“If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear, I will kill death”

Captain Manoj Kummar Pandey Param Veer Chakra Kargil War, 1999.
During his SSB interview for the National Defence Academy, the Interviewing Officer asked him, "Why do you want to join the Army”? And he replied, "Sir, I want to win the Param Vir Chakra". And he made his words come true during the Kargil War.
For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest medal for gallantry, posthumously.
His last words were, "Na Chodnu" (Don't Leave them).
His successful capture of Jubar Post led to the victory of his battalion at Khalubar Post.
Often, we acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding performance of political and public leaders and forget the supreme service of our brave soldiers. No doubt, every service to the nation contributes its best, but some services provide safeguarding, safety and security to other services for the progress of the nation and that is the army. The contribution and sacrifices made by the soldiers towards safeguarding the nation's borders, maintaining peace and security within the country, and ensuring the safety of its citizens are often overlooked or underappreciated. The soldiers of the Indian Army work tirelessly in some of the harshest and most challenging conditions, often far away from their families and loved ones. They put their lives on the line every day to protect the country's sovereignty and defend the citizens from any harm.
It is important to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our soldiers, who work relentlessly to ensure that the country remains safe and secure. Their contributions are often overshadowed by the achievements of politicians and public leaders, but we must not forget the sacrifices they make and the services they provide to the nation.
We should always remember the brave soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country and express our gratitude to those who continue to serve in the Indian Army. Our soldiers are the backbone of our nation's defence, and we should take pride in their contributions and honor their sacrifices. One among them is Captain Manoj Panday (Param Vir Chakra) who made a supreme sacrifice for the nation during the Kargil War of 1999. Let’s, acknowledge how a brave soldier fought for the nation’s integrity, sovereignty and dignity with blood and life.
How Captain Manoj Panday was a brave Indian Army officer, who made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil War of 1999. Born in 1975 in the small village Sitapur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The hardships he made for his education are a lesson for our younger generation. From poor student to brave army officer is an inspirational one for every one of us. His father was a small businessman who couldn’t effort his education. Since Manoj Panday opts for scholarships most of the time. He self-financed his complete education through scholarships. Despite being seriously ill he got unexpected marks in his 10th examination and was appreciated by everyone. He got selected to join Sainik School Lucknow and was a topper in academics and took a keen interest in boxing, bodybuilding, and hockey. He has been adjudged the best cadet in NCC and was awarded by the Governor of UP.
Sainik School inspired Manoj Panday and he realize the Indian army was the only institution where he can serve the best. He got commissioned into the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, a regiment known for its bravery and courage in battle. He was posted in Siachen when his battalion got the order to move to Batalik Sector.
His commanding officer Col. Lalit Rai gave him the responsibility to re-capture Khalubar's post. Two patrol parties of 16 Grenadiers and 3 Punjab had gone but 16 days later there was no news of them. They all got killed due to the enemy's mortar and heavy machine gun fire. The enemy sat in a very advantageous position.
Captain Manoj Pandey joined the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in 1997 and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army. During the Kargil War, Captain Pandey was a part of the Ghatak Platoon, which was tasked with capturing Khalubar Hills in the Batalik sector. On 3rd July 1999, Captain Pandey's platoon was attacked by Pakistani forces. Despite being outnumbered, Captain Pandey led his men from the front and successfully cleared the enemy position. He was then tasked with capturing another enemy position, which he accomplished with exceptional bravery and leadership.
During the Kargil war, Captain Pandey’s unit was tasked with capturing a strategic point on the Tiger Hill complex in Dras sector, which was heavily defended by the Pakistani Army. Captain Pandey with a lion’s heart moves ahead despite being outnumbered and outgunned. He led the attack, moving ahead of his troops and engaging the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. Despite being hit by enemy fire, he continued to press forward, inspiring his men to follow him. During the fierce battle, Captain Pandey was hit by a burst of machine gun fire and succumbed to his injuries. His valiant efforts and supreme sacrifice ensured that his troops were able to capture the strategic position and turn the tide of the battle in India's favor. For his exceptional bravery and leadership, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honor, on August 15, 1999. He remains an inspiration to generations of Indian soldiers and civilians alike, who hold him in high regard for his bravery, courage, and devotion to his country.
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was a brave officer in the Indian Army who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Captain Pandey's legacy as a true hero and a symbol of courage and sacrifice live on, and he will always be remembered as one of the finest examples of the Indian Army's tradition of bravery and valor. His sacrifice serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the armed forces in the defense of their nation.
His body was brought to Lucknow on 7 July 1999. Thousands and thousands of people walked along his funeral procession. People came out on the street, showered flowers and shouted slogans like "Jab tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Pandey tera naam rahega". People shut down their shops, and businesses came out of their houses and offered water to others who were walking in his procession and by the time the procession reached the cremation ground, more than a lakh people had gathered to salute this brave heart.

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