Vasanth Venugopal
Encyclopedia
Col Vasanth V, AC
(25 March 1967 - 31 July 2007) was the Commanding Officer
of 9 Maratha Light Infantry
, a unit of the Indian Army
. On 31 July 2007, he was killed in action while preventing heavily armed infiltrators from crossing the Indian border at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.
Col Vasanth was awarded the Ashoka Chakra
(posthumous), the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra
, India's highest military decoration for gallantry. The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. Col Vasanth is the first person from the state of Karnataka
, India
to receive this honour.
In honour of his sacrifice, the nation awarded him the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award granted during peace time. Col Vasanth was cremated with full military honours on Aug 01, 2007 in Bangalore
.
, India
, he was the younger of two brothers. His father's work required the family to travel throughout the state of Karnataka
and Vasanth went to schools in Udupi, Shimoga and Bangalore
. He graduated from MES College, Bangalore in 1988. While in college, he was a member of the National Cadet Corps
, through which he participated in the Indo-Canada World Youth Exchange Programme of 1986-87.
Vasanth joined the Indian Military Academy
, Dehradun
in 1988. On 10 June 1989, he was commissioned into 9 MARATHA LI
. In a military career spanning eighteen years, he served in Pathankot
, Sikkim
, Gandhinagar, Ranchi
, Bangalore
and various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir
.
I go where my men go,' Colonel Vasanth Venugopal told his mother when she asked him if a colonel should participate in all operations conducted by his men. On 28 October 2006 he took over as Commanding Officer
of 9 Maratha Light Infantry. The battalion was at that time posted in Uri Sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Less than a year later, he was killed in a gun battle with militants who were trying to infiltrate the Indian border. Radio Operator Lance Naik Ganpat Shashikant also died in the operation.
Col Vasanth's biography Forever Forty, written by Subhashini Vasanth and Veena Prasad was released by H.E Gen JJ Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
and Honourable Justice Santosh Hegde on 10 July 2011 at Crossword Bookstore
, Bangalore.
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
(25 March 1967 - 31 July 2007) was the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 9 Maratha Light Infantry
Maratha Light Infantry
The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
, a unit of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. On 31 July 2007, he was killed in action while preventing heavily armed infiltrators from crossing the Indian border at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.
Col Vasanth was awarded the Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
(posthumous), the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra
Param Vir Chakra
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration awarded for the highest degree of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy. It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously....
, India's highest military decoration for gallantry. The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. Col Vasanth is the first person from the state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to receive this honour.
Encounter with terrorists
On July 31, his troops surrounded terrorists in a forest and blocked all their escape routes in the Uri sector in Kashmir. Despite being wounded, the colonel and his men engaged the terrorists in a fierce encounter. The daring officer led from the front and helped gun down the terrorists. Tragically, he was hit by a bullet and died in hospital.'He ensured that all eight infiltrators were wiped out even as he laid down his life for the nation. He was a true soldier who was dedicated to the country and his force,' then Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh said after Colonel Venugopal's martyrdom.In honour of his sacrifice, the nation awarded him the Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award granted during peace time. Col Vasanth was cremated with full military honours on Aug 01, 2007 in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
.
Biography
Born to Praphulla and NK Venugopal in BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, he was the younger of two brothers. His father's work required the family to travel throughout the state of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and Vasanth went to schools in Udupi, Shimoga and Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. He graduated from MES College, Bangalore in 1988. While in college, he was a member of the National Cadet Corps
National Cadet Corps (India)
The National Cadet Corps is the Indian military cadet corps with its Headquarters at New Delhi. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis....
, through which he participated in the Indo-Canada World Youth Exchange Programme of 1986-87.
Vasanth joined the Indian Military Academy
Indian Military Academy
The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932.-Demands for an Indian military training academy:...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
in 1988. On 10 June 1989, he was commissioned into 9 MARATHA LI
Maratha Light Infantry
The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
. In a military career spanning eighteen years, he served in Pathankot
Pathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
, Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, Gandhinagar, Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and various sectors of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
.
I go where my men go,' Colonel Vasanth Venugopal told his mother when she asked him if a colonel should participate in all operations conducted by his men. On 28 October 2006 he took over as Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 9 Maratha Light Infantry. The battalion was at that time posted in Uri Sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Less than a year later, he was killed in a gun battle with militants who were trying to infiltrate the Indian border. Radio Operator Lance Naik Ganpat Shashikant also died in the operation.
Col Vasanth's biography Forever Forty, written by Subhashini Vasanth and Veena Prasad was released by H.E Gen JJ Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Joginder Jaswant Singh
General Joginder Jaswant Singh was the first Sikh chief of army staff of India. He served as chief of army staff from January 31, 2005, to September 30, 2007....
and Honourable Justice Santosh Hegde on 10 July 2011 at Crossword Bookstore
Crossword Bookstores
Crossword Bookstores is a chain of bookstores in India based in Mumbai. Crossword has stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Nagpur, Nashik, Vadodara, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad. The most recent outlet opened in Durgapur.Crossword is fully owned by Shopper's...
, Bangalore.