Seven years have passed since the dark afternoon of February 14, 2019, when a suicide attack in Pulwama claimed the lives of 40 brave personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force. Time may move forward, but memory stands still. The nation pauses today—not merely to mourn, but to remember, to reflect, and to reaffirm. Pulwama was not just an attack on a convoy; it was an assault on the very idea of India’s resilience. The images of that day shook the country’s conscience. Yet from grief rose resolve. The sacrifice of those 40 men hardened national will against terrorism and reminded every citizen of the price paid daily by uniformed forces to safeguard peace. Their martyrdom cannot be reduced to a date in history or a ritual of wreath-laying ceremonies. It is a living reminder of the complex security challenges India faces—cross-border terror networks, radicalisation, and proxy warfare. The lessons of Pulwama underscore the need for constant vigilance, intelligence coordination, and strategic preparedness. Complacency is a luxury the nation cannot afford. At the same time, remembrance must go beyond rhetoric. True homage lies in sustained support for the families left behind—the parents who lost sons, the wives who lost partners, and the children who lost guiding hands. Welfare measures, educational support, and institutional backing must remain unwavering, not just on anniversaries but throughout the years. Pulwama also deepened public recognition of the sacrifices made by security personnel posted in challenging terrains and volatile environments. Their duty is unrelenting; their courage, often unseen. As citizens, the least we owe them is unity in the face of attempts to divide or destabilize. Terrorism feeds on fractures within society. National cohesion remains its strongest antidote. Seven years later, the message is clear: India remembers, India adapts, and India stands firm. The fight against terrorism is not a moment but a mission—requiring strategic clarity, political consensus, and collective resolve. The 40 CRPF martyrs are not merely names etched on memorials. They are symbols of duty fulfilled to the last breath. Their sacrifice strengthens the nation’s spine and reminds us that freedom is secured not by words, but by courage. On this anniversary, remembrance must translate into renewed commitment—to security, to solidarity, and to safeguarding the Republic they laid down their lives to protect.