New Delhi

Gifted with a melodious voice, Captain Haneef Uddin often sang to his troops to lift their spirits amid a harsh terrain and isolated conditions of Saichen and Ladakh. At 25, he left them with a story of exceptional courage and comraderie when he laid down his life fighting the Pakistan troops during the Kargil war and ensuring that all his men retreated to safety.

Remembering Heroes

He along with two other army men engaged the Pakistanis and bore the brunt of their attacks till last of his troops had withdrawn to safety during the Kargil war.

Haneef, as this cheerful, bubbly and vivacuious young officer was called in the Indian Army, displayed exceptional courage, committment and valour during the war and was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously. His mother Hema Aziz, a classical singer of repute, had to wait for the war to end, to receive her son's mortal remains. However, she famously remarked on her son's sacrifice, "There cannot be a greater statement on his valour than his death, which came while fighting the enemy."

Haneef grew up in a family where culture, discipline, and education were deeply valued. He and his siblingis, Sameer and Nafees were brought up by their mother after the loss of their father when the kids were young.

Hema Aziz is a distinguished classical singer associated with the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Kathak Kendra, and Haneef inherited his indomitable spirit and singing from her.

As a student at Shivaji College, Delhi University, Haneef became known for much more than academic excellence. A science graduate with a keen interest in computers, he was also a gifted singer and an immensely popular personality on campus. His confidence, charisma, and leadership qualities earned him the title of "Mr. Shivaji," reflecting the respect and admiration he commanded among friends and teachers alike.

On 6 June 1999, Captain Haneef had occupied one particular hill to keep Pakistani soldiers at bay. However, during the patrol, he and his men came under intense enemy fire. Even after suffering serious injuries, he refused to retreat. Instead, he took up a firing position and engaged the enemy, providing covering fire so that the rest of his patrol could move to safety.

Though hit again by enemy bullets and artillery, he continued fighting until he was certain his men had escaped danger. Only then did he make the ultimate sacrifice, just two years after being commissioned and before turning 25.

The operation also claimed the lives of Naib Subedar Mangej Singh and Rifleman Parvesh Kumar. Due to enemy presence and the treacherous terrain, Captain Haneef's body could not be recovered until the end of the war. His mother, Hema Aziz, summed up his legacy with remarkable dignity, saying, "

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One song remained especially close to Captain Haneef's heart. Written by his younger brother Sameer, its lines read: "Ek pal mein hai sach saari zindagi ka; Iss pal mein jee lo yaaron, yahan kal hai kisne dekha." ("The truth of life lies in a single moment; live that moment fully, for no one knows what tomorrow holds.").