Lt Abhimanyu Guleria’s Journey into the Indian Army

Meet Lt Abhimanyu Guleria

Meet Lt Abhimanyu Guleria, a third generation army officer who passed out from the Officers Training Academy, Gaya today. A family from Manoh Sihal, a small village in Fatehpur tehsil of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, has done the region proud by contributing a third-generation officer to the Indian Army. Lt Abhimanyu Guleria was commissioned in the Rajput Regiment from Officers Training Academy at Gaya in Bihar on Saturday (December 9, 2023).

Lt Abhimanyu Guleria follows in the footsteps of his illustrious forefathers. His father, Brigadier Vikram Guleria, currently serving in the Army, and his grandfather, Col SS Guleria (retd), both commissioned in the esteemed Rajput Regiment, set the stage for a legacy of service and dedication.

With his technical background, Lt Abhimanyu had the option of joining the Engineer Regiment, but he chose to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and opted for the Infantry.

The story of the Guleria family is an inspiration to all the youths and people of Himachal Pradesh who have sacrificed their lives to safeguard the honour of the country. Though Himachal Pradesh accounts for a mere .57 per cent of the country’s population, it makes up for 4 per cent of the Army’s strength.

Honouring Heroes

Two Army officers from Kangra district, Major Som Nath Sharma and Capt Vikram Batra, have received India’s highest military gallantry award Param Vir Chakra. Major Som Nath Sharma was the first recipient of Param Vir Chakra. During World War-II, he had fought in the ‘Operation Arakan’ in the battle of Badgam when he and his men stemmed the tide of the enemy advance on Srinagar and the airfield for some very crucial hours.

The town of Palampur, nestled in Kangra, holds a special place in the annals of Kargil history. Captain Vikram Batra, often referred to as ‘Sher Shah’ (“Lion King”) by the Pakistan army, and Captain Saurabh Kalia, both hailing from Palampur, made the ultimate sacrifice during the Kargil operation. Their bravery and sacrifice are eternally remembered.