Lieutenant Navteshwar Singh of Mohali fulfilled a lifelong promise by joining the Army as a lieutenant.

This commitment was born from his father's "baby book," where Major Harminder Singh, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty in J&K in April 1999, expressed his desire to see his son follow in his footsteps. Despite initial reservations from his mother, Lieutenant Navteshwar honored his family's legacy of service to the nation.

The story spans three generations of dedicated service. Lieutenant Navteshwar's grandfather, Captain Harpal Singh, served in the artillery regiment, instilling a strong sense of duty and valor in the family. Major Harminder Singh embodied these qualities and was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his courage in a gunfight with militants in Kashmir.

Lieutenant Navteshwar's commission into the 18 Grenadiers, his father's regiment, marked a poignant moment for the family.

His journey was motivated by the words in his father's "baby book," where Major Harminder expressed his dream of seeing his son become an officer in the 18 Grenadiers. Despite the heartbreakingly brief time he had with his father, Lieutenant Navteshwar is determined to continue his legacy of service.