Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair
Republic of India | |
---|---|
Service/ | Indian Army |
Years of service | 1971–1993 |
Rank | Colonel |
Service number | IC-25070K |
Unit | 16 Maratha Light Infantry |
Battles/wars | Insurgency in Northeast India |
Awards | Ashoka Chakra Kirti Chakra |
Alma mater | National Defence Academy Sainik School Kazhakootam |
Technically Nair is the most decorated officer of the Indian Army, as the only serviceman to have been awarded both the highest (Ashoka Chakra) and second highest (Kirti Chakra) awards for gallantry.
Early life and education
He was born to R. Neelakantan Nair and P.Saraswathy Amma on 17 Feb 1951 at Ernakulam, then in
Military career
Nair was commissioned into 16 Maratha Light Infantry on 13 June 1971.[7] He was promoted lieutenant on 13 June 1973 and to captain on 13 June 1977.[8] His career in the Indian Army spanned over two decades, during which he had held varied command as well as staff appointments.[1][9] He served in the IMTRAT in Bhutan. He also served as an instructor at the Army Intelligence school in Pune.
In 1983, in Mizoram, Nair engaged the insurgents in Close-quarters combat for which he was awarded the Kirti Chakra in recognition of his exceptional gallantry. He was promoted substantive major on 13 June 1984,[10] and was promoted lieutenant-colonel (by selection) on 1 January 1992.[11]
In 1993, his unit, the 16th battalion the Maratha Light Infantry was deployed in Nagaland. In December 1993, he was leading an advance party convoy in Nagaland, when they were ambushed by about one hundred insurgents. The overwhelming fire from automatic weapons killed one junior commissioned officer and 13 jawans on the spot. Col Nair, who was seriously injured, did not lose his courage. mindful of his serious injury, he organised his jawans in an assault line and charged at the insurgents when they broke ranks and fled. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1994.[2][12]
Major decorations
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-81-87100-00-3.
- ^ a b Staff Reporter (18 February 2007). "Souvenir on war hero released". The Hindu. Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
- ^ Superhero Comic book on NC Nair http://www.indianexpress.com/news/remembering-super-men/499540/0
- ^ "As a reminder of his courage. Col N.J Nair". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ^ National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | NDA Martyrs Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 September 1972. p. 1272.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 September 1973. p. 1078.
- ^ "Insurgency will be dealt with an iron fist, says Army Chief". The Hindu. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 October 1984. p. 1767.
- ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 October 1993. p. 1818.
- ^ "Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.