As preparations reach their final stages for the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, Captain Samira Buttar of the Indian Army is set to lead the Integrated Operations Centre tableau—an honour she carries with quiet strength amid personal sorrow.
A fourth-generation Army officer, Captain Buttar has stepped into a moment of national pride shortly after the passing of her father, Colonel Sarabjeet Singh Buttar (retd). Despite the profound loss, she chose to continue her responsibility, reflecting the Army’s core principle of Service Before Self in its truest sense.
Calling her role at the Republic Day Parade a tribute to her father, Captain Buttar shared that the opportunity holds deep emotional meaning. Weeks of demanding rehearsals and early-morning drills have seen her channel grief into resolve, standing firm at the helm of her contingent.
Hailing from Chandigarh, Captain Buttar belongs to a distinguished military lineage. She is the granddaughter of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Brigadier Sampuran Singh Buttar (retd) of the 19 Punjab Regiment, while her great-grandfather, Risaldar Major Rattan Singh, served in the cavalry. “Wearing the uniform was my dream since childhood,” she said, adding that leading a tableau highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor is an unparalleled honour for any officer.
Due to the recent bereavement, her family will not be present at the parade. Speaking with quiet conviction, she said she believes her father would have wanted her to lead from the front, as he had always encouraged her commitment to the Army.
Describing the tableau, Captain Buttar explained that the Integrated Operations Centre symbolises the success of Operation Sindoor as a coordinated national effort. “It represents synergy between political leadership, the armed forces, and the people of India,” she noted, emphasising India’s growing indigenous military capability and operational preparedness.
Through discipline, composure, and dignity, Captain Samira Buttar’s presence on Kartavya Path tells a powerful story—one where personal loss yields to national duty, and the legacy of service continues unbroken.
