Narindra Nath Khanna, MVC

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Narindra Nath Khanna was born on 20 May 1928 at Larkana, in present-day Pakistan, the son of Shri M. L. Khanna. He received his early education at Shivaji School in Pune, and his family later settled in New Delhi. He went on to join the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla and was commissioned into the Sikh Regiment on 12 September 1948 at the age of nineteen, joining an infantry regiment renowned for its valour and battle honours. By 1965, Lt Col Khanna had completed some seventeen years of service across a variety of demanding operational areas. He rose to command 2 Sikh and played a key role in the Uri sector during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. As part of the operational plan to link up in the Uri-Poonch bulge, his battalion was tasked to attack the heavily mined and strongly held Raja picquet across the cease-fire line. The approach was extremely difficult, with a steep gradient over the final 200 metres. Assessing the ground, Khanna devised an aggressive three-company plan and launched the assault at 0400 hours on 6 September 1965. The troops came under devastating automatic and fixed-line fire the moment they crossed the start line, and two assaulting companies were pushed back and pinned down. Though wounded in the shoulder by grenade splinters, Khanna moved up among his men, encouraging them with words of courage, and personally led a fresh assault, grenades in hand. During this attack a Browning burst struck him in the stomach, seriously wounding him, but his inspired troops pressed on and captured the objective. He later succumbed to his injuries. For his outstanding courage, determination and inspiring leadership, Lt Col Khanna was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.