The Unfinished Training and Sudden Call to Duty
Seventeen years after the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the extraordinary courage of NSG commando Sunil Kumar Jodha from Alwar's Mundiyakheda village continues to inspire the entire nation. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he still carries a painful reminder of that fateful day - a terrorist's bullet lodged dangerously close to his heart.
On November 26, 2008, Sunil Jodha was just days away from completing his rigorous 60-day NSG training when history called him to action. With no time to properly prepare, the young commando found himself thrust into Operation Black Tornado, one of India's most critical counter-terrorism missions.
The Rush to Mumbai
Still wearing his Army combat uniform, Jodha had only moments to pull commando dungarees over his combat dress, join his team, and grab whatever bulletproof jacket was available. After a quick briefing from their commanding officer, Jodha and his colleagues raced to Delhi airport, where a special aircraft waited to transport them to the terror-stricken city of Mumbai.
As part of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's elite team, Jodha entered the besieged Taj Hotel at 7 am on that tragic morning. The scene that greeted them was straight out of a nightmare - corridors soaked in blood, panic-stricken guests, and the constant threat of hidden terrorists.
Extraordinary Bravery Under Fire
Displaying incredible courage, Jodha took the front position during the rescue operations. His heroic efforts led to the successful evacuation of 40-45 trapped guests who had been hiding in sheer terror. Throughout this dangerous mission, he engaged directly with the terrorists, putting his own life at extreme risk to save others.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the security team reached the sixth floor. Terrorists suddenly opened fire, and Jodha found himself taking eight bullets. Showing remarkable presence of mind despite his severe injuries, he lay motionless on the stairs, pretending to be dead to avoid drawing additional enemy fire.
When terrorists hurled a grenade toward commandos attempting to evacuate their wounded colleague, Jodha's teammates demonstrated incredible solidarity by shielding his body with their own. Despite bleeding heavily, the wounded hero displayed superhuman determination by walking to the ambulance himself before finally collapsing.
The Permanent Reminder
In the extensive surgical procedures that followed, doctors successfully removed seven bullets from Jodha's body. However, one bullet, along with grenade shrapnel, remained embedded near his heart. Medical experts determined that extracting this final projectile was too risky, leaving Jodha with a permanent reminder of his sacrifice.
For four days, Jodha remained unconscious in the hospital. When he briefly regained consciousness, his first words were to his wife, Renu Bala Rajput, over the phone. "Let me speak to the children… I don't know if I'll return home alive," he told her, capturing the emotional turmoil of a man who had stared death in the face.
Recognition and Quiet Regret
On November 22, 2025, at the Global Peace Honors ceremony in Mumbai hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar paid tribute to Jodha's extraordinary courage. "Sunil ji, you are not just a living martyr. You are a living example of what bravery means for this country," Khan declared during the emotional ceremony.
In a touching moment, Jodha invited his wife and children on stage, emphasizing that the honor belonged to their sacrifices as well. His son, who was just two-and-a-half months old during the 2008 attacks, is now 17 years old, growing up in the shadow of his father's incredible legacy.
Sunil Jodha joined the Indian Army in 2001 and was selected for the NSG's prestigious 51 Special Action Group in 2008. While Mumbai remembers and honors him annually, the brave commando carries one quiet regret - that the Rajasthan government has never officially recognized his extraordinary sacrifice for the nation.
Today, as India remembers the 26/11 attacks, the story of NSG commando Sunil Kumar Jodha serves as a powerful testament to the courage and sacrifice of India's security forces, who risk everything to protect the nation and its citizens from terror threats.
