Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey – "Hero of Batalik"

"If death strikes before I prove my blood, I promise (swear), I will kill death."

Hello aspirants,

In this series of post about Bravehearts of our nation, today we have come to you with another hero who had nerves of steel and heart selflessly filled with the motive to save the mother nation from the enemy, and he is Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey. This post is dedicated to his bravery.

So, let's begin

1. Background

• Manoj Pandey was born on 25 June 1975 in Rudha village, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh in a very humble background family of a small businessman.
• He received his education from Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow and Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School.
• Apart from academics, he was active in sports and bodybuilding and He has adjudged the best cadet of junior division NCC of Uttar Pradesh directorate in 1990.
• Capt Major graduated from NDA 90^th course and was commissioned into the 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles (1/11 GR).
• He was posted in the Kashmir valley, and after that, he was posted to Siachen.

2. Operation Vijay

• On the night of 3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective for the Pahalwan Chowki located at the height of 19700 feet on his way to Khalubar.; it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights.
• He led his men to capture the Jubar top which was considered as necessary due to its strategic location. Quickly sizing up the situation, the young officer led his platoon along a narrow, treacherous ridge that led to the enemy position.
• Showing great courage, he charged onto enemies, and he killed two of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat and cleared the first bunker.
• In this act of bravery, he was wounded on the shoulder and legs, but his determination suppressed all the pain.
• Manoj fearlessly charged ahead with the booming battle cry, “Jai Mahakali, Aayo Gorkhali” clearing two enemy bunkers.
• Capt Manoj later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred at the age of 24 years.
• Captain Manoj Pandey displayed immense courage and determination in capturing the location merely at the age of 24, and later on, he was honoured with PVC.

3. Honours

• Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest medal for gallantry, posthumously.
• Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow has named its new auditorium after Captain Pandey.
• The National Defence Academy named the science block as the "Manoj Pandey Block."
• A gallery in the Kargil War Museum at Dras is named after him.
• A hall is made in the name of Capt. Manoj at Service Selection Center Allahabad named as Manoj Pandey Block.
• Pandey's statue is erected at Param Yodha Sthal in National War Memorial, New Delhi.

This was a motivational post about brave Capt Manoj Pandey. One of his motivational quotes is

"Some goals are so worthy; it's glorious even to fail".

I hope this post was helpful for our aspirants.

Stay connected to DDE.

JAI HIND