Meet Lt Col Harsh Gupta & Hav Surinder Singh The Army Duo Behind Operation Sindoor’s Iconic Logo
New Delhi: The compelling and symbolic emblem of India’s Operation Sindoor, which has resonated with countless citizens nationwide, was crafted by a pair of military personnel.
Following the devastating April 22 Pahalgam attack, India launched targeted strikes against nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Subsequently, the Indian Army’s digital platforms featured an emotionally charged poster that has since become the emblematic representation of Operation Sindoor.
The latest issue of the Indian Army’s publication ‘Baatcheet,’ specifically focused on Operation Sindoor, reveals that Lt Col Harsh Gupta and Hav Surinder Singh created the logo for this significant military operation.
The special edition includes photographs of both servicemen alongside their renowned design, plus statistical data highlighting the substantial engagement it received across various social media channels, including X and Instagram.
The magazine’s opening spread prominently displays the logo with the Indian Army’s official insignia positioned above it. The following page recounts the Pahalgam incident that horrified the nation and prompted widespread international condemnation from various countries and world leaders.
“On 22 April 2025, the nation witnessed a dastardly and brutal act of violence where five terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in the name of religion. This incident occurred in the serene meadows of Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, where the tourists had gone to celebrate life with fervor. This incident fortified the resolve of our country to fight terror with punitive action,” states the text under the heading ‘Pahalagam’.
The accompanying visuals show the attack’s aftermath, including lines of caskets and poignant scenes from a victim’s funeral ceremony.
Page 11 features an image of Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi observing a display screen, noting the specific timestamp: May 7, 2025, at 0105 hours.
The design featured ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’ text, with a small container of vermilion (traditionally used by married Hindu women) forming the initial ‘O’ in the second word, while the final ‘O’ was surrounded by scattered powder.
Subsequently, the Indian Army has produced numerous themed promotional videos for social media that have gained widespread circulation and praise.
Military sources confirmed that all content was produced internally by the Social Media Section within the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Strategic Communication.
During his Sunday Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Operation Sindoor as more than a military operation, calling it “the face of a changing India” that demonstrates the nation’s determination, bravery, and expanding global influence.
The Prime Minister characterized Operation Sindoor as a pivotal moment in the worldwide battle against terrorism and an emblem of India’s increasing power and focused objectives.
The operation took place from 1:05 AM to 1:30 AM on May 7 as part of Operation Sindoor, designed to provide justice for the Pahalgam terror attack victims and their families, according to Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Col Sofiya Qureshi during a post-operation briefing.
At 1:44 AM, the government issued a statement emphasizing India’s “considerable restraint” in target selection and execution methods, clarifying that “no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.”
Following this, the Indian Army’s social media accounts posted a message accompanied by the poster.
The Army’s 1:51 AM X post included the message “#PahalgamTerrorAttack Justice is Served. Jai Hind!” alongside the poster that was minimal in text but rich in symbolic meaning.