The Long Walk Home

Captain Anuj Nayyar and 17 Jat Regiment

Captain Anuj Nayyar led 17 Jat Regiment's assault in Kargil, receiving the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously. His bravery under fire, leading from the front, and ultimate sacrifice exemplify the spirit of junior leaders in Kargil. The long walk home his body took to his family.

The Boy from Delhi

Anuj Nayyar was not born into a military family. He grew up in Delhi, a city boy through and through. His parents, Satish and Meena Nayyar, never imagined their son would become a soldier.

But from a young age, Anuj was drawn to the uniform. He would watch Republic Day parades with a fascination that went beyond casual interest. When other teenagers dreamed of engineering or medicine, Anuj dreamed of commanding troops in battle.

He joined the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into 17 Jat Regiment - one of the Indian Army's most decorated infantry units. The Jat Regiment has a simple philosophy: attack, always attack. Anuj Nayyar would embody that philosophy until his last breath.

The Jat Way of War

The Jats are one of India's great martial communities. Their regiments have earned more battle honors than almost any other. The Jat Regiment's motto is "Sangathan va Veerta" - Organization and Valor.

But ask any Jat soldier what defines them, and they'll tell you: aggression. Jats don't wait for the enemy. They go after them. They believe the best defense is a relentless offense.

Captain Anuj Nayyar learned this philosophy. In the summer of 1999, he would prove that he had absorbed it completely.

The Assault on Pimple Complex

The Pimple Complex in the Drass sector was a cluster of features that the Pakistani intruders had heavily fortified. Each "pimple" was a separate objective, connected by trenches and bunkers. Taking them would require multiple assaults, each one into the teeth of prepared defenses.

17 Jat Regiment was assigned to clear Pimple II. Captain Nayyar would lead the assault.

On July 7, 1999, as darkness fell, Nayyar's company began the approach. The terrain was brutal - steep slopes, loose rock, and above it all, enemy machine guns waiting.

Into the Fire

The enemy opened fire as soon as the assault began. Tracer rounds lit up the night. Men fell. The attack threatened to stall.