Indian Army Day Special: 6 Creators Taking Military Stories Beyond the Barracks

Indian Army Day is not only about uniforms, parades and official ceremonies. It is also about stories of courage, discipline, sacrifice, leadership and life beyond service. These 6 creators have emerged online, translating military experiences and values for civilians who may never step inside a cantonment but deeply respect what it stands for. Some of these voices come from veterans who have led men in combat. Others are civilians who have chosen to dedicate their platforms to honouring soldiers, martyrs, and the ethos of the Indian Armed Forces. Together, they are building a digital bridge between the forces and the public, keeping military conversations relevant, accessible and grounded in respect.

Here are six creators shaping India’s military narrative online today, each in their own distinct way.

Akash Raj – Indian Army Storyteller

Followers: 86.6K on Instagram

Role: Defence storyteller and patriotism-focused creator

Akash Raj is the face behind Military Mantra, a digital platform dedicated to narrating Indian Army stories with emotion, clarity, and purpose. While he is not an Army officer himself, his work has earned credibility because of the care with which he handles military narratives. His content highlights acts of bravery, profiles of decorated officers, and tributes to martyrs, ensuring that sacrifice is remembered beyond official anniversaries.

He frequently shares stories such as that of Major Mohit Sharma (Ashok Chakra) and initiatives like Veera Gatha, focusing on human courage rather than cinematic exaggeration. Akash also participates as a speaker at forums such as the Mangaluru Literature Festival, where he discusses military life, values, and patriotism with civilian audiences.

Beyond content creation, he is the founder of Superdream Foundation, positioning his work as not just storytelling, but also nation-building. His posts consistently aim to inspire pride, gratitude, and awareness among younger Indians.

Ex-NDA, Avinash Singh – Mentor for Defence Aspirants

Followers: 7.1K on Instagram | 87K+ subscribers on YouTube

Role: Defence mentor, content strategist, and educator

Avinash Singh’s journey blends military discipline with digital storytelling. An ex-NDA cadet, his career with the Indian Army was cut short due to injury, but not his connection to service. He transitioned into content creation with a clear mission: guiding defence aspirants and young professionals using lessons from his training years.

Through his YouTube channel, which has crossed 8 million views, Avinash speaks about life at NDA, discipline, leadership, mindset, and preparation strategies. His content also reflects his background in sales, marketing, and brand building, making him a rare hybrid of defence mentor and digital strategist.

He is also the founder of The Cadet’s Club, a community-driven initiative aimed at motivating and supporting defence aspirants. His storytelling is practical, experience-based, and rooted in realism rather than romanticism.

Col. Shivender Pratap Singh Kanwar – Special Forces Leadership Coach

Followers: 663K subscribers on YouTube | 60.2K on Instagram

Role: Leadership and high-performance coach, former Special Forces commander

Colonel Shivender Pratap Singh Kanwar brings unmatched operational credibility to the digital space. An Ex-Special Forces officer who commanded 7 PARA (SF), his career includes counter-terror operations and training alongside elite global forces.

Post-retirement, he transitioned into leadership and peak-performance coaching, working with founders, CEOs, professionals, and students. His content spans leadership psychology, mindset training, fitness, endurance, running, and tactical gear reviews — all deeply influenced by his Special Forces background.

His YouTube channel focuses on helping individuals achieve clarity, discipline, and resilience, guided by his life philosophy: “Never Out of the Fight.” As an outdoor enthusiast and adventurer, he also promotes active lifestyles and mental toughness, making military values relevant to civilian success.

Major Samar Pal Singh Toor (Retd.) – Modern Warfare Voice

Followers: 27.7K

Role: Defence technologist, speaker, and national security voice

Major Samar Pal Singh Toor’s story spans some of the toughest terrains and missions undertaken by Indian soldiers. Commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, his first posting was at the Siachen Glacier, followed by counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir.

During his UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (2013–14), he commanded security at the Malakal Logistic Base, famously holding off nearly 6,000 armed rebels with a much smaller contingent — a moment often cited in discussions on leadership under pressure.

After leaving the Army, he became a Director at Zulu Defence, working on air defence systems and drones for modern combat units. Today, Major Toor is increasingly visible as a speaker and commentator, discussing leadership, AI in warfare, drone technology, and future defence strategy through podcasts and public forums. He is also involved in initiatives like Impact Intelligence Scholars, nurturing the next generation of defence innovators.

Col Kaushal Kashyap – Elite Operations Educator

Followers: 246K+

Col Kaushal Kashyap (Retd.) is a highly decorated former Indian Army officer whose career spans some of the most elite combat and counter-terror units in the country. Having served with 21 Para (Special Forces) and later commanded the 52nd Special Action Group (SAG) of the NSG, his work sits at the sharpest edge of India’s internal security and counter-hijack operations.

Awarded the Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry honour, Col Kashyap is widely respected for his operational leadership, composure under pressure, and deep understanding of special forces ethos. His years in high-risk missions shaped not just tactical expertise, but a philosophy of discipline, mental resilience, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Post-retirement, he has transitioned into the public and digital space with the same clarity he brought to operations. Through leadership mentoring, security consulting, motivational speaking, and his Monks & Warriors initiative, Col Kashyap translates battlefield lessons into life skills, focusing on courage, clarity, inner strength, and ethical leadership.

Across podcasts, talks, and long-form discussions, he offers rare, first-hand insight into special forces training, mission planning, and the mindset required to operate where margins for error don’t exist. His content doesn’t glorify conflict; it explains responsibility, preparation, and the quiet weight of command, making him one of the most grounded and thoughtful military voices shaping conversations online today.

Also Read: 6 Female Podcasters Making Small Audiences Feel Like Home

The Reelstars’ Pick
Col. Chandan Kumar Mateti – Age-Defying Endurance Warrior

At 64 years young, Chandan Kumar Mateti aka @chandan_mateti is quietly redefining what consistency and discipline look like in the creator space. An Indian Army veteran, Full colonel and commando, he now channels that same grit into ultra-running, regularly clocking punishing midnight runs and training for 100-mile races.

His content is still in an early phase, but the foundation is solid. It blends lived military discipline, endurance sport, and everyday life with refreshing honesty. Moments like his recent felicitation at the Lokmat MahaMarathon Pune, followed by back-to-back long-distance night runs, reflect a life that values effort over optics.

With his unique mix of age, experience, fitness, and mindset, Chandan has significant potential to reach a much wider audience. This is the kind of content that inspires quietly but stays with you, proving that endurance has no expiry date.

A Digital Salute to Service, Sacrifice and Storytelling

Together, these creators reflect the evolving way India engages with military narratives. Some speak from lived battlefield experience, others from committed civilian respect, but all contribute to preserving the values of courage, discipline, and service in a digital-first generation.

On Indian Army Day, their work reminds us that the uniform may belong to the forces, but the responsibility to remember, respect, and understand belongs to everyone.