Archive · 15 Aug 2026
80 Martyrs' Families Felicitated In Mumbai On Independence Day
On India's 80th Independence Day, people in Mumbai held special celebrations to remember soldiers who died protecting the country.
A music and arts group called the Shanmukhananda Sabha, along with a school society and the Indian Army, organised a ceremony for 80 families of fallen defence personnel.
Each family received money and gifts as a thank-you for their sacrifice.
Senior Army officers attended the event, and one of them gave the awards to the families.
A brave man named Parshotam Kumar also got an award for his courage in a fight against terrorists.
In another part of the celebrations, about 4,300 students and teachers joined hands to form a giant human chain over five kilometres long.
The human chain showed everyone's hope for unity, peace and equality.
A colourful morning parade included musicians, dancers, cyclists and people marching.
Special decorated floats showed India's space achievements and the school society's long history.
The whole day was a way for the city to say thank you to the people who keep the nation safe.
On India's 80th Independence Day, a ceremony in Mumbai felicitated 80 families of defence personnel who laid down their lives in service of the nation.
Lt Gen D S Kushwah, General Officer Commanding of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa, presented the honours, while Major General Salil Seth hoisted the national flag.
The 80 families include 76 fallen Army personnel from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and four from the Indian Navy.
Each family received a cash award of Rs 2 lakh along with mementos and utility items worth around Rs 50,000.
SIES hosted a 5.55-km human chain with about 4,300 students and staff, and Parshotam Kumar received the Sri Shanmukhananda Shaurya Ratna Award for bravery in the Kalakote encounter.
- Who
- Lt Gen D S Kushwah and Major General Salil Seth of the Indian Army, along with organisers Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, SIES and the Indian Army
- What
- Felicitation of 80 families of defence personnel who sacrificed their lives, plus Independence Day celebrations including a 5.55-km human chain
- When
- On the occasion of India's 80th Independence Day
- Where
- Mumbai, including SIES locations from Matunga through Sion to King's Circle
- Why
- To honour the sacrifice of fallen soldiers and celebrate national unity, diversity and India's progress
- Event
- Felicitation of 80 martyrs' families on 80th Independence Day
- Organisers
- Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, SIES and Indian Army
- Families honoured
- 80 (76 from Army, 4 from Indian Navy)
- Cash award per family
- Rs 2 lakh
- Additional gifts per family
- Mementos and utility items worth around Rs 50,000
- Shaurya Ratna Award
- Parshotam Kumar for bravery in the Kalakote encounter
- Human chain
- 5.55 km with about 4,300 students and staff
- Decade-long tradition
- 235 wounded warriors and 154 martyrs' families felicitated