R Subramanian, KC

Biography

Captain R Subramanian was born on 12 August 1976 in the Goregaon area of Mumbai. A brilliant student, he scored 94% and 96% in his Class 10 and Class 12 examinations and was a keen sportsman and a committed NCC cadet. Having resolved during his school days to become an Army officer, he was selected for the 90th course of the National Defence Academy, which he joined in July 1993. He graduated in 1996, completed his training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and was commissioned on 7 June 1997 into the Parachute Regiment, later joining 1 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces). He served in the Mushkoh Valley and Dras sector during the Kargil operations of 1999 and was later deployed for Operation Rakshak in Srinagar, being promoted to Captain in March 2000. On 18 June 2000, while leading his team on an operation in the Haphruda Forest of Kupwara district, his men were ambushed by militants. He commanded a fierce night-long firefight. The next morning, while clearing the area, hidden militants opened fire; Captain Subramanian charged them and gunned down all three despite grievous wounds to his neck and shoulders. Severely injured, he succumbed to his wounds. For his exceptional courage and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Kirti Chakra.