Man Bahadur Pun, VrC

Biography

Rifleman Man Bahadur Pun hailed from Nepal and was born on 12 November 1944. After completing his initial school education, he joined the Army at the age of 17. He was recruited into the 5th Battalion of the 1 Gorkha Rifles, an infantry regiment renowned for its valiant soldiers and numerous battle exploits. During November 1971, Man Bahadur Pun's unit, 5/1 GR, was deployed in the eastern sector. Although the war with Pakistan formally began on 3 December 1971 when the Pakistan Air Force struck Indian air bases, border skirmishes had been underway well before that, and his unit was involved in one such operation on the night of 29/30 November. As war became imminent, various units had been moved to operational locations. On 30 November 1971, 5/1 GR came under enemy attack, and the battalion was ordered to capture a well-fortified, strongly held enemy post in the sector. Man Bahadur Pun was serving as the commander of a rocket launcher team in the company that bore the brunt of the fighting. During the assault, Rifleman Man Bahadur Pun's company, positioned on the left flank, came under intense small arms, artillery and mortar fire that held up the advance. With utter disregard for his safety, he crawled up to one of the enemy bunkers and silenced it with his rocket launcher. He received a burst in his leg, but unmindful of his injuries, he crawled to another position and fired a second time to silence another post. In doing so he was struck again and gravely wounded, and he soon succumbed to his injuries at the age of 27. For his cold courage, fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice, Rifleman Man Bahadur Pun was awarded the Vir Chakra on 15 August 1972.