Ministries of defence and education introduce patriotic themes in textbooks to inspire students
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — To instill patriotism and a spirit of sacrifice in students, school textbooks across the country will now include material on the ‘National War Memorial’ along with a chapter dedicated to the legendary soldier Veer Abdul Hamid. This initiative is part of a collaboration between the ministries of defence and education, designed to develop new courses as per the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.
According to the Ministry of Defence, from this year onwards, a poem about the ‘National War Memorial’ and a chapter titled ‘Veer Abdul Hamid’ have been introduced in the NCERT syllabus for Class VI. The story of Abdul Hamid, a soldier of the 4th Grenadier Corps of the Indian Army, is one of unparalleled bravery during the 1965 Indo-Pak war. He was posthumously awarded India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra, for his gallantry in the Battle of Asal Uttar, where he destroyed several enemy tanks.
A ministry spokesperson explained, “The inclusion of the National War Memorial poem and the chapter on Abdul Hamid aims to promote values such as patriotism, dedication, and sacrifice among students. It will also encourage youth to actively contribute to nation-building.”
The ‘National War Memorial’, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019, serves as a tribute to the countless soldiers who laid down their lives for the nation. The poem highlights the honour and sacrifices made by these soldiers, while the chapter on Abdul Hamid chronicles his life, focusing on his remarkable acts of bravery.
A Life of Bravery
Veer Abdul Hamid was born on 1st July 1933 in Dhamupur village, Uttar Pradesh, and from an early age, displayed an interest in shooting and wrestling. His early life, as reported in a feature by Dainik Jagran, was filled with dreams of joining the Indian Army. His wife, Rasoolan Bibi, recalled that during the 1962 war, Hamid got lost in the forest and survived by eating leaves before finally returning home after several days.
In September 1965, just 10 days before the Indo-Pak war erupted, Hamid had returned home on leave. Despite his family’s concern over bad omens, he went back to duty. Stationed in the Khemkaran sector, Hamid demonstrated remarkable courage by taking on Pakistan’s ‘invincible’ American Patton tanks. On 8th September 1965, from his jeep-mounted recoilless rifle, he successfully destroyed four tanks hidden within the sugarcane fields of Cheema village.
“Abdul Hamid’s bravery was unmatched,” a fellow soldier recalled. “He waited for the perfect moment, and as soon as the enemy tanks came within range, he took them out one by one.”
By 9th September, Hamid’s acts of valour had reached Army Headquarters, and his name was put forward for the Param Vir Chakra. The following day, he destroyed three more tanks before losing his life while decimating the eighth tank. Surrounded and targeted by the Pakistani army, Abdul Hamid fought till his last breath.
