The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has added chapters on the lives and sacrifices of three of India’s most celebrated war heroes—Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, and Major Somnath Sharma—to the school syllabus for the current academic year, the Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday.
According to the ministry, the new additions include Field Marshal Manekshaw in Class 8 (Urdu), Brigadier Usman in Class 7 (Urdu), and Major Sharma in Class 8 (English). The chapters aim to provide students with inspiring accounts of courage, leadership, and duty.
Field Marshal Manekshaw, India’s first officer to hold the rank of Field Marshal, is renowned for his exceptional strategic acumen and leadership during critical military campaigns. Brigadier Mohammad Usman, posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra, and Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, laid down their lives in the line of duty, becoming enduring symbols of valour and sacrifice.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the inclusion of these stories in the curriculum will not only enrich students’ understanding of India’s military history but also impart values such as resilience, empathy, emotional intelligence, and the spirit of nation-building.
This initiative forms part of a broader collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, and NCERT to integrate the National War Memorial (NWM) and its references into school education.
Dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25, 2019, and located in the iconic Central Vista ‘C’ Hexagon near India Gate, the National War Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to India’s fallen soldiers. It seeks to foster patriotism, moral values, and national pride among citizens while honouring the supreme sacrifice of the armed forces.
