In the Armed Forces, uncertainty is the only constant. The stakes are unforgiving. The consequences echo across lifetimes. For those who wear the uniform and for those who wait behind, the journey is laced with pride, purpose, and profound vulnerability.
On 14 September 2025, at the hallowed grounds of the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment, a moving tribute was organised in memory of Major Dhruv Yadav, a soldier who gave his all in the line of duty. It marked a decade since his passing, and yet, for those who knew and loved him, time seemed to stand still. The pain remained sharp, but so did the pride.
This wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a celebration. Of courage. Of service. Of a man who lived with honour and died with dignity.
The Man Behind the Uniform
Born with the fire to serve, Maj Dhruv Yadav’s journey was one marked by the relentless pursuit of excellence. Those who served with him remember a leader who led from the front, respected by peers, admired by juniors, and trusted by seniors. His posting as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy is testimony to the Army’s confidence in his ability to shape the next generation of leaders. Discipline, compassion, and integrity weren’t just values for him; they were his way of life.
In November 2011, he married Ms Surbhi Singh, a union of shared dreams and quiet strength. They built a life filled with hope, companionship, and a deep sense of service. Their son Rehaan was born in the shadow of tragedy, but has grown in the light of his father’s legacy.
22 September 2015 – The Day Everything Changed
Pokhran. A combat training exercise. The desert sun bears down on tanks as they slice through the sand. Maj Yadav, leading from the front as always, was at the helm of a complex manoeuvre. A misfire. A tragic accident. Despite rapid evacuation and all medical efforts, the Army lost one of its finest.
There was no enemy in sight. No war declared. But make no mistake, his sacrifice was as honest and as honourable as any made in combat.
This is the reality the civilian world often misses: soldiers don’t just risk their lives during wars. They lay them on the line every day during exercises, drills, deployments, and operations, ensuring that the country sleeps in peace.
At home, Surbhi was eight months pregnant. One moment, planning a life. The next, mourning a future lost.
The Stoic Widow and a Son’s Strength
And yet, Surbhi Yadav stood tall. Over the years, she chose grace over grief. She decided action over despair. She chose legacy over loss.
Planning a commemorative tribute wasn’t easy. For years, the thought lingered: “How will I do it by myself?” But this July, she leapt. She booked the auditorium at the Manekshaw Centre with nothing else in hand but resolve. The words she lived by: “As you start to walk, the path appears.”
What followed was nothing short of remarkable.
Supported by well-wishers, veterans, and serving officers, the tribute took shape. And on 14 September, the hall stood filled with members of the 75 Armoured Regiment, proud veterans and their spouses, senior officers, and the extended family of the Yadavs. The military fraternity showed up not out of duty, but out of love and respect.
A panel discussion on “The Changing Face of Warfare” marked the occasion, symbolising how Maj Yadav’s life and sacrifice continue to fuel meaningful dialogue on the future of the Armed Forces. The panellists brought decades of wisdom and sharp insight.
- Lt Gen SH Kulkarni, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
- Air Marshal Anil Chopra, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM (Retd)
- Ms Barkha Dutt, senior journalist and defence correspondent
- Lt Gen Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd)
- Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd)
The discussion didn’t just honour the past. It looked ahead, asking how the services must adapt, evolve, and prepare the next generation to lead with the same sense of mission that defined Maj Yadav’s life.
And then came a moment that left the audience speechless.
Young Rehaan, now nine years old, stood on the stage where his father’s name had just been spoken with reverence.
With clarity and composure that belied his age, he delivered the vote of thanks flawlessly, heartily, and powerfully. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. In that moment, he was his father’s son, resilient, graceful, and brave.
His words stitched together the essence of the day: grief and honour, memory and legacy, pain and purpose. For all the weight of the occasion, he carried it with quiet pride.
The Power of Community and Conviction
The tribute was more than just speeches and memories. It was a mosaic of what makes the Armed Forces community unique, a deep, unspoken bond that goes beyond ranks and units. Veterans contributed. Officers lent support. Friends rallied behind the Yadav family.
Everything fell into place, almost as if guided by a greater force, seamlessly.
It was, as Surbhi later said, a testament to God’s grace and the strength of a community that knows how to honour its own.
Why His Story Matters Today
Maj Dhruv Yadav didn’t die in combat, but his sacrifice is the reminder we all need: that service doesn’t begin and end with battle. It’s in the countless hours of training, in leadership under pressure, and in dedication to both the team and the task. It’s in raising your hand when others hesitate.
His legacy is etched not just in Army records, but in the lives he touched: his fellow officers, his cadets at IMA, his friends, and his family.
Civilians may not always understand the weight of the uniform. But we must honour the people who carry it.
Because it’s not just about how a soldier dies, it’s about how they live with purpose, pride, and an unwavering sense of service.
Final Salute
Maj. Dhruv Yadav, soldier, leader, husband, and father, gave us more than his service. He gave us an example. His was a life lived with intention and a death that demands remembrance.
To Surbhi Yadav, Veer Nari and the embodiment of grace under pressure, you remind us that strength isn’t the absence of sorrow, but the courage to move forward in its presence.
To Rehaan, your voice, your poise, and your resolve are your father’s legacy in motion.
May this tribute not be an ending, but a beginning. A beginning of remembrance, of renewed pride, and of more profound commitment to those who serve and those who sacrifice.
Jai Hind.