Dinesh Singh Shekhawat, SM

Biography

Born in Shillong on November 2, 1972, to IAF veteran Shri Maan Singh Shekhawat and Smt Vimla Kanwar, Dinesh Singh Shekhawat grew up at various locations due to his father's postings. He attended Kendriya Vidyalayas and was an accomplished sportsman. After schooling in Jodhpur, he completed a BSc in Electronics and joined the NCC air wing, participating in the Republic Day parade. He cleared the Combined Defence Services examination and was commissioned into the 57 Engineers Regiment via OTA Chennai. The Corps of Engineers provides combat mobility through bridge and helipad construction while denying enemy movement. He participated in Operation Parakram and Operation Rakshak in Kashmir, gaining expertise in professional skills. Married to Ms Anshu in 2000, he had a daughter Shubhi. After serving in Ranchi and Srinagar, he was posted to 19 Rashtriya Rifles in J&K for counter-insurgency operations in 2001. On March 24, 2003, during a search and cordon operation in Lone Mohalla, Kupwara, his unit encountered significantly more militants than intelligence reports indicated. When terrorists opened fire to break the cordon, he rallied and motivated his troops to retaliate. He received a shoulder bullet wound but continued firing, eliminating the terrorist leader. Subsequently hit in the chest, he prioritized evacuating other soldiers before succumbing to blood loss at the age of 31. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Posthumous) for exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice.