A Great Martyr Ever Cherished

A profile of Lieutenant Haneef Uddin, a 25-year-old army officer from a family of artists who died for the country. It traces his hard childhood, his gentle and helpful nature, his talent for art and music, his army training and his postings, and it shows how his family and the army keep his memory alive.

A profile of Lieutenant Haneef Uddin, a 25-year-old army officer from a family of artists who died for the country. It traces his hard childhood, his gentle and helpful nature, his talent for art and music, his army training and his postings, and it shows how his family and the army keep his memory alive.

A visitor to Haneef Uddin's home is welcomed by a warm smile, but it comes only from a photograph. It belongs to Lieutenant Haneef Uddin, a 25-year-old martyr. Nearby hangs a large picture of the snowy peaks of the Turtuk sector in Kargil, which is now called Sub-sector Haneef in his honour.

A visitor to Haneef Uddin's home is welcomed by a warm smile, but it comes only from a photograph. It belongs to Lieutenant Haneef Uddin, a 25-year-old martyr. Nearby hangs a large picture of the snowy peaks of the Turtuk sector in Kargil, which is now called Sub-sector Haneef in his honour.

Friends called him 'Khalifa'. He came from a family of musicians, yet he chose the army. The writer guesses that he knew what he could give the nation and that he felt his life might be short. A flash card among his things, with a few words about changing lives, hints at how he reminded himself of his mission.

Friends called him 'Khalifa'. He came from a family of musicians, yet he chose the army. The writer guesses that he knew what he could give the nation and that he felt his life might be short. A flash card among his things, with a few words about changing lives, hints at how he reminded himself of his mission.

Haneef lost his father when he was eight. His father had been an artist linked to the National School of Drama. His mother Hema Aziz, a singer, had to travel often for a government performing wing, so the three boys were often alone.

Haneef lost his father when he was eight. His father had been an artist linked to the National School of Drama. His mother Hema Aziz, a singer, had to travel often for a government performing wing, so the three boys were often alone.

The boys learnt to get up and get ready for school by themselves. Their mother says she never had to lecture them. Her going to work every day without excuses taught them that duty comes first.

The boys learnt to get up and get ready for school by themselves. Their mother says she never had to lecture them. Her going to work every day without excuses taught them that duty comes first.

His elder brother Nafisuddin became a teacher and was teaching at a Delhi school when the tragedy struck. The youngest boy composed music on a Casio keyboard, and Haneef often joined him on the drums.

His elder brother Nafisuddin became a teacher and was teaching at a Delhi school when the tragedy struck. The youngest boy composed music on a Casio keyboard, and Haneef often joined him on the drums.

Haneef was an introvert and began to make friends only around the age of fourteen. Helping people, even with extra effort, gave him a special joy. His seniors mentioned this quality when they met his mother later.

Haneef was an introvert and began to make friends only around the age of fourteen. Helping people, even with extra effort, gave him a special joy. His seniors mentioned this quality when they met his mother later.

He could connect with people of every age. A 77-year-old gentleman who visited the family after his death remembered that Haneef had once come to him with questions about Sufism.

He could connect with people of every age. A 77-year-old gentleman who visited the family after his death remembered that Haneef had once come to him with questions about Sufism.

Haneef studied at Kerala School and applied to the army while finishing Shivaji College, both in New Delhi. He knew little about army life, since the family's only contact was through his mother's shows for the armed forces. Six months into training at the Indian Military Academy, the gentle boy had changed.

Haneef studied at Kerala School and applied to the army while finishing Shivaji College, both in New Delhi. He knew little about army life, since the family's only contact was through his mother's shows for the armed forces. Six months into training at the Indian Military Academy, the gentle boy had changed.

In letters he described the hard training, including a midnight cold bath that the cadets called a 'Mussourie bath'. He joined the 11 Rajputana Rifles and was posted to Jaipur and then Siachen, shortly before the Kargil war of 1999.

In letters he described the hard training, including a midnight cold bath that the cadets called a 'Mussourie bath'. He joined the 11 Rajputana Rifles and was posted to Jaipur and then Siachen, shortly before the Kargil war of 1999.

Even in the army he stayed cheerful. He sketched, made pretty cards from waste material, read a lot and loved playing drums. His fellow officers asked him to bring all his instruments from Delhi and form a music group, which is now named after him.

Even in the army he stayed cheerful. He sketched, made pretty cards from waste material, read a lot and loved playing drums. His fellow officers asked him to bring all his instruments from Delhi and form a music group, which is now named after him.

He did not get the time to rise in rank, but one of his wishes came true when a sub-sector was named for him. A scholarship carries his name, and his family set up a school at Kullu through the Haneef Foundation. His bravery is felt in the mountain air and on the plains.

He did not get the time to rise in rank, but one of his wishes came true when a sub-sector was named for him. A scholarship carries his name, and his family set up a school at Kullu through the Haneef Foundation. His bravery is felt in the mountain air and on the plains.

Hema Aziz feels proud of the glory her son brought to the family. She politely refused the army's offer of a petrol pump as compensation. She said that other families, who had lost their only earning member, needed it more.

Hema Aziz feels proud of the glory her son brought to the family. She politely refused the army's offer of a petrol pump as compensation. She said that other families, who had lost their only earning member, needed it more.