In a solemn ceremony at the UN Headquarters, two Indian peacekeepers—Brigadier General Amitabh Jha (UNDOF) and Havildar Sanjay Singh (MONUSCO)—were honoured posthumously with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
The medals were awarded on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, observed annually to pay tribute to the bravery and service of peacekeeping personnel worldwide.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, received the medals on behalf of the fallen soldiers’ families from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who also laid a wreath in memory of over 4,400 UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.
“We remember their dedication, resilience, and ultimate sacrifice for peace. We will never forget them,” said Guterres, calling UN peacekeeping “true multilateralism in action.”
India, the fourth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, currently deploys over 5,300 military and police personnel in conflict zones across the globe.
This year’s theme, “The Future of Peacekeeping”, underscores the need to adapt UN operations to meet evolving global challenges. In total, 57 peacekeepers from various countries were honoured posthumously during this year’s observance.
