Ajit Bhandarkar, SC

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Ajit Bhandarkar was born on 31 December 1960 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Shri Udupi Vasudev Bhandarkar and Smt Shakuntala Bhandarkar. Raised alongside his two brothers, he was inspired towards a life of service by his eldest brother, Colonel Arun Bhandarkar, who served in the Indian Army. He received his early education in Bangalore before moving to Sainik School Bijapur, where rigorous training and discipline laid the foundation for his military aspirations. He was selected for the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, as part of the 59th Course, after which he completed his officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Commissioned into the 18 Madras Battalion of the Madras Regiment, Lt Col Ajit served across diverse terrains, with postings in Pune, Indore, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Later in his career he was deputed to the 25 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, deployed in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations under Romeo Force of the White Knight Corps, in a highly volatile and militant-infested area. On 30 October 1999, acting on intelligence about five hardcore militants in Faizalabad village, Surankote, Lt Col Ajit personally led a cordon and search operation. Spotting the militants fleeing towards a nallah, he pursued them without hesitation and shot one dead at point-blank range. As he advanced, another concealed militant opened indiscriminate fire, grievously wounding him. Refusing to relent, he lobbed a grenade, crawled forward, and gunned down a third terrorist, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. His daring action resulted in the elimination of three hardcore militants before he succumbed to his injuries. For his gallantry, bold leadership and supreme sacrifice, Lt Col Ajit Bhandarkar was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.