6 heroes to support this Independence Day

THESE decorated Indian heroes have spent decades in service to the nation. But throughout their tenure, each of these accomplished changemakers had their heart set on humanitarian service to the downtrodden throughout India. From rescuing destitute elders to educating the girl child, these dedicated individuals founded NGOs after their retirement to do their part in continuing their service to the nation. This 78th Independence Day, let’s explore their service and dedication to serving India.

Each August 15th, Indians around the world celebrate Independence Day to honor the sacrifice and commitment of the Freedom Fighters and Founding Fathers to build the Indian nation. With each passing year, Indians have the opportunity to celebrate a new generation of Indians who are doing their part to make the country a better place. This Independence Day, the founders of SENEH, Sant Ishwar Foundation, Sapna, Ayang Trust, Sanjhi Sikhiya and Missing Link Trust serve as a strong source of inspiration for us all to do what we can to reach out a hand to rescue and help people from underprivileged and marginalised communities. 

Here are three decorated heroes this Independence Day who are continuing their service to the nation through their humanitarian work for people in desperate need:

Group Captain AC Barua – Former Air Force Officer

Atul Chandra Barua is a distinguished former Indian Air Force officer who served the nation for 30 years and retired in 1999. Group Captain AC Barua was an Aeronautical Engineer who worked on the front line at air bases throughout India, his exemplary service earning him the prestigious Vishisht Seva Medal. When devastating floods swept Assam in 2014, Group Captain AC Barua immediately stepped forward to help. But he came across something else. Old and destitute women abandoned by their families and living on the streets. He founded the organization SENEH to bring them to a safe place and give them long term care for the rest of their lives.

Founded in 2010, SENEH rescues homeless women abandoned by their families who have mental disabilities in addition to their physical ailments as a result of being mistreated and facing danger and exploitation on the harsh streets. SENEH provides the women with a home, healthy meals, medical care, counselling and activities to recover from the pain of abandonment. SENEH is taking care of 28 old and destitute women who affectionately call its founder Deuta, which means father in Assamese. This Independence Day, help ex-Indian Air Force officer Group Captain AC Barua give a safe and loving home to destitute women rescued from the streets. 

Help ex-Indian Air Force officer AC Barua  

 

Colonel Mickie Uberoi – Retired Indian Army veteran

Colonel Mickie Uberoi retired from the Indian Army in 2007 to fulfill a lifelong dream. When he was a sixteen or 17 year old cadet in the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Colonel Mickie Uberoi had a passion to rescue, protect and empower vulnerable and abandoned children. He believed that if children across India are given the opportunities to improve their lives, they will take those opportunities, reach for the skies and achieve their goals. Along with a group of Indian Army veterans led by Colonel Mickie Uberoi, the organization Sant Ishwar Foundation was established in 2018 to care for children, especially the vulnerable girl child. 

Colonel Mickie Uberoi was so dedicated to his mission that he even sold the jewelry meant for his daughter’s wedding to build a home for children from marginalized communities and named it Ghar, which means home. Ghar gives the children clean rooms, well-balanced meals, sports, music, arts and crafts, library, playground excursions and education in English medium schools to help them build strong futures. Ghar is taking care of the orphaned and abandoned girl child on Colonel Mickie Uberoi’s pension. This Independence Day, help Colonel Mickie Uberoi rescue and empower abandoned children and help them reach for the stars. 

Help ex-Indian Army Colonel Mickie Uberoi  

 

Sudhir Pratap Singh – Former IPS and Director General of the NSG 

Sudhir Pratap Singh is a former IPS officer and former Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG), who started his long career in 1981. As a part of the IPS, he always went above and beyond to assist women and children and address issues such as gender based violence. His dedication earned him the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. When he headed the NSG, he handled matters of national security and counter terrorism, but always had the most downtrodden on his mind. Upon his retirement, he co-founded Sapna, an NGO for abused and abandoned senior citizens. 

Sapna was founded in 2004 to rescue and provide lifelong care for destitute elders who have been abandoned by their families and are homeless and starving on the streets. Through Sapna’s old age home called Anandam, Sudhir Pratap Singh provides shelter, nutritious meals, medical attention, regular medication, psychological support and personal care. There are currently 140 old and abandoned parents living at Anandam who are recovering from the pain of abandonment and need your support. This Independence Day, help ex-IPS officer Sudhir Pratap Singh provide care and affection to those who have lost so much.  

Help ex-IPS officer Sudhir Pratap Singh

Bipin Dhane – Founder, Ayang Trust

Bipin Dhane is an IIT Kharagpur graduate, who left a successful career as a research engineer in Singapore to serve remote communities in Assam. After a volunteering stint on Majuli — the world’s largest river island — he saw children from the indigenous Mising tribe losing years of schooling to annual floods and erosion. In 2017, with the support of 19 villages that donated land and bamboo, he founded The Hummingbird School. Later that year he co-founded Ayang Trust (“Ayang” means love in the Mising language) to address education, livelihoods and community resilience across Northeast India.
Bipin Dhane – Founder, Ayang Trust
Today The Hummingbird School and Home provides high-quality, contextual education, residential care, nutritious meals, arts, sports and leadership training to more than 300 children from LKG to Class 10, including nearly 100 of the most vulnerable who live on campus. Ayang has also trained hundreds of educators, established dozens of community libraries and reached thousands more children through government school partnerships. This Independence Day, help IIT alumnus Bipin Dhane give flood-affected children on Majuli the education that can break the cycle of poverty and help them reach for the stars.
Support Ayang Trust and The Hummingbird School

Simranpreet Singh Oberoi – Co-founder & CEO, Sanjhi Sikhiya

Simranpreet Singh Oberoi is a young social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow who chose to stay and rebuild his home state rather than chase opportunities elsewhere. After working in CSR at Genpact and leading a residential school for children from the marginalised Musahar community in Bihar, he returned to Punjab determined to transform its public education system. In 2018 he co-founded Sanjhi Sikhiya with the mission that every child in Punjab should attain foundational capabilities in an enabling environment.
Simranpreet Singh Oberoi – Co-founder & CEO, Sanjhi Sikhiya
Through its flagship Punjab Youth Leaders Program, Sanjhi Sikhiya places committed young professionals in clusters of government primary schools for two years. These Youth Leaders work alongside teachers, headmasters, panchayats and parents to improve classroom practices, strengthen local governance and rebuild community ownership of schools. The organisation is also part of the Punjab Education Collective, which has contributed to measurable gains across thousands of schools and helped Punjab rise to the top of national education rankings. This Independence Day, help Simranpreet Singh Oberoi and his team of young leaders turn Punjab’s government schools into places of hope, courage and possibility for the next generation.
Support Sanjhi Sikhiya

Leena Kejriwal – Founder, Missing Link Trust

Leena Kejriwal is a photographer and social artist from Kolkata who grew up near Sonagachi, one of Asia’s largest red-light districts. For more than a decade she worked in the trafficking belts of West Bengal and the city’s red-light areas, documenting the lives of girls who disappear into commercial sexual exploitation. In 2014 she created the iconic Missing Silhouettes — stark black cut-outs of young girls placed against urban skylines — as a public art statement that “millions of girls disappear into black holes of abuse.” The following year she founded Missing Link Trust to turn that awareness into prevention and protection.

Support these national heroes this Independence Day

This Independence Day, as the nation celebrates 77 years of independence, you can support the noble humanitarian initiatives of these three national heroes who have spent their youth serving the nation in the police force and national security, and are now spending the rest of their lives serving the most downtrodden sections of society. Happy Independence Day!

This blog was updated on Aug 14, 2026