Telangana's Directorate of Sainik Welfare has compiled a special book titled ‘Bold and Brave: Honouring Telangana’s Heroes of Valour, Sacrifice and Pride’. The project, led by Col. Ramesh Kumar, took over three years to complete. It celebrates the courage of more than 50 officers and soldiers from Telangana who won gallantry awards in India’s wars. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the book on Armed Forces Flag Day as a tribute to these heroes. The book not only celebrates their bravery but also explains the values and discipline that soldiers follow in peace and war. Records reveal that nearly 50 soldiers from Telangana and the old Andhra Pradesh have received top medals. These include the Ashok Chakra awarded to Lt. Col G. Krishna Iyengar and three Maha Vir Chakras won by Major General C. Venugopal, Air Vice Marshal C.V. Parkar, and Major Padmapani Acharya (posthumously). Other awards include 18 Vir Chakras, five Kirti Chakras, and 18 Shaurya Chakras. Col. Ramesh Kumar told The Hindu, “Through this compilation, I aim to commemorate the courageous deeds of these soldiers and pay tribute to their families, who continue to embody resilience and pride.” He hopes the stories will inspire youth and families to support careers in the armed forces. He added that he carefully researched for over three years. He collected information from records, contacted soldiers, verified with units, and recorded detailed life stories, including their backgrounds and motivation to join the armed forces. The book shares inspiring stories like Army Havildar A. Somaiah, who saved passengers from a flood-hit train in 1954, and Major Md. Ahmed Zaki’s courage in the 1965 Indo-Pak War. It also features many heroes from different regiments. Relatives and gallantry awardees praised the book. Aparajita Acharya, daughter of Major Padmapani Acharya, said, “Though physically no more, he lives in me and his spirit in all of us.” Lt. Gen. Zaki remarked, “Soldiering is in our blood.” Air Marshal Cecil Parker, a Mahavir Chakra awardee, shared how his passion for the Air Force was born watching British planes as a child. Lt. General K. Surendra Nath, former Army Commander, called the book “a poignant tribute to Telangana’s valiant heroes.”