India vs Pakistan: Operation Sindoor, Uri Surgical Strikes, and Untold Stories of the Army in Jammu & Kashmir
Lt. Gen Satish Dua remembers Na Subedar Chuni Lal — a soldier who lived and died for his comrades, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched bravery and brotherhood.
In the latest episode of Inside Out with Barkha Dutt, Lieutenant General Satish Dua (Retd), former Corps Commander and author of Bravest of the Brave, reflects on the extraordinary courage, conviction, and camaraderie that define the Indian Army. He recounts the story of Na Subedar Chuni Lal, one of India’s most decorated soldiers, awarded the Sena Medal, Vir Chakra, and Ashok Chakra — three of the nation’s top four gallantry awards.
Gen. Dua, who served in the same battalion as Chuni Lal, shared personal memories of the young soldier from Jammu who earned his first medal at just 19, scaling one of the world’s highest posts at Siachen Glacier. He described Chuni Lal’s evolution from a rookie rifleman to a decorated hero, whose final act of bravery — charging at terrorists to protect his comrades — earned him the Ashok Chakra posthumously.
The conversation also touched on the unique secular fabric of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, where temples, mosques, and gurudwaras stand together, symbolizing unity in diversity. Gen. Dua spoke about what drives soldiers — not money, but loyalty, training, and the unbreakable bond of the paltan (battalion).
Barkha Dutt concluded that stories like Chuni Lal’s must be part of India’s collective consciousness — taught in schools and celebrated nationwide — for they embody the spirit of sacrifice and patriotism that continues to define India’s armed forces.
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