Born and raised in Punjab, India, Major Munish Chauhan’s journey is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and an unrelenting pursuit of purpose…
Arriving in the UK at the age of 17 with just £220 in his pocket, Munish faced not only the cultural and financial shock of a new country but also the harsh realities of survival with no support system. From being homeless in Hyde Park to working in a flower factory in Bedford, his path to the British Army was far from ordinary.
Picture: Major Munish Chauhan
“I come from a very humble background. In India, I studied in normal schools and came to the UK with about £220 in my pocket.
“That £220 only lasted me about two weeks in London. After that I was actually kicked out of my college hostel because I didn’t have the money to pay the rent. So I stayed two nights in Hyde Park as a 17 year old,” he explains.
“I was quite scared, demotivated and lost. My mindset was ‘I just don’t know what to do.’
I didn’t tell anyone because if I told my family, they would just say ‘come back’”
Fortunately, Munish met some family friends who supported him to find a job in a factory. But with a keen and intellectual mind, he was destined for much more…
In 2007, Munish enlisted in the British Army as a Combat Medical Technician, driven by a desire for adventure, self-reliance, and service. Training brought its own challenges — from understanding unfamiliar accents and slang to navigating the white male-dominated environment of the military. But his determination never wavered.
“The army journey actually came as an adventure. I was a young 17/18-year-old and I wanted to do something in life. At that age, all you want is to conquer the world. You want to be the king, you want to be the bread earner of your family. That’s the kind of feeling every teenager has and I was no different…”
While serving, a chance encounter with a Lieutenant Colonel anaesthetist reignited his childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Encouraged to pursue further education, Munish began studying medicine at St George’s University in London, ultimately returning to the army as a commissioned officer and surgical registrar — today, he stands as the only Indian-born surgeon in the British Army.
Now based at Oxford Hospital, Major Chauhan specialises in general surgery with most recent experience in vascular and transplant surgery, including life-saving kidney transplants. With no military hospitals in the UK, army doctors like him are embedded within the NHS, honing their skills to serve both in civilian care and on the battlefield.
His proudest accomplishments extend beyond the operating theatre. Munish has become a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion within the military, working to educate others on cultural awareness and ensure that soldiers from all backgrounds are represented and supported. One of his greatest personal challenges has been the lack of culturally relatable mentorship, a gap he is now helping to fill for the next generation.
Picture: Major Munish Chauhan
“My biggest challenge in the British Army, is that I have not found a mentor that relates to my own Indian mentality,” he says.
“In the army you find a lot of other mentors, but they don’t understand our cultural values. They don’t always relate to what we stand for, where we come from and why do we think the way we think. I think that’s been my biggest challenge – learning my own thought process so that I can progress further and help others understand the diversity that I bring to the table.”
For Major Chauhan, the uniform he wears is not just attire—it’s a symbol of discipline, courage, integrity, and respect. These values align closely with his own cultural teachings and have guided him through every step of his journey.
Outside of service, Munish leads a fulfilling family life. He met his wife — the first Sikh woman from India to join the British Army — during his service. Together, they’re raising two children and continuing to serve as role models for their community.
At 38, Major Munish Chauhan is more than just a military surgeon. He is a trailblazer, a mentor, a father, and a living example of what’s possible when bravery meets opportunity.
His message to the world: “Be brave, be bold, explore. There’s no end to your aspirations. Even the sky isn’t the limit. Question yourself: Can you do more? If the answer is yes—do it.”
