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Meet Colonel Archit Goswami: 4 Para SF Officer Whose Transfer Left Mizoram in Tears
In early May 2026, a video quietly broke the internet not because of explosions or action sequences, but because of something far more powerful: tears. Special needs students at Serchhip’s Shalom Special School (Vohbik School) in Mizoram, many of whom struggle to articulate words, were seen weeping uncontrollably, clinging to a man in uniform as he prepared to leave. Teachers wept. Parents wept. The man in fatigues — visibly moved — embraced each of them.
That man was Colonel Archit Goswami, SM, Commanding Officer of the 14th Battalion, Assam Rifles. A decorated Special Forces veteran. A counter-terrorism operative who had stared down hardcore terrorists in Kashmir. And, as Mizoram discovered, a deeply humane officer who had quietly transformed the lives of some of its most vulnerable children.
This is his story.
From the Elite Ranks of 4 Para SF,
Before the Northeast, before Assam Rifles, Colonel Archit Goswami was forged in one of the most demanding crucibles in Indian military service.
He belongs to the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) 4 Para SF, the unit whose operators are trained for surgical strikes, hostage rescues, and deep penetration missions that most soldiers never encounter. His service number, IC-69038P, marks a career that progressed steadily through Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel before his elevation to Colonel.
Early in his career as a Major, he was handpicked as part of India’s Special Forces contingent for Exercise Vajra Prahar (2011) a prestigious bilateral Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) conducted alongside US Army Special Operations Forces at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington. Serving as an Assault Team Leader, he trained in Close Quarters Battle, Advanced Military Operations in Urban Terrain, explosive breaching, and Full Mission Profiles. It was an early signal that Goswami was among the finest the Indian Army had to offer.
The Operation That Earned Him a Sena Medal
Fast forward to 20 August 2019. Jammu & Kashmir. An active counter-terrorism operation in progress.
A group of heavily armed terrorists had barricaded themselves inside a target house. A local police personnel was trapped inside pinned, with no clear extraction route. Under intense enemy fire, the then-Major Archit Goswami did what Para SF officers are trained to do under the most extreme pressure: he moved forward.
He personally eliminated a hardcore terrorist and successfully extracted the trapped police personnel from the target house an act the citation described as reflecting “unflinching bravery and leadership of the highest order.”
The President of India formally approved the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for Major Archit Goswami, announced via PIB on 14 August 2020 Independence Day. It was a fitting occasion to honour a man who had placed his life between a terrorist’s weapon and a fellow security force member’s survival.
The Sena Medal (Gallantry) is not handed out lightly. It is awarded to officers who display individual acts of exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy. Colonel Goswami earned his in the most direct way possible.
The Northeast Chapter: Soldier, Guardian, Builder.
When Colonel Goswami took command of the 14th Battalion, Assam Rifles, his theatre of operations changed completely but his sense of mission did not.
The 14 Assam Rifles operates across the sensitive border districts of Nagaland and Mizoram, including stretches of the 510-kilometre Indo-Myanmar international border one of the most porous and narcotics-trafficked frontiers in South Asia.
Taking on the Drug Menace
Under his command, the battalion launched systematic crackdowns on drug syndicates smuggling high-volume methamphetamine and heroin through Champhai, Mizoram a key transit corridor for narcotics flowing in from Myanmar’s Golden Triangle. These weren’t token seizures. The operations dismantled smuggling networks and disrupted supply chains that had been poisoning border communities for years.
Beyond enforcement, Colonel Goswami understood that stopping supply alone was insufficient. He partnered with local organisations, including the Miraculum Society, to launch multi-district drug awareness campaigns targeting youth in border villages building community resistance at the grassroots level, where the real battle against addiction is fought.
Winning Hearts in Noklak
In Noklak, Nagaland, local communities including the Khiamniungan people organised a public farewell at the grounds, praising the battalion’s support and cooperation. They called the unit’s personnel “good Samaritans” and “real Friends of the Hill People.” Small gestures like arranging Sunday bus services for villagers travelling to church had accumulated into genuine, lasting goodwill.
The Farewell That Moved a Nation
But it was in Serchhip, Mizoram, that Colonel Goswami’s impact reached its most visible and most emotional expression.
During his tenure, he directed sustained support toward the Shalom Special School (Vohbik School), an institution serving specially-abled children. His support went beyond token gestures covering infrastructure development, structural improvements, and sustained engagement with the school’s students, teachers, and parents.
For children who often struggle to find champions in their corner, Colonel Goswami became exactly that.
When his transfer orders came through in May 2026, the school organised a farewell. What followed was not scripted. Students many with limited verbal ability wept openly. Teachers who had watched the Colonel quietly, consistently show up for their school broke down. Parents embraced him. The footage circulated across Indian social media platforms within hours, drawing messages of admiration from citizens and commentators across the country.
The Indian Army’s unofficial motto in the Northeast — “Friends of the Hill People” — is often used ceremonially. Colonel Goswami lived it.
he military is being used as a trust substitute to somehow restore the faith of the public. And the Prime Minister having to “personally monitor” undergraduate admissions to medical colleges can hardly be a sign of good governance
In the wake of the Neet-UG question paper leak, the State’s response has been astounding. The Union education minister has said that the help of the Indian Air Force will be sought for the secure transportation of examination question papers ahead of the re-exam on June 21. And the Supreme Court has been told that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is monitoring the Neet situation. The IAF, in addition to securing Indian airspace, will now also protect Indian examination space. The decision to induct the IAF not only shows the loss of faith in the civil administration by the public, but by the government itself. The military is being used as a trust substitute to somehow restore the faith of the public. And the Prime Minister having to “personally monitor” undergraduate admissions to medical colleges can hardly be a sign of good governance. It is in fact the opposite. For a government that swears by good governance, the institutional architecture should be healthy and the chain of responsibility self-executing. The Prime Minister should not even be bothered with these processes. This is what a competent education minister and professional bureaucracy should be handling. That the Prime Minister has to step in suggests that the system has failed so completely that only the highest office in the country can be trusted to manage it. Also Read – Anita Anand | The Romance And The Tragedy Of The Monsoon In India
his is not all. Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old Class 12 student from West Bengal and hobbyist cybersecurity dabbler, breached the Central Board of Secondary Education’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) portal — used by examiners to assess scanned answer sheets on a computer — in less than an hour. He proved that the digital security is so poor that anyone can impersonate an examiner and change a student’s grades.
Five alumni of Mohali’s Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, on May 30.
The passing-out parade was reviewed by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.
The cadets, Jaskirtan Singh of Sangrur, Manjot Singh Walia and Dhruv Bhandari of Jalandhar, Harshdeep Singh of Patiala and Parth Kavi of Mohali, completed the gruelling three-year training at the NDA following two years of foundational grooming at the Mohali institute.
Much of their preparatory training at the institute took place during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic period.
They will now join their respective service training academies, where they are slated to be commissioned within the next year.
n a landmark moment for Punjab, five former cadets of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI), SAS Nagar, graduated from the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune today. The passing out parade of the historic 150th NDA Course was reviewed by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM.
The five cadets including Jaskirtan Singh of Sangrur, Manjot Singh Walia & Dhruv Bhandari of Jalandhar, Harshdeep Singh of Patiala and Parth Kavi of Mohali, have completed a gruelling three-year training at the NDA following two years of foundational grooming at MRSAFPI. Notably, much of their preparatory training at the institute took place during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic period, a testament to their resilience. They will now join their respective service training academies, where they are slated to be commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces within the next year.
Extending heartiest congratulations to the cadets, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said that these young men have brought glory to Punjab. Their success is a powerful validation of Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government’s initiative to prepare our youth for the nation’s defence services. He exhorted them to continue serving with unwavering commitment and make the state proud.
Major General Ajay H. Chauhan, VSM, Director of MRSAFPI, said that the momentum will continue as another 25 cadets are scheduled for their SSB interviews. The achievements of AFPIANs are a matter of pride for this institution and for all of Punjab.
General NS Raja Subramani took charge as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Sunday while Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed office as the new Navy Chief, marking a change at the top of the military hierarchy.
The Army is expected to get a new Chief as General Upendra Dwivedi is set to superannuate on June 30. General Subramani succeeds General Anil Chauhan, who completed his tenure as the country’s senior-most military officer on Saturday. Admiral Swaminathan succeeds Admiral DK Tripathi, who superannuated today.
The appointment of the new CDS comes weeks after outgoing CDS General Chauhan, submitted a formal proposal to the Ministry of Defence on having geographically defined areas designated as ‘theatre commands’ – with a military commander heading it and controlling all war-fighting assets like planes, copter, guns, tanks, equipment and manpower.
General Subramani faces the task of converting the theatre command blueprint into an operational reality and ensuring it shortens the decision-making loop for a simultaneous two-front scenario with Pakistan and China.
Soon after taking charge, General Subramani laid down his targets saying “strengthening the transformation of the armed forces and carrying out organisational reforms to improve tri-services integration and coordination would be among his top priorities”.
The new CDS said he aimed to accelerate the development, induction and integration of indigenous weapons in the armed forces.
Meanwhile, Admiral Swaminathan said: “It shall be my highest priority to ensure that the Navy maintains the highest level of operational readiness and combat effectiveness so that it can protect the nation’s security and economic interests”.
The Navy stands vigilant to protect national interests wherever they are and is very actively deployed in a regional security environment that continues to remain challenging, complex, unpredictable, and uncertain, he added.
General Subramani is the third Army officer to serve as CDS, after General Bipin Rawat and General Chauhan.
A graduate of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, he was commissioned into the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 14, 1985.
General Subramani’s tenure is three years and it overlaps with the recent urgency in efforts by India-China to work out a solution for their disputed boundary. The military will be advising the government on contours of the boundary along the Himalayas, if that is to be demarcated.
He is one-year junior to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who are due to retire in June and October, respectively. But with his appointment to four-star rank, he is ‘first among equals’ vis-a-vis the three service chiefs.
Admiral Swaminathan is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham, United Kingdom, the College of Naval Warfare in Karanja, and the US Naval War College in Rhode Island.
His tenure starts as India moves towards finalising a deal to build next-generation conventional submarines in collaboration with Germany.
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan accorded a Guard of Honour during a ceremony marking his assumption of charge as India’s new Chief of the Naval Staff, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 31, 2026. PTI
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Sunday assumed charge as India’s new chief of the Naval Staff amid a fast-evolving regional maritime security scenario.
He succeeds Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who retired from service. Admiral Swaminathan was serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command before taking charge of the top post.
The new Navy chief, speaking to reporters, described the regional security environment as “challenging, complex, and unpredictable” and asserted that maintaining peak operational readiness will be his highest priority.
“The Indian Navy stands vigilant to protect national interests wherever they are and is very actively deployed in a regional security environment that continues to remain challenging, complex, unpredictable and uncertain,” he told reporters.
“It shall be my highest priority to ensure that the Indian Navy maintains the highest level of operational readiness and combat effectiveness so that it can protect the nation’s security and economic interests,” he said.
Admiral Swaminathan said the Indian Navy is well set on a course of capability enhancement and modernisation.
“It shall be my endeavour to sustain the growth momentum of the Navy, consolidate all ongoing programs, scale up where required, and sharpen our operational capabilities through the induction of niche and emerging technologies,” he said.
“I will devote every single day of my life to making the Navy a better, stronger, sharper, and more impactful service so that it can serve the interests of national security, national development, and national economic prosperity,” he added.
Admiral Swaminathan said the Navy is deeply committed to jointness, ‘Atmanirbharata’ and indigenisation. He also praised Admiral Tripathi describing him as one of the “finest” military professionals globally.
Admiral Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987 and is a specialist in communication and electronic Warfare.
He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla; the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the US Naval War College, Newport.
The Army has started disciplinary proceedings against a Major General and a number of other officers for allegedly accepting bribes to select officer candidates for the armed forces at the Service Selection Centre, Kapurthala.
Section 123 of the Army Act was invoked against the Major General, who headed the centre, on Sunday as it was his last day of service, to enable the Army to conduct court-martial proceedings against him, sources said.
The section empowers the Army to recall retired or discharged personnel accused of committing an offence while serving in the military so that proceedings under the Act can be conducted against them.
The Major General was attached to Headquarters Delhi Area earlier this month, while about 20 other officers, some of whom have retired, have been attached to different formations.
Following an initial probe by Military Intelligence into certain officers allegedly accepting illegal gratification, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh, to select candidates, the Additional Directorate General of Discipline and Vigilance at Army Headquarters approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2021 for a detailed investigation into the scam.
The CBI conducted searches at 30 locations across India in connection with the case, including Delhi, Kapurthala, Bathinda, Kaithal, Palwal, Lucknow, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Guwahati and Jorhat. An FIR filed by the CBI named 23 individuals, including Army officers.
The scam allegedly revolved around clearing candidates who had been temporarily rejected on medical grounds by fraudulently passing them through the review medical board. One of the jawans involved allegedly compiled a list of such rejected candidates who could then be approached.
A “high-caliber” bomb was successfully tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Ramgarh near Chandigarh.
The test was conducted amid comprehensive security arrangements and strict adherence to established safety protocols, DRDO officials said. Explosive trials have been carried out by TBRL several times in the past. The explosion sound was heard several kilometers away.
Senior Air Force officers were also present, implying that the tested bomb was meant to comprise the warhead for IAF missiles or other air-dropped munitions.
In view of the test, the Panchkula Administration had already issued a high alert and urged residents of nearby villages and habitats to remain indoors on Sunday morning.
As part of the security protocol, special surveillance was maintained in the surrounding areas. TBRL had cautioned that bomb fragments could fly up to a height of 1.5 km and spread over a radius of two km from the detonation site.
A DRDO establishment under its armaments cluster, TBRL is engaged in the ballistics evaluation of warheads and projectiles. It conducts research in the fields of high explosives, detonators, shock waves and assessing the terminal effects of ammunition, and is also involved in evolving data and design parameters for new armaments.
TBRL has been closely involved in India’s nuclear weapons development and missile programmes and is also associated with the Indian Space Research Organisation, evaluating special parachutes and other equipment for the upcoming Gaganyaan manned space mission.
Apart from evaluation and research, TBRL has developed several products such as a baffle range for small arms firing training, hand grenade, liquid armour and non-lethal bullets, obstacle busting devices and specialised ammunition storage facilities. Some of its products and technologies are also used by the para-military forces and the police, as well as civilian agencies.
As India is on verge of sending out a formal letter of request (LoR) to France for procuring 114 more Rafale jets, the Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh will be in France on an official visit starting June 1 and is scheduled to visit Dassault and missile maker MBDA.
While Dassault makes the Rafale jets, missiles of the MBDA are used on several IAF platforms. An LoR is a formal government-to-government communication used to initiate defence procurement under an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) framework.
The IAF Rafale will be acquired under a ‘Make in India’ scheme with French plane maker Dassault partnering with an Indian firm.
For the deal, India has laid down a set of non -negotiable clauses including indigenous weapons and data links.
Engine, airframe and avionics part of transfer of technology. The integration of Indian weapons, missiles and ammunition on all the 114 jets is also part of the deal.
The plane maker is expected to provide secure data links to allow digital integration of the jets with Indian radars and sensors sending imagery to ground-based controllers.
In the past few year’s avionics, weapons and missiles on the Rafale have been upgraded since IAF ordered its fleet of 36 in 2015. The IAF flies what is the ‘F3R’ version of the plane, same as the French Air Force. Dassault Aviation has introduced the ‘F-4’ version – an upgrade. India is seeking a mix of the ‘F-4’ version and upcoming ‘F-5’ version.
Also the plane maker will be providing transfer of technology (ToT) for making air frames. Its suppliers like engine maker Safran and avionics provider Thales will be part of the ToT. The indigenous content is expected to be between 55 % and 60 % once ToT for air frames, engines and avionics is done.
The upgrade includes next generation of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for longer detection range and improved resilience to electronic warfare. It is to have a better self-protection system to detect and counter new and emerging threats. Capabilities would include better long-range detection and identification of enemy threats backed by missiles with longer ranges. It is to mated with better satellite links and even have artificial intelligence algorithms to assist the pilot with improved situational awareness and decision-making.
The Rafale fighter jets, as part of IAF’s multi-pronged plan to add more number of jets. The IAF already flies 36 Rafale jets, while the Navy has ordered 26 of the marine variant of the same jet. Increasing numbers would reduce maintenance costs.
A Rafale flight training and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility is operational at the IAF base in Ambala. The IAF has the capacity – the space, spares, tooling and trained manpower — to immediately take-in two squadrons (some 36-38 planes).
Strife-torn Manipur caught in the vortex of violence between the Kukis and Meities, is set to house one of the six tribal museums planned by the Centre, as a tribute to the freedom fighters from the community.
The upcoming museum will be dedicated to Naga freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu in the north-eastern state where tribal Kukis are in clash with the majority Meiteis.
According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, all the remaining six museums are expected to near completion in the next two years.
Talking to The Tribune, Deepali Masirkar, Director, Tribal Affairs, said the initiative traces its origin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address in 2016 when he observed that while India’s freedom struggle is remembered through a few well-known figures, the valiant role of tribal communities has not received the due recognition.
“The Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum in Manipur is one of the 11 museums announced by the ministry in co-ordination with state governments. This museum will be built at Luangkao village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district. It is widely celebrated as the birthplace and ancestral home of the revered Naga spiritual and political freedom fighter, Rani Gaidinliu,” she said.
The senior official said the freedom fighter led the Zeliangrong movement against British colonial rule after the martyrdom of her mentor, Haipou Jadonang.
“Imprisoned for 14 years, Rani Gaidinliu became a symbol of courage, cultural pride, and spiritual resistance. Post-Independence, she was honoured with several national awards, including the Padma Bhushan,” she added.
The foundation stone for the Rs 15 crore-worth museum was laid on November 22, 2021 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Masirkar said the upcoming museum will showcase Rani Gaidinliu’s life, leadership and contribution to India’s freedom movement.
“It will also highlight the collective struggles of the tribal communities of Northeast India. By preserving oral traditions, artefacts, and historical narratives, the museum aims to connect younger generations with the rich legacy of tribal resistance and self-determination,” she added.
A fresh outbreak of ethnic conflict is rocking the country’s remotest eastern state of Manipur. Deadly ambushes, abductions and protest marches are cropping up in a land where such violence had already become routine.
At this point of juncture, are the people of Manipur keen on having such a repository?
“Manipuris are very excited about the project. Yes, the state is going through one of its most turbulent phases but Rani Gaidinliu is a state hero and revered by tribals and non-tribals. Besides, every community wants to project their leader. The Ministry believes that the Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in the strife-torn state will quench frayed tempers, and give the people something to be proud of. It can also open many economic and tourist avenues in the future,” Masirkar added.
Apart from Manipur, the Ministry has nearly completed the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Mizoram. It is modelled on Ropuiliani, the chieftainess of Denlung village, who led her people against British annexation in the late 19th century, asserting the freedom and sovereignty of the Mizo hills.
Captured along with her son in 1894, Ropuiliani was imprisoned and died in custody in Rangoon. Remembered as the “Rani of the Mizos”, she symbolises courage, resilience and the spirit of tribal self-determination.
“The museum at Kelsih village in Mizoram is being established to honour her legacy and the broader tribal resistance movement of Mizoram. The museum is nearly complete and will be inaugurated in a couple of months,” the director said.
The Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Andhra Pradesh honouring the Alluri Sitarama Raju; Ramji Gond Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum in Hyderabad; museum in Kerala’s Wayanad; Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, Ponda in Goa; and National Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum at Rajpipla, Narmada in Gujarat close to the Statue of Unity, are some of the other tribal museums which are expected to be completed within the next two years.
