On 16 December, Write to the Men Who Won It
Every 16 December the country posts a graphic and has moved on by evening. But the men who fought in 1971 are still here - in their seventies and eighties now, in Dehradun and Jalandhar and villages across Haryana and Punjab, most of them hearing nothing from anyone outside the regiment. A letter that names what they did lands differently from a forwarded image, and it arrives on paper they can keep.
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We post within 48 hours, and delivery takes 3-7 working days. We never collect on a Sunday.
Why send a letter
The veterans are still reachable
1971 was over fifty years ago, but its soldiers are alive and most are contactable through regimental associations, sainik boards and veterans' cells. Almost nobody writes to them. That is precisely why a letter works.
Serving units mark the day too
Vijay Diwas is observed at posts and units across the country with wreath-laying and regimental dinners. A letter arriving in that week is read in exactly the mood it was written in.
Name the thing, not just the thanks
'Thank you for your service' is the phrase everyone uses and nobody remembers. Naming the year, the sector or the regiment is what turns a polite note into something kept in a drawer.
Start from a heartfelt sample
Borrow a line, or let it spark your own words. Our writing assistant can help you finish.
Respected Sir, I was born long after December 1971, which is rather the point - I have never had to think about that border, and you did. My grandfather spoke about that winter until the end of his life. I wanted one person who was actually there to know that it is still spoken of in houses like ours. With respect, on Vijay Diwas.
Respected Jawan bhai, our family marks 16 December quietly every year. This time we decided that marking it privately was not enough, so we are writing instead. Thank you for the ordinary evening we are about to spend. We know what it rests on.
Sir, I know your unit will observe Vijay Diwas this week and I did not want the day to pass with only official words in it. You are holding the same line, in a colder place, for people you will never meet. One of them is writing to say he noticed.
What actually arrives
- Your letter on thick cream paper, folded by hand.
- A handwritten thank-you card - in every letter, no charge.
- The envelope - Kraft Brown or Deep Red, your choice, no charge.
- A wax seal, pressed flowers, ribbon add-ons you choose
Posted anywhere in India, tracked, with postage already in the price.
Choose how to send it
Handwritten
Written by hand on premium paper - the most personal way to say it.
From ₹699₹999 to start, priced by length
- Real ink, written by hand
- A handwritten thank-you card, in every letter
- Postage included - anywhere in India
Printed
Beautifully typeset on quality paper - clean, clear and elegant.
₹499₹799 one price, up to five pages
- Choose the typeface
- A handwritten thank-you card, in every letter
- Postage included - anywhere in India
Is Vijay Diwas on 16 December or 26 July?
Both dates exist and they are different days. Vijay Diwas is 16 December, marking the 1971 victory and the surrender at Dhaka. Kargil Vijay Diwas is 26 July, marking the end of the 1999 Kargil conflict. If you are writing to a 1971 veteran, 16 December is the day.
How do I find a veteran or a soldier to write to?
Most people write through a route they already have - a regimental association, a Zila Sainik Board, a veterans' welfare cell, or an organised letter campaign that supplies an address. We post to whatever address you give us; we do not hold or supply addresses ourselves.
Can you deliver to a 56 APO or 99 APO address?
Yes. We post via India Post, which interfaces with the Army Postal Service for APO mail. Give us the exact unit address in the C/O 56 APO or C/O 99 APO format, precisely as the soldier has shared it, and the letter travels through the APS network to his unit.
When should I order so my letter is there around 16 December?
Scheduled delivery lets you choose the day we POST it, and the likely arrival window is shown beside it. For standard delivery, order about a week ahead - and for a forward posting allow generous margin, since mail to those areas moves less predictably than to a peace station.
What should a Vijay Diwas letter actually say?
Be specific and be brief. Say who you are in one line, name the day and why it means something in your house, and thank him for one concrete thing rather than for the idea of service. Avoid slogans entirely - they read as a forward, not a letter.
Can I write it in Hindi?
Yes - Hindi, English or Hinglish. For a letter to a veteran, Hindi is very often the better choice, and it is the language most of these letters are read in.
Is it strange to write to a soldier I have never met?
No. Letters from strangers are the ones that get read aloud and pinned up, precisely because nobody owed them. Introduce yourself plainly in the first line and the rest follows.
Can a school or an office send a batch for Vijay Diwas?
Yes. Each letter is priced individually - 699 handwritten, 499 printed, on 100gsm cream paper - and each person's own words go on their own sheet. Write to us with the number of letters and the address you have been given, and we will organise the batch.
What if I'm not good with words?
Start from the samples on this page, or use our free writing assistant to shape your thoughts. You approve every word before it ships.
Can I add photos or extras?
You can attach up to 10 printed photos (50 each), add a wax seal or scented paper at checkout - every letter is on 100gsm premium cream paper.
I'm outside India - can I order and pay?
Yes. Order and pay online from anywhere in the world - international cards are accepted. The letter is written and posted within India, so there's no international postage or customs wait.
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