Commander Afraz, a Bengaluru-based man, has dedicated himself to preserving the stories of Indian soldiers and officers who laid down their lives in wars since India’s independence. During his college days and job, he visited many war memorials across the country and collected details of the martyrs.
Afraz comes from a military family, with his father, wife, and other close relatives serving in the armed forces. He noticed that the stories of these martyrs were often forgotten and relegated to the pages of history. This realization prompted him to turn his dream of commemorating their memories into a reality.
Challenges in Collecting Data and Spreading Awareness
Collecting data on these forgotten soldiers was a major challenge for Afraz, as they had fought in wars dating back to 1947, 1962, 1965, 1971, and 1999. Most of their families lived in remote villages, and there was no single source of information available.
To overcome this, Afraz started working on his project in 2015 and launched his portal, honourpoint.in, within two years. He focused on those who did not receive awards or commendations, as he realized that while the country has expectations from its soldiers, nobody knows the martyrs’ expectations from their countrymen.
Spreading Awareness and Connecting with Families
Afraz’s team has been organizing various events, such as ‘Rang De Veer,’ on Republic Day, Independence Day, and Kargil Divas, to spread awareness about the martyrs. They also use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to post the stories of the martyrs regularly.
Afraz believes that civil society should get in touch with the families of the martyrs, as the government can only provide them with pensions and schemes. When the stories of the martyrs come to light, he notices that common people tend to stand up for their families and provide support, such as free legal aid and medical treatment.
For detailed story, please visit: Awaz the voice
Also Read:The Magic of Storytelling: Shazi Zaman
You can connect with DNN24 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
