Yeshwanth Durgappa Kolkar, SM

Biography

Naik Yeshwanth Durgappa Kolkar was born on 8 December 1965 in Melkalamardi village, Belagavi district of Karnataka, the son of Durgappa and Nagavva. Raised in a humble, disciplined household, he showed a strong sense of responsibility from a young age. After completing his schooling at Vidya Mandir High School, he chose to serve the nation and, at the age of 18, was recruited into the Indian Army at the Nasik recruitment centre. He was inducted into the Regiment of Artillery on 30 July 1983, where, as a gunner, he trained rigorously and developed into a skilled and dependable soldier. Over nearly 15 years of service across various operational areas, his professionalism and steadfast resolve earned him the respect of peers and superiors alike. When the Kargil War broke out in 1999, his unit was mobilised from a peace station in Uttarakhand for operational deployment to Jammu and Kashmir. On 3 July 1999, his unit formed a vital part of the massive artillery fire plan for the assault on Tiger Hill, code-named the 'Final Blow'. During the intense enemy counter-bombardment, Naik Kolkar sustained severe injuries while performing his duties and succumbed to them, making the supreme sacrifice. For his bravery and selfless service, he was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal.