gesture reflecting profound love and remembrance, Meena Nayyar, mother of Kargil War hero Captain Anuj Nayyar, has donated her son’s cherished personal belongings to the Indian Army, marking 26 years since he made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1999 conflict. These items will now be permanently displayed at the Kargil War Museum in Dras, serving to honour his bravery and inspire future generations.
The donated items, which consist of Captain Nayyar’s war gear and personal belongings from his time with the 17 Jat Regiment, have been meticulously preserved by his family for over two decades. A recent handover ceremony, embellished with photographs showcasing uniformed Army personnel receiving the memorabilia, has spread across social media platforms, stirring a mix of national pride and remembrance.
These artefacts stand as a powerful testament to Captain Nayyar’s valor during the pivotal recapture of Pimple II, a critical position on the western slope of Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley. After his company commander sustained injuries, Captain Nayyar heroically took command of the assault, successfully destroying multiple enemy bunkers and eliminating nine Pakistani soldiers before tragically losing his life to a rocket-propelled grenade on July 7, 1999.
For his extraordinary bravery, Captain Nayyar was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry honor. He is fondly remembered and celebrated in the nation’s collective memory, with various memorials in his name, including a road and school in Delhi, and a Southern Railway locomotive named “Captain Anuj Nayyar,” recently unveiled on Republic Day 2025.
The initiative by the Kargil War Museum to include Captain Nayyar’s personal effects aims not only to educate visitors about the sacrifices made by India’s soldiers during the 1999 conflict but also to preserve the stories of their courage for future generations to learn from and cherish.
