Ashish Bhatnagar, SC

Biography

Major Ashish Bhatnagar was born on 15 August 1967 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Drawn to the armed forces from an early age, he was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy after completing his schooling and later trained at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the 6 Sikh Light Infantry. A gifted sportsman, he excelled in athletics, basketball, tennis, squash and badminton, and even achieved a remarkable "hole-in-one" in a golf tournament. He served as an instructor in the Commando Wing and was known for mastering the daredevil 80-foot jump into water. In 1997 his unit was deployed in the Pathankot region of Punjab. On 16 August 1997, during an operational mission near the India-Pakistan border in the sensitive Lasian Enclave of Gurdaspur, the boat carrying Major Ashish and nine comrades capsized in the swollen Ravi river. Using his superior commando skills, he dived into the raging current to save his men. He gave his own life jacket to a fellow officer and rescued him, then saved another drowning soldier along with his weapon. He continued the rescue until he himself was swept away by the strong undercurrents. For his conspicuous bravery and supreme sacrifice he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.