The lives and sacrifices of three of India’s most celebrated military heroes—Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, and Major Somnath Sharma—will now be part of the NCERT syllabus from this academic year.
The chapters have been introduced in Class VIII (Urdu) for Manekshaw, Class VII (Urdu) for Usman, and Class VIII (English) for Sharma. Each story highlights extraordinary leadership, bravery, and devotion to duty, aiming to inspire students with real-world examples of service to the nation.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, India’s first officer to hold the prestigious rank, is remembered for his strategic brilliance during the 1971 war. Brigadier Mohammad Usman, awarded the Mahavir Chakra posthumously, and Major Somnath Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient, both laid down their lives in defence of the country and remain enduring symbols of sacrifice.
The initiative is part of a joint effort by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to integrate references to the National War Memorial (NWM) into the curriculum. Established near India Gate and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 February 2019, the NWM honours soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
Officials said the inclusion of these stories will give students deeper insight into India’s military history while fostering values such as resilience, empathy, and patriotism.
