Gen George S. Patton once said “better to fight for something than live for nothing.” For Nawab Ali Khan serving the Indian army and protecting the nation’s integrity was not something but every thing. He was born to be a soldier and wanted to die as a soldier.
In 1994 when militancy and terrorism was its peak in Jammu and Kashmir, Nawab was assigned the duty of keeping - Khanabal - the transit point for the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
This 22-year-old soldier along with his team was entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the transit area of the pilgrims safe from militants and explosives planted by them. On August 26,1994, when the Amarnath Yatra was in progress, his party was returning in the evening after providing a safe transit to the yatris.
However, Nawab was not aware that his passage was littered with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by militants and before he could realise the danger ahead three IEDs were triggered by the militants. The blast was so powerful that a soldier by his side got blown to smithereens while Nawab lost his left foot. He was quickly evacuated to the Military Hospital in Udhampur, where, with prompt and expert medical attention saved his life.
Nawab was given the option of retiring from the army but the die-hard soldier flatly refused the offer and said: “Buzdilon se dar kar bhagne ka sawal hi nahin uthta hai.”
The army fully respected and appreciated his spirit and sense of duty and allowed him to serve the armed forces.
In February 2017, he retired after serving the army for 23 years distinction. Nawab is gratefully to his unit which never allowed hin to feel that he was handicapped.
“My unit and the Indian army never let me feel that I was a handicapped person. There were times, when I myself forgot about it and only got reminded at night while removing the prosthetic leg,” Nawab says.
With his never say die attitude, he not only served with pride and dignity but also took care of his family.
His daughter Rukhsar is working as a PO in a bank after completing her engineering degree in computer science and son pursuing his graduation.
Nawab in his message the younger generation says: “There is only one person who can defeat you in life and that person is you - yourself – and I say that with my own personal experience”.
