Sudhir Kumar Walia: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
Text Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
==Army career== |
==Army career== |
||
Sudhir graduated from the [[Indian Military Academy]] and was commissioned as [[second lieutenant]] |
Sudhir graduated from the [[Indian Military Academy]] and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the 4th Battalion, [[Jat Regiment|The Jat Regiment]] on 11 June 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=723 |date=20 May 1989|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1989/O-0593-1989-0020-25631.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF), who were sent to [[Sri Lanka]] on a peace mission.<ref name=RD /> After he returned from Sri Lanka, he opted for the 9th Battalion, [[Para (Special Forces)|Para (SF),]] a special forces unit of the [[Indian Army]] that specializes in mountain operations. He also served two six-month terms at the [[Siachen Glacier]].<ref name=RD /> He was promoted as a lieutenant on 11 June 1990.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=514 |date=27 March 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0407-1993-0013-16503.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> |
||
Walia was promoted captain on 11 June 1993,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1946 |date=16 October 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0410-1993-0042-16533.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was awarded the [[Sena Medal]] in 1994 |
Walia was promoted as a captain on 11 June 1993,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1946 |date=16 October 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0410-1993-0042-16533.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was awarded the [[Sena Medal]] in 1994 on two occasions for his gallantry while combating militancy in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. In 1997, he was sent to the [[United States]] for a specialized course and got the first position. He also spoke at the [[Pentagon (building)|Pentagon]] during this mission.<ref name=RD /> For his competence, he was respectfully called 'Colonel' during that course.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kargil from surprise to victory |publisher=HarperCollins Publ. India |isbn=9788172239671 |page=186}}</ref> |
||
He was later deputed as an [[Aide-de-camp]] (ADC) to the [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] (COAS), General [[Ved Prakash Malik]]. When the [[Kargil War]] broke out, he obtained special permission from the COAS to go to the battlefield. |
He was later deputed as an [[Aide-de-camp]] (ADC) to the then [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|Chief of the Army Staff]] (COAS), General [[Ved Prakash Malik]]. When the [[Kargil War]] broke out, he obtained a special permission from the COAS to go to the battlefield. Within ten days of his departure from Delhi, he led his team to capture Zulu Top at 5200 metres, in the [[Mushkoh Valley]] sector. When asked about his attack on Zulu Top without needing to acclimatize, Major Sudhir said: ''"Sir, you know that I'm a pahari (from the mountains). I don't need acclimatization."''<ref>{{cite book |title=Kargil from surprise to victory |publisher=HarperCollins Publ. India |isbn=9788172239671 |page=188}}</ref> |
||
After the Kargil War ended, his team was assigned the duty of fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.<ref name=RD /> |
After the Kargil War ended, his team was assigned the duty of fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.<ref name=RD /> |
||
On 29 August 1999, he led an assault on a militant hideout in the Haphruda jungles of [[Kupwara]] district in Jammu and Kashmir. He killed 9 of |
On 29 August 1999, he led an assault on a militant hideout in the Haphruda jungles of [[Kupwara]] district in Jammu and Kashmir. He killed 9 of the 20 militants present, and sustained several gunshot wounds in the process. Though he was unable to move, he continued to give orders to his team till they succeeded. He allowed himself to be evacuated only 35 minutes after the operation ended. He was airlifted to an Army hospital but succumbed to the injuries en route. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra Award|Ashoka Chakra]], the highest peacetime military decoration in India.<ref name=RD /> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 13:20, 23 February 2023
Sudhir Kumar Walia | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Major Sudhir Kumar Walia | |
| Born | 24 May 1969 Banuri, Palampur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh |
| Died | 29 August 1999 (aged 30) Killed in Action at Haphruda Forest, Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service |  Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1988 – 1999 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Service number | IC-47623P |
| Unit | 9 Para (SF) 4 Jat |
| Battles / wars | Operation Vijay Counter-Insurgency |
| Awards |  Ashoka Chakra Sena Medal (Bar) Sena Medal |
| Alma mater | Indian military academy,
National Defence Academy Sainik School Sujanpur Tihra |
Major Sudhir Kumar Walia, AC, ADC, SM & Bar (24 May 1969 – 29 August 1999), was an officer of the Indian Army, who served in the elite 9 Para (SF).[1] He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration, by the then President, late K. R. Narayan, in January 2000.
Early life
Sudhir was born in a Kalal family on 24 May 1969 in village Banuri tehsil Palampur in the Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh to an Army Veteran Subedar Major Rulia Ram Walia and Smt. Rajeswari Devi.[2] He attended the Sainik School at Sujanpur Tihra. He then gained admission into the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.[citation needed]
Army career
Sudhir graduated from the Indian Military Academy and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, The Jat Regiment on 11 June 1988.[3] He was a member of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), who were sent to Sri Lanka on a peace mission.[1] After he returned from Sri Lanka, he opted for the 9th Battalion, Para (SF), a special forces unit of the Indian Army that specializes in mountain operations. He also served two six-month terms at the Siachen Glacier.[1] He was promoted as a lieutenant on 11 June 1990.[4]
Walia was promoted as a captain on 11 June 1993,[5] and was awarded the Sena Medal in 1994 on two occasions for his gallantry while combating militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1997, he was sent to the United States for a specialized course and got the first position. He also spoke at the Pentagon during this mission.[1] For his competence, he was respectfully called 'Colonel' during that course.[6]
He was later deputed as an Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the then Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Ved Prakash Malik. When the Kargil War broke out, he obtained a special permission from the COAS to go to the battlefield. Within ten days of his departure from Delhi, he led his team to capture Zulu Top at 5200 metres, in the Mushkoh Valley sector. When asked about his attack on Zulu Top without needing to acclimatize, Major Sudhir said: "Sir, you know that I'm a pahari (from the mountains). I don't need acclimatization."[7]
After the Kargil War ended, his team was assigned the duty of fighting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.[1]
On 29 August 1999, he led an assault on a militant hideout in the Haphruda jungles of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. He killed 9 of the 20 militants present, and sustained several gunshot wounds in the process. Though he was unable to move, he continued to give orders to his team till they succeeded. He allowed himself to be evacuated only 35 minutes after the operation ended. He was airlifted to an Army hospital but succumbed to the injuries en route. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime military decoration in India.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "This soldier died for us". Rediff.com.
- ^ "Sudhir Walia — a braveheart who went beyond the call of duty".
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 20 May 1989. p. 723.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 March 1993. p. 514.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 16 October 1993. p. 1946.
- ^ Kargil from surprise to victory. HarperCollins Publ. India. p. 186. ISBN 9788172239671.
- ^ Kargil from surprise to victory. HarperCollins Publ. India. p. 188. ISBN 9788172239671.