Amit Bhardwaj

Biography

Captain Amit Bhardwaj was born on 4 March 1972 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to Shri O P Sharma and Smt Sushila Sharma. From his earliest years he showed a deep sense of compassion and social responsibility, voluntarily setting aside part of his pocket money to help the poor. He completed his schooling at St Xavier's Boys School in Jaipur, earning recognition for both academics and conduct, and was a talented sportsman who excelled in table tennis and football. After completing his higher education from the University of Rajasthan, he joined the Indian Army in 1997 and was commissioned into the 4 Jat Battalion of The Jat Regiment. His first operational posting was at Pithoragarh along the Indo-Nepal border, after which he was deployed to the Kaksar area of Kargil, a strategically vital but extremely harsh sector. In May 1999, Pakistani intruders were detected along the Line of Control and on 15 May 1999, a reconnaissance patrol led by Captain Saurabh Kalia came under heavy fire at Bajrang Post and was captured. On 17 May 1999, Captain Bhardwaj was tasked to lead a thirty-soldier reinforcement mission to locate the missing patrol and engage the intruders. Assessing the strength of the enemy occupying the dominating heights, he ordered a tactical withdrawal to bring up reinforcements and volunteered to stay back to provide covering fire. Assisted by Havaldar Rajvir Singh Sheoran, he engaged the intruders with extraordinary courage, neutralising more than ten enemy soldiers and ensuring that all thirty men of his team withdrew safely. In the prolonged engagement, both soldiers sustained grievous injuries and continued to fight until they succumbed to their wounds. His mortal remains were recovered on 13 July 1999, fifty-seven days after the action, with his weapon still firmly clutched in his hand, a testament to his undying resolve. Captain Amit Bhardwaj laid down his life at the age of twenty-seven in the highest traditions of the Indian Army during Operation Vijay.