“Kar raha tha gham-e-jahan ka hisaab, Aaj tum yaad be-hisaab aaye.”
(I was reckoning the sorrows of the world; today, your memory came flooding back, immeasurably.)
In Delhi, memory lives on in the roads and landmarks named after soldiers who gave their lives in battle. Among them, Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg holds a special place — perhaps the first road in the city renamed for a war hero, back in 1963, after the conflict with China.
The legacy of Brigadier Hoshiar Singh
If you descend from the INA flyover onto Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg, you step onto a street steeped in sacrifice. Brigadier Hoshiar Singh fought fiercely in the 1962 war against China, leading Indian troops at Sela Bridge. Braving the bitter cold, shortages of weapons, and lack of warm clothing, he battled on — reportedly even engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese soldiers.
His martyrdom moved a nation. Lakshmi Bai Nagar Marg was renamed in his honour, with Defence Minister YB Chavan and senior Delhi government officials attending the dedication ceremony.
Even today, his name evokes pride. “Passing through Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg still brings back memories of that valiant soldier,” says social worker Baldev Gautam, who lives in the area.
Noida’s salute to the Tiger of Shakargarh
In Noida’s upscale Arun Vihar, another name shines: Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, a young hero of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
A former student of St Columba’s School, Khetrapal came from a family steeped in military tradition. His father too was fighting during the war. Posted with the 17 Poona Horse regiment, Khetrapal destroyed ten enemy tanks in the Shakargarh sector of Punjab-Jammu at just 21 years of age — the youngest-ever recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.
After completing training at the Indian Military Academy in June 1971, Khetrapal found himself at the centre of battle by December. On December 16, under heavy fire, he continued to take out enemy tanks until his own caught fire. Martyred in action, he inspired his squadron to complete the rout. Today, Arun Khetrapal is remembered as the “Tiger of Shakargarh”, and his family still resides in Anand Niketan.
Mayur Vihar’s fallen star: Captain Hanifuddin
In Delhi’s Mayur Vihar, a road and a government school stand in memory of Captain Mohammad Hanifuddin, who fell during the Kargil War.
Known for his charm — he was crowned ‘Mr Shivaji’ at Shivaji College — and his love for Western music, Hanifuddin’s bravery in the snowy heights of Turtuk was legendary. Despite relentless shelling, he pushed forward against entrenched enemy forces until he was martyred.
“The funeral procession of Hanifuddin was attended by thousands of people,” recalls Jitender Singh Shunty of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal. “He was buried at the Panj Peeran Qabristan at Nizamuddin.”
Healing hands that gave all: Major Ashwani Kanva
Paschim Vihar’s Major (Dr) Ashwani Kanva Marg honours a soldier who combined the callings of doctor and warrior.
Deployed with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in 1987, Major Ashwani Kanva was tending to injured comrades when he rushed to rescue soldiers under attack just outside the camp. As he administered first aid, hidden LTTE militants opened fire. Struck by three bullets, he was left without medical help — a cruel violation of the Geneva Convention, which forbids targeting medical personnel.
Only 28, Major Kanva was searching for a bride when he fell. An exceptional student, he attended Sarojini Nagar’s government school, the University College of Medical Sciences, and briefly Deshbandhu College. A gifted cricketer, tennis player, and admirer of Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry, he left behind a family and a city that still mourns him.
His brother, Arvind Kanva, remembers him as a topper, a dreamer, and a man destined for greatness.
A Janakpuri landmark: Captain Anuj Nayyar’s final stand
In Janakpuri’s B-Block, the name of Shaheed Captain Anuj Nayyar adorns a major road lined with houses, shops, and a sprawling school.
Captain Nayyar, of the 17 Jat Regiment, became a household name during the Kargil War. Battling for the ‘Pimple Complex’ (Point 4875) near Tiger Hill, he refused to give ground even after six comrades fell around him. Though seriously injured, he fought alone until reinforcements arrived, helping India retake the critical peak.
He was martyred on July 7, 1999. Posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra, Nayyar remains a symbol of Janakpuri’s pride. A true Delhiite, he studied at Delhi Public School, Dhaula Kuan.
“I feel proud to live where Shaheed Anuj Nayyar once lived,” says Gurdeep Singh, CEO of a media and PR agency.
Remembering young martyrs of Kargil
In Noida’s Sector 18, Captain Vijayant Thapar Marg honours another young hero of the Kargil conflict. In June 1999, Captain Thapar led the charge at Tololing, hoisting the Indian flag over the captured heights.
Lodhi Road also bears witness to sacrifice. Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja Park commemorates the pilot who flew over the LoC to gather intelligence on enemy positions. Shot down on May 27, 1999, after entering Pakistani airspace, Ahuja ejected safely but was martyred on the ground.
Brigadier Usman: The lion of Naushera
At Jamia Millia graveyard lies Brigadier Mohammad Usman Ansari, remembered every July 3 by soldiers and officers who gather to pay tribute.
Known as the “Lion of Naushera,” Usman played a pivotal role in repelling Pakistani forces in the 1947–48 war. When he fell, just 12 days before his 36th birthday, the nation grieved. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his cabinet attended his funeral, and he was posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra.
Although his family visits have become rare, India’s debt to Brigadier Usman endures.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon: The Race Course hero
Near Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly Race Course Road), Delhi remembers Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the sole Param Vir Chakra awardee from the Indian Air Force.
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On December 14, 1971, Sekhon shot down two Pakistani Sabre jets, before falling in battle. Calls to name a road after him in the Race Course area continue to grow.
Latif Marg: A quiet salute to an air force strategist
In Delhi Cantonment, Latif Marg honours Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, Deputy Chief of Air Staff during the 1971 war. Latif helped shape India’s air strategies, leading to victory against Pakistan.
Latif also led the breathtaking flypast at India’s first Republic Day celebrations, etching his name in the country’s aviation history.
