Major Anuj Sood was an Indian Army officer and Shaurya Chakra awardee who laid down his life on May 2, 2020, during Operation Chanjimula in Handwara, Jammu & Kashmir — while rescuing civilians held hostage by terrorists.
Contents
- Quick Facts Table — Major Anuj Sood
- Who Was Major Anuj Sood? — The Man Behind the Medal
- Major Anuj Sood Date of Birth, Age & Early Life
- Major Anuj Sood’s Military Career — From Platoon to Sacrifice
- Major Anuj Sood Death Reason — The Story of Operation Chanjimula
- What Is the Shaurya Chakra? — The Award That Bears His Name
- Major Anuj Sood Residence — Where Was He Based?
- Major Anuj Sood Wife — Aakriti Singh Sood
- Major Anuj Sood Wife Age — How Old Is Aakriti Singh Sood?
- Major Anuj Sood Children — Did He Have Kids?
- Major Anuj Sood Sister — Who Is Shruti?
- The Man Beyond the Uniform — Personal Traits & Passions
- Comparison: Shaurya Chakra vs Other Indian Gallantry Awards
- Conclusion — Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts Table — Major Anuj Sood
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Major Anuj Sood, SC, ADC |
| Date of Birth | December 17, 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Air Force Command Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Date of Death | May 2, 2020 |
| Age at Death | 30 years |
| Hometown | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh (later Chandigarh) |
| Residence | Panchkula, Haryana (family residence) |
| Father | Brigadier Chandrakant Sood (Retd.), Corps of EME |
| Mother | Late Smt. Ragini Sood (passed away 2011) |
| Wife | Smt. Aakriti Singh Sood (Software Engineer) |
| Sister | Smt. Shruti Sood |
| Children | No children |
| Service Number | IC–76429H |
| Unit | 19th Battalion, Brigade of Guards; 21st Rashtriya Rifles |
| Commission Date | June 9, 2012 (IMA, Dehradun) |
| Gallantry Award | Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) — January 26, 2021 |
| Operation | Operation Chanjimula, Handwara, Kupwara |
| Education | NDA, IMA Dehradun, M.Tech from IISc Bengaluru |
Who Was Major Anuj Sood? — The Man Behind the Medal
- Major Anuj Sood was not just a soldier — he was a second-generation army officer who chose service over a seat at IIT.
- He was born into a family where khaki ran through the blood — his father, Brigadier Chandrakant Sood, served in the prestigious Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
- From the moment young Anuj watched his father in uniform, there was only one dream — the Indian Army.
- He topped all classes at PPS Nabha, qualified for IIT through AIEEE, and still chose NDA over engineering. That says everything.
- At NDA, he became the Torch Bearer — a ceremonial honour given only to the most outstanding cadet — and he held it for all six terms. That is extraordinarily rare.
- He graduated from the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun on June 9, 2012, as Senior Under Officer — the highest cadet rank.
- He later earned an M.Tech from IISc Bengaluru, proving that being fearless in the field does not mean being average in the classroom.
Major Anuj Sood Date of Birth, Age & Early Life
- Major Anuj Sood’s date of birth is December 17, 1989.
- He was born at the Air Force Command Hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka — where his father was posted at the time.
- His family originally hailed from the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh and later relocated to Chandigarh.
- His age at the time of his martyrdom was 30 years.
Timeline: Early Life of Major Anuj Sood
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Born on December 17 at Air Force Command Hospital, Bengaluru |
| Early 2000s | Schooling at Army Public School, Udhampur |
| 2007 Batch | Punjab Public School (PPS), Nabha — nicknamed “Fauji” |
| 2008 | Qualified AIEEE / IIT entrance; chose NDA instead |
| 2008 | Joined NDA, Khadakwasla — 120th Course, Alpha Squadron |
| 2011 | Mother, Smt. Ragini Sood, passed away after battling cancer |
| 2012 | Graduated IMA, Dehradun as Senior Under Officer |
Major Anuj Sood’s Military Career — From Platoon to Sacrifice
- Major Anuj Sood was commissioned into the 19th Battalion, Brigade of Guards on June 9, 2012.
- He served as Platoon Commander and later as Adjutant — both demanding roles that test a young officer’s nerves.
- He was selected as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the General Officer Commanding, 14 RAPID Division — a prestigious appointment that he held for 13 months.
- He attended the Junior Command Course at Army War College, Mhow — and excelled there too ((Verify: Army War College academic records)).
- On March 4, 2018, he was assigned to the 21st Rashtriya Rifles (21 RR) — the counter-insurgency battalion operating in Jammu & Kashmir.
- As Company Commander, he was responsible for leading soldiers in some of the most volatile terrain in the country.
- The 21 RR was engaged in continuous operations against terrorists in the Kupwara district.
Career Milestones at a Glance
| Year | Role / Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Commissioned into 19 Brigade of Guards |
| 2012–2018 | Platoon Commander, then Adjutant, 19 Guards |
| 2015–2016 | ADC to GOC, 14 RAPID Division (13 months) |
| Post-2016 | Junior Command Course, Army War College, Mhow |
| Completed | M.Tech, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru |
| March 2018 | Deputed to 21 Rashtriya Rifles, J&K |
| May 2, 2020 | Made the supreme sacrifice in Operation Chanjimula |
| January 26, 2021 | Awarded Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) |
Major Anuj Sood Death Reason — The Story of Operation Chanjimula
- This is the part of Major Anuj Sood’s story that must never be forgotten.
- On May 1, 2020, intelligence was received about two terrorists hiding in the Watsar Forest area, Handwara.
- Major Anuj Sood led his Combat Action Team to intercept them. The terrorists fired back and escaped into a civilian residential building in Handwara.
- Inside that building, terrorists had taken civilians hostage — a situation that every military officer dreads.
- Major Anuj Sood, along with Commanding Officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, and three others, made the extraordinary decision to enter the building themselves — without waiting, without hesitation.
- The reason for Major Anuj Sood’s death was the fierce firefight that erupted inside the building. He sustained fatal injuries while engaging the terrorists at close quarters.
- Despite being critically wounded, he fought on — and the terrorists were neutralised.
- He succumbed to his wounds on May 2, 2020.
- Along with Major Anuj Sood, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Naik Rajesh Kumar, and Lance Naik Dinesh Singh also made the supreme sacrifice that night.
What Is the Shaurya Chakra? — The Award That Bears His Name
| Award Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Award Name | Shaurya Chakra |
| Rank | India’s 3rd Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award |
| Awarded On | January 26, 2021 (Republic Day) |
| Presented To | Smt. Aakriti Singh Sood (wife) |
| Ceremony | Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-3) |
| Authority | Ministry of Defence, Government of India |
| Category | Posthumous |
- For Major Anuj Sood, this was not a ceremonial award. It was a nation saying: “We saw what you did. We will never forget.”
- His wife, Aakriti Singh Sood, received the medal from the President of India in January 2021 — stoic, proud, and heartbreaking.
Major Anuj Sood Residence — Where Was He Based?
- Major Anuj Sood’s family residence is located in Panchkula, Haryana — it was here that his mortal remains were brought after his martyrdom.
- His ancestral home is in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
- The family later settled in Chandigarh during his growing-up years.
- While posted with 21 RR, he was stationed in Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir.
- His wife, Aakriti Singh Sood, reportedly relocated to Mumbai, Maharashtra after his passing.
Major Anuj Sood Wife — Aakriti Singh Sood
- Major Anuj Sood’s wife is Smt. Aakriti Singh Sood — a woman who defines quiet strength.
- Aakriti Singh was born and raised in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh — a pahadi girl who grew up surrounded by mountains and military culture.
- She is the daughter of a Navy Marine Commando (MARCOS) — so she knew, perhaps better than most, what loving a soldier really means.
- She is a software engineer by profession.
- Major Anuj Sood’s wife married him in 2017 — just three years before she would receive his gallantry award from the President.
About Aakriti Singh Sood
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Smt. Aakriti Singh Sood |
| Hometown | Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh |
| Profession | Software Engineer |
| Father | Navy Marine Commando (MARCOS) |
| Marriage Year | 2017 |
| Current Location | Mumbai, Maharashtra (reported) |
Major Anuj Sood Wife Age — How Old Is Aakriti Singh Sood?
- As per reports from 2021, Major Anuj Sood’s wife’s age was approximately 30 years at that time.
- As of 2026, Aakriti Singh Sood’s approximate age is 35 years.
- Verify: Official birth records not publicly available — age is estimated from media reports
Major Anuj Sood Children — Did He Have Kids?
- Major Anuj Sood and his wife Aakriti did not have children.
- The couple had been married for only 3 years before his martyrdom in May 2020.
- He is survived by his wife, his father (Brigadier Chandrakant Sood, Retd.), his elder sister Shruti, brother-in-law Arjun, and niece Meera.
Major Anuj Sood Sister — Who Is Shruti?
- Major Anuj Sood’s sister is Smt. Shruti Sood.
- She is his elder sister.
- She is married to Shri Arjun, and together they have a daughter named Ms. Meera.
- The family has maintained dignified silence in public — a mark of the grace with which military families carry grief.
The Man Beyond the Uniform — Personal Traits & Passions
- Major Anuj Sood was known for being humble — the kind of officer who sat with his jawans and listened.
- He was passionate about biking — a love for speed and open roads that many soldiers share.
- He was an accomplished equestrian and participated in paragliding during his NDA days.
- His coursemates at NDA established the Major Anuj Sood Trophy in his honour — and dedicated an entire flank in his name.
- He was known for his sharp wit, warmth, and the kind of laughter that made people feel at ease — even in the middle of a difficult posting.
- He was a second-generation soldier who wore his father’s legacy lightly — and built his own that was even heavier.
Comparison: Shaurya Chakra vs Other Indian Gallantry Awards
| Award | Rank | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | 1st (Highest) | Supreme act of valour in the face of the enemy |
| Maha Vir Chakra | 2nd | Acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy |
| Shaurya Chakra | 3rd (Peacetime) | Bravery / valour away from battlefield |
| Vir Chakra | 3rd (Wartime) | Gallantry in the presence of the enemy |
| Kirti Chakra | 2nd (Peacetime) | Pre-eminent acts of bravery |
| Ashok Chakra | 1st (Peacetime) | Highest peacetime gallantry |
Conclusion — Key Takeaways
- Major Anuj Sood was born on December 17, 1989, in Bengaluru, into a family of soldiers.
- He chose NDA over IIT, and proved that the best minds can also be the bravest hearts.
- He was martyred on May 2, 2020, in Operation Chanjimula, Handwara, Jammu & Kashmir — at just 30 years old.
- He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra on January 26, 2021.
- His wife Aakriti Singh Sood received the medal — and the nation received a story it will carry forever.
- His sister Shruti, father Brigadier Chandrakant Sood, and the rest of the family continue to live with the knowledge that their son and brother changed the world in his 30 years.
- In 2026, six years after his martyrdom, Major Anuj Sood is still trending — still being searched, still being saluted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What was Major Anuj Sood’s date of birth and age?
Major Anuj Sood was born on December 17, 1989, and was 30 years old when he was martyred on May 2, 2020.
Q2: What was the reason for Major Anuj Sood’s death?
Major Anuj Sood’s death resulted from fatal injuries sustained during a close-quarters encounter while rescuing civilians during Operation Chanjimula.
Q3: Who is Major Anuj Sood’s wife?
His wife is Aakriti Singh Sood, a software engineer from Dharamsala. She received his Shaurya Chakra on his behalf.
Q4: What is Major Anuj Sood’s wife’s age?
Her exact date of birth is not officially confirmed. Media reports in 2021 placed her age at around 30 years.
Q5: Who is Major Anuj Sood’s sister?
His elder sister is Shruti Sood. She is married to Arjun and has a daughter named Meera.
Q6: What award did Major Anuj Sood receive?
He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) for his bravery during Operation Chanjimula on January 26, 2021.
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