Pankaj Vikram, SM

Biography

Lieutenant Pankaj Vikram was born on June 15, 1963, in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, the son of Shri Jitendra Vikram, who later relocated the family to Raipur for professional reasons. From a young age he displayed a strong sense of duty and a keen inclination towards serving his nation. He completed his schooling at Holy Cross School, Pensionbada, Raipur, where he was known for his discipline and determination, before earning an engineering degree at the Government Engineering College (later NIT), Raipur, where he trained as a civil engineer. In 1986, Lt Pankaj was selected as an officer in the Indian Army, reportedly through campus selection during his final year of study. After a year of rigorous military training that honed his endurance and leadership, he was commissioned into the 8th Engineer Regiment. In July 1987 he was posted to Secunderabad. During this period, Indian troops were engaged in peacekeeping operations in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), following the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of July 29, 1987. Under the accord, returning civilians found many homes heavily mined and rigged with booby traps, and the Army undertook a large operation to clear them. On August 12, 1987, Lt Pankaj Vikram was assigned to a mine-clearing mission near Jaffna Fort, led by Major GHD Dulip Singh and including Naib Subedar G Mukunda Rao and Naib Subedar Dhyalan. After successfully defusing explosives in one house, the team moved to a nearby compound where a booby trap was identified. Fully aware of the danger, Lt Pankaj took charge of clearing the device. During the operation the LTTE triggered an improvised explosive device, causing a massive blast. Grievously injured, he held on for two days before succumbing to his wounds on August 14, 1987, at the age of 24. For his exemplary courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Sena Medal.