A poem titled 'National War Memorial' and chapter 'Veer Abdul Hameed' have been added to the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) curriculum for Class VI students, from the current academic year.
The move—jointly initiated by the ministry of defence and ministry of education—which is in line with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, aims at fostering values of patriotism, devotion to duty, courage, and sacrifice among the school children and participation of youth in nation building, the defence minister said in a statement.
CQMH Abdul Hameed
The chapter, 'Veer Abdul Hameed’, honours CQMH (Company Quarter Master Havildar) Abdul Hameed who fought and died for the country during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 and was posthumously awarded Param Veer Chakra, which is India's highest gallantry award.
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Abdul Hameed joined the Indian Army in 1953, at the age of 20. He trained at the Grenadiers Regimental Center in Nasirabad and was posted to 4th Bombay Grenadiers.
Initially, he served in a rifle company and was then sidestepped to the Recoil-Less Platoon (RCL). Hameed served with 4th Bombay Grenadiers in Agra, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, North-East frontier Agency (NEFA) and Ramgarh.
Martyrdom
According to the defence ministry, “On 10 September 1965, Pakistani forces attacked a vital sector ahead of the village of Chima on the Bhikhiwind road in the Khem Karan Sector with a regiment of Patton tanks. There was heavy artillery shelling preceding the attack. Abdul Hamid, commander of a recoilless gun detachment, realised the gravity of the situation and moved out to a flanking position with his gun mounted on a jeep amidst heavy enemy shelling and tank fire. He quickly changed positions after taking advantage of a favourable location to take out the leading enemy tank and ignite another tank.
“After being recognised by the enemy tanks in the region, intense enemy fire with heavy explosives and concentrated machine gun was directed towards his jeep. CQMH Abdul Hamid continued firing his RCL at yet another enemy tank without ceasing. He was fatally wounded while doing so by an enemy high explosive shell. Inspired by the courageous deed of Hamid, his companions put up a valiant resistance and repulsed the enemy's massive tank onslaught. He showed total disregard for his own safety throughout the operation, exhibited unwavering bravery in the face of persistent enemy fire, and did so in the greatest traditions of the Indian Army.”
The poem 'National War Memorial'
The objective behind adding the poem 'National War Memorial' to the curriculum is to appreciate the spirit behind it, the defence ministry said.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dedicated the National War Memorial to the nation in 2019 in the Central Vista 'C' Hexagon at India Gate in New Delhi.
The memorial was set up to inculcate a sense of high moral values, sacrifice, national spirit and belongingness in the the people of the country and to pay a fitting tribute to the soldiers, who laid down their lives defending the nation.