Ravi Vaish

Biography

Major Ravi Vaish hailed from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and was born on 31 December 1978. The eldest of three siblings, he completed his schooling at Jubilee Inter College and graduated in commerce from Lucknow University. He cleared the Combined Defence Services Examination in 1999 and joined the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. On completion of his training he was commissioned as an infantry officer into the 5 Gorkha Rifles, a regiment renowned for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. After serving for a few years with his unit in Arunachal Pradesh and Lucknow, Major Ravi was deputed to serve with 1 Assam Rifles, deployed in the North East for counter-insurgency operations. Popular among his friends and relatives for his affable nature and genuine concern for others, he had within a few years of service evolved into a committed soldier and a fine officer who commanded the respect of his juniors and peers alike. During 2007, his unit 1 Assam Rifles was deployed in the Ukhrul district of Manipur, conducting operations against militants engaged in anti-national activities. On 31 October 2007, Major Ravi was leading a convoy of 25 soldiers and a truckload of ammunition from the base camp at Sorde to an outpost at Kasong in the hilly, densely forested area of Phungyar. Taking advantage of the poor visibility and thick vegetation, a group of heavily armed militants launched a surprise attack on the convoy. Though caught off guard, Major Ravi and his troops swiftly retaliated, and a fierce gun battle ensued. During the heavy exchange of fire he, along with Havildar Gyaneshwar Prasad and Rifleman H Sahinti, was seriously injured and later succumbed. Leading from the front like a true leader, Major Ravi laid down his life in the service of the nation at the age of 28.