Capt. Anuj Nayyar: The Courageous Soul

Captain Anuj Nayyar was a Indian Army Officer, who Sacrificed his life in the Kargil war of 1999 at the age of 23. "Tiger of Drass" Nayyar is remembered for his Resilience and Zealous approach in the face of Great Difficulties recapturing the Indian territory infiltrated by Pakistani Army.

CAPTAIN ANUJ NAYYAR BIOGRAPHY 

NAME	Anuj Nayyar
DATE OF BIRTH	28 August 1975
PLACE OF BIRTH	Delhi
DATE OF DEATH	7 July 1999
PLACE OF DEATH	Kargil
FATHER	S.K. Nayyar
MOTHER	Meena Nayyar
SCHOOL	Army Public School
EDUCATION	NDA Khadakwasla
OCCUPATION	Army officer
AWARD	Maha Vir Chakra

Early life and Education

• Anuj Nayyar was born on 28 August 1975 in Delhi to Smt. Meena Nayyar and Prof. S.K Nayyar. His Parents were associated with academics. His Father S.K. Nayyar was a professor at the Delhi School of Economics while His Mother Meena Nayyar worked for South Campus Library of University of Delhi. Nayyar was a studious Child and Excelled in his studies and as well as in the sports.
• He Took Great Interest in Sports and Became the captain of the Volleyball Team of his School, Took Part in Various sports like Air Gun shooting, Football and various other Sports.
• He Completed his Schooling from Army Public School, Delhi. In 12th class, He was selected for the Prestigious NDA Khadakwasla. He was inspired by his grandfather Lieutenant Bakshi Ram Nayyar to serve in the Indian Armed forces.
• Anuj Nayyar joined 90th NDA Course and Graduated in 1996 after performing excellently in all aspects of training. He went to Indian Military Academy Dehradun for the remaining part of the training and was commissioned into Jat Regiment (17 Jat) in June 1997 at the age of 21 years. He was commissioned as the 2nd Lieutenant and posted in Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

Captain Anuj Nayyar’s Role in Kargil War

• During 1999, Captain Anuj Nayyar posted in J&K along the Line of Control (LOC). The Pakistani Military led a massive infiltration in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the order of Col US Bawa, 17 Jat Battalion was moved into the Mushkoh Valley on 22 May 1999. Nayyar was assigned the responsibility to occupy the Pimple II, a strategic peak in the Mushkoh Valley.
• Reaching the peak was nearly impossible due to its location. The peak was 15,990 feet above sea level and Anuj Nayyar decided to secure the peak without any aerial support on 6 July. As the Unit went ahead they came across heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, ultimately finding 4 bunkers. Nayyar destroyed the first bunker with Grenades and Rocket Launcher.Captain Nayyar’s team crawled ahead and one by one silenced three bunkers from which enemy soldiers were attacking Indian soldiers with Automatic machine guns. However, on reaching the last bunker, he was severely injured, as the enemy rocket-propelled grenade hit him. He was adamant about leading his group but he succumbed to his injuries.
•  In his mission he killed 9 pakistani soldiers, Destroyed Bunkers, Captured Pimple ll and paved the way for the indian army to recapture the territory infiltrated by pakistani army.

Tiger of Drass: Posthumous Award, Book and Representation in Popular Culture

• Capt Anuj Nayyar was awarded the nation’s second-highest gallantry award “Maha Vir Chakra” for his selfless duty and fierce spirit, posthumously in 2000. The Title “Tiger of Drass" was given to Capt. Anuj Nayyar
• His Mother Smt. Meena Nayyar wrote a book dedicated to her son, called The Tiger of Drass: Anuj Nayyar, 23, Kargil Hero, detailing his life and service. In 2025, Indian Railways dedicated a train engine to Captain Nayyar, with his mother attending the unveiling ceremony.

• In 2003, LOC Kargil depicted the mission carried out in the kargil war by the indian army, saif ali khan played the role of Capt. Anuj Nayyar and in another movie dhoop released in the same year, depicted the life of Cap. nayyar’s parents post kargil war.

Read more from the Author: Prashant Kishor: The Chanakya of modern Indian politics