Indian Army – just the name itself brings different emotions to different people. For enemies, it brings fear. For the common citizens, it brings love, pride, and safety. This is not just a name—it is an emotion, a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and honour. To keep the glory of this name alive, many brave sons of mothers have laid down their lives without a second thought. When we hear the name “Indian Army,” it reminds us of those fearless warriors whose stories make our hearts proud.
Among many stories of valor, some have been told, and some still remain unheard. One such story is “Rave in Grave” – the story of a brave soldier of the Indian Army, Naik Shahraz, also known by many as “Malik Saab.” His story reflects the true spirit of the Indian Army.
There are people who often say that life in the Army is full of comfort, that soldiers sleep peacefully even during ambushes, that they go on missions and return without worry, as if it’s all easy. But the truth is very different. Every step a soldier takes is a step with responsibility. Every night they sleep with one eye open, ready to defend the country at a moment’s notice. The uniform may look proud and shining from outside, but behind it are stories of pain, sacrifice, and a burning passion to serve the nation.
This story is not just about a soldier, but about the meaning of being part of the Indian Army. It teaches us that real heroes are not in movies—they walk among us, they protect us, and sometimes they give up everything so that we can live in peace.
But is that really true? Not at all. This is the story of Naik Shahraz Araf, a brave soldier who joined the Indian Army not for comfort or thrill—but with the dream of serving the nation. Even when life was tough for him personally, his mission was simple: to bring a smile to the faces of the people of this country. That was his purpose, and that was the fire that pulled him into the Army.
Naik Shahraz was never looking for fun or luxury. He was driven purely by his deep passion for serving the nation. This story takes us back to the year 2017, when Naik Shahraz completed his tenure with 33 Rashtriya Rifles and returned to his parent unit, 3 JAKLI. At that time, his unit was posted in Chowkibal area of Kupwara district in Kashmir.
Kupwara is not just any district. It is the same region where Maqbool Bhat, the founder of JKLF (a militant organization), once lived. It’s the same place where stone pelting first began in Kashmir. Out of the 10 districts in the Kashmir division, Kupwara is considered one of the top five most sensitive areas. In 2017, the Chowkibal area of Kupwara was extremely high-risk due to constant terrorist activity and movement.
Naik Shahraz, being from the Pir Panjal region of Jammu and Kashmir, had experience operating in forested and mountainous terrains. His roots had trained him well—he was used to climbing mountains quickly and moving through rough terrains with alertness and energy. This local knowledge and experience became a great strength for him and his team. In such dangerous times, he used every bit of his skills to protect the people and lead from the front.
In 2017, when Naik Shahraz returned to his unit, the situation in the Chowkibal area was extremely tense. As soon as he reported back, he was made a part of the Ghatak Party, the Indian Army’s elite assault team. One day, Shahraz and a group of highly trained soldiers were called together. They were informed that they had to go for a regular ambush operation toward the Chowkibal forest area. They were told to move by 8 PM that night.
It was freezing cold. The kind of cold that makes your bones feel like ice. On top of that, a thick fog had covered the area, making visibility very poor. Still, the Ghatak Party prepared their gear and quietly moved toward the forest. The fog was so dense that it was hard to see even a few feet ahead. The cold was biting—it felt like their hands weren’t even connected to their bodies anymore.
Once they reached the forest, the team quickly took their positions and set up the ambush. But soon after, a heavy storm began. It started raining heavily, and strong winds started blowing through the trees. Some trees even fell, injuring several soldiers in the group. In the middle of all this, Naik Shahraz also got seriously injured—his leg slipped, and he fell into a broken grave hidden in the forest. He had the worst injury among all his teammates.
Despite the injury, Shahraz stayed strong. His leg was bleeding the entire night, but he stayed calm and alert, sitting inside that broken grave. When morning came, he looked around and realized where he had been all night. The grave he had fallen into had an old nameplate that read:
“Mohammad Iqbal, Son of Mohammad Rashid – Died in 1997.”
Seeing this didn’t shake Shahraz, but some of his teammates were deeply disturbed and scared. Still, Naik Shahraz didn’t let fear or pain weaken him. Instead, he picked up two of his injured brothers and supported them. Even though he himself was hurt, he was more concerned about getting them to safety.
When they returned to the unit, the Commanding Officer (CO) praised Naik Shahraz for his courage and strength. He immediately gave orders for medical leave for all the injured soldiers. But Naik Shahraz refused to take leave. When the CO asked him why, he simply replied:
“Sir, I believe we should be like glass—if someone tries to break us, we should cut through them. This small storm is nothing for me. My strength and my health come from this uniform. I don’t need leave. I want to continue my duty.”
These words left a deep impact on everyone. Naik Shahraz’s story is a true example of what it means to be a soldier—brave, selfless, and unshaken in the face of fear.
Seeing Naik Shahraz’s courage, the morale of the entire unit went up. Everyone felt more motivated just by looking at his spirit. Later, when I got the chance, I asked him, “Sir, when your own leg was badly injured, why didn’t you think of saving yourself first? The Army medical team could have come and taken care of your injured buddies.”
He smiled and replied,
“Our Army has taught me one thing—that a real soldier is someone who thinks about others before himself. It’s not just the uniform that makes us Indian Army soldiers; it’s our mindset, our way of thinking. This is our Army, and in this Army, we live by the words: ‘Seva Parmo Dharma’—service is the highest duty. And service to others is the greatest religion.”
He told me how he had spent the whole night inside a broken grave, and how some of his teammates were scared when they saw that. He said many people outside think life in the Army is fun—but that’s not the truth. In reality, soldiers risk their lives every single day to protect this country. Every minute for us is a challenge.
He looked me in the eye and said,
“When I was in that grave, I didn’t feel scared. Because I had already accepted that to become a good soldier, I must defeat my fears. My duty is not just to kill enemies; it’s also to remove the hatred from people’s hearts. Because I’m a soldier, and a soldier must be strong enough to bear everything—with courage and patience.”
Naik Shahraz Araf
Jai Hind….!
Its so inspiring and motivating, i feel very proud of our Indian Armed forces and our heros and wanna be one of them. Thank you for sharing this powerful story with us. Jai Hind!