Guardians of frontiers: Chronicling the indomitable valor of Telugu military heroes

“A soldier’s drop of blood shed on the borders...is a vermillion tilak on the forehead of Mother India!”

While we sleep peacefully in the warmth of our blankets at the midnight hour, a soldier stands guard without blinking an eye in the pitch-black darkness. Out there, on the freezing, oxygen-deprived peaks of Siachen where temperatures plunge to sub-zero levels, or across the scorching, soul-crushing dunes of distant deserts, he remains unyielding. Driven by the singular, pure hope that the children back home can laugh and play safely, he hugs his rifle tight to his chest, looking death straight in the eye every single moment.

The truth is, a soldier is not merely a human being draped in a uniform-he is a living, breathing monument of valor who has sacrificed his absolute everything for the motherland. For the sake of the nation, he leaves behind the unconditional love of a mother, the anxious prayers of a wife, the innocent laughter of his infants, and the protective embrace of family comfort. When festivals arrive and we light up our homes in celebration, that soldier stands completely alone amidst the deafening roar of bombs and a merciless rain of bullets, acting as an unbreakable fortress for the country.

Whether it is in the freezing heights of Kargil where enemy bullets pierce through the chest, or in the volatile valleys of Galwan where life fades into the eternal winds-even in their final, gasping breath, these warriors do not cry out for themselves.

The last word that escapes their parched lips is nothing but a triumphant roar of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!” (Victory to Mother India!).

And when that mortal frame finally returns home, draped in the sacred folds of the tricolour flag, the scene is heavy enough to break the sturdiest of hearts. To see a grieving mother wailing over the casket, a sister weeping inconsolably as she looks at the hands she once tied a Rakhi upon, and a young wife frozen in a lifetime of silent, shattering grief-there is no eye in this universe that can hold back its tears, and no soul that does not shatter.

We must never forget the profound truth that behind every single breath we freely inhale today lies the spilled blood of a soldier. For every single drop of crimson they have shed on the borders, and for every silent sacrifice they have endured, the entire nation bows its head in deep reverence, offering its tearful, eternal tributes.

The monumental contributions of India’s Telugu-speaking regions to the Armed Forces remain a deeply proud yet insufficiently chronicled chapter in our national history. For generations, brave men and women from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have served the Army, Navy, and Air Force with unyielding courage, discipline, and exemplary professionalism.

From the decisive battlefields of the 1971 War and Operation Pawan to the freezing terrains of Siachen, the heights of Kargil, volatile counter-insurgency operations, and global United Nations peace-keeping missions, Telugu warriors have stood guard in the nation’s most demanding theatres.

Leadership at the Apex of Command

This legacy of excellence spans from the frontline ranks to the absolute highest echelons of military command.

General KV Krishna Rao, one of the finest military minds produced by Andhra Pradesh, served with great distinction as India’s 11th Chief of the Army Staff. During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, the 8 Mountain Division under his strategic command successfully captured the Sylhet region, playing a pivotal role in the liberation of Bangladesh.

Similarly, Hyderabad-born Air Chief Marshal IH Latif, who headed the Indian Air Force from 1978 to 1981, epitomized the stellar tradition of visionary leadership associated with the Telugu soil.

The Echoes of Kargil and Galwan

The crucible of the 1999 Kargil War brought the exceptional valor of several Telugu servicemen into sharp national focus. Major Padmapani Acharya of the 2 Rajputana Rifles, a resident of Hyderabad, led his company against a heavily fortified enemy position under a relentless barrage of artillery and machine-gun fire. Despite being grievously wounded, he refused to back down, leading from the front until his final breath.

He was posthumously honored with the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest wartime gallantry award.

During the same conflict, under Operation Vijay, several other brave sons of the soil laid down their lives for the motherland:

“Lance Naik Poloju Gopaiah Chary of Suryapet, serving with the 315 Field Regiment.

“Lance Naik MY Ramachander of Bolarum, serving with the 8 Madras Regiment.

“Sergeant PVN Ravi Prasad of the Indian Air Force, whose helicopter was struck during a high-stakes live mission in the Dras sector, earning him the Vayu Sena Medal posthumously.

This unbroken lineage of ultimate sacrifice continued into the modern era during the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu of Suryapet, the Commanding Officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, led his men from the front under exceptionally hostile and brutal conditions. Despite suffering severe injuries, he fiercely resisted enemy attempts to push Indian troops back, making the ultimate sacrifice. His posthumous Maha Vir Chakra stands as a shining beacon of pride, permanently etched into the collective memory of Telangana and the entire nation.

Service Before Self: A Call to the Next Generation

These celebrated names represent just a fraction of the thousands of lesser-known soldiers, Junior Commissioned Officers, sailors, and airmen from the twin Telugu states who quietly guard our freedom.

As a former fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force, I understand firsthand that wearing the uniform is both a supreme privilege and a profound responsibility. Behind every sentinel guarding our frontiers stands a resilient family sharing that heavy burden in silent sacrifice. Honoring our Telugu military heroes must therefore transcend annual ceremonial homage.

Their extraordinary sagas of courage must enter our school classrooms, cultural institutions, and public consciousness-inspiring today’s youth to embrace discipline, integrity, and the timeless ideal of service before self.

The author is Telangana’s Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies and a former Indian Air Force fighter pilot; Views presented are personal.