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{{Short description|Indian Army officer (1980–2007)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain]]
| name             = Harshan R
| honorific_suffix = [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]]
| image            = Capt Harshan R Nair.jpg
| image_size       = 200px
| birth_date       = {{birth-date|15 April 1980}}
| death_date       = {{death_date and age|2007|03|20|1980|04|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala]], India
| death_place      = [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| placeofburial    = 
| caption          = 
| nickname         = 
| birth_name       = Harshan Radhakrishnan Nair<ref>{{cite web |title=CAPT HARSHAN R |url=https://www.honourpoint.in/profile/captain-r-harshan-ac/ |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>
| allegiance       = India
| branch           = [[Indian Army]]
| serviceyears     = 2002-2007
| servicenumber    = IC-62541
| rank             = [[Captain (land)|Captain]]
| unit             = [[Para (Special Forces)|2 Para (SF)]]
| awards           = [[Ashoka Chakra Award|Ashoka Chakra]]
| laterwork        = 
}}
[[Captain]] '''Harshan Radhakrishnan Nair''',<ref>{{cite web |title=CAPT HARSHAN R Ashoka Chakra(Posthumous) |url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1100 |website=Gallantry Awards |publisher=Govt of India |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]] (15 April 1980 – 20 March 2007) was an officer in the [[Indian Army]] serving in the elite 'The Predators ' unit of 2nd Battalion ([[Para Commandos (India)|Special Forces]]). He was posthumously awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra Award|Ashoka Chakra]], the country's highest peacetime gallantry award in 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080622222435/http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/19/stories/2008061950630200.htm Sainik School alumni to honour Captain Harshan<!-- Bot generated title -->] The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News, 19 June 2008</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081118171035/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/19/stories/2008031950160200.htm Memorial to Captain Harshan to come up<!-- Bot generated title -->] The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News. 19 March 2008</ref><ref>[http://pragmatic.nationalinterest.in/2008/01/26/ashok-chakra-by-telegram/ Pragmatic Euphony » Ashok Chakra, by telegram?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He was killed after being shot in the thigh and neck in an encounter with Harkatul Mujahideen terrorists in the Chhoti Margi area of Lolab in Jammu and Kashmir during an operation on 20 March 2007.

==Personal life==
'''Harshan Radhakrishnan Nair''' was born on 15 April 1980 at [[Manacaud]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]]. He was born to K. Radhakrishnan Nair and G. S. Chitrambika. He did his studies in [[Sainik School, Kazhakootam|Sainik School (Kazhakootam)]] and the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] (NDA). He was a part of the 101st course, Golf squadron at the NDA. He served as Cadet Captain at Sainik School, during his standard XII (1996–97) and is noted for a performance as 'Brutus' during a stage play on 'Julius Caesar' during the Annual day celebrations.<ref>[http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3708 Martyrs kin to receive Ashok Chakra on Republic Day | India Defence<!-- Bot generated title -->] india-defence.com</ref>

==Military career==
Harshan was commissioned as a [[Lieutenant]] on 16 December 2002 into 2nd Battalion of [[Para (Special Forces)|Special Forces]]. He was also was selected for special weapons training in Israel.He was promoted [[Captain]] on 16 December 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=2588 |date=31 December 2005|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2005/W_53_2011_036.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

===Encounter===
The encounter at Kaingur Nar started on 7 March 2007. Captain Harshan, while leading a small team, observed suspicious movement in the MT-3245 area. Harshan eliminated two of the terrorists without sustaining any serious injury to himself.

The encounter continued in the nearby Chotimargi MT-3448 region. On 20 March, Harshan along with one of his junior sergeants cordoned off one of the houses in which terrorists were hiding.  At 03:50 AM, four of the terrorists rushed out firing towards Harshan and his companion. Harshan took out the leader of the terrorist group but was shot in the thigh. Despite sustaining the injury, he took out one more terrorist, but in the process got shot in his neck. Before dying from his injuries, he lobbed a grenade and wounded the third terrorist.<ref>[http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/heroes.htm Welcome to The Parachute Regiment<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608081808/http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/heroes.htm |date=2016-06-08 }} indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in</ref>

==Ashoka Chakra==
Harshan was given the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award [[Ashoka Chakra]] for his exceptional courage, fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. He became the youngest ever recipient of the Ashoka Chakra in the Indian military history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Captain Radhakrishnan Nair, Youngest Ever Recipient Of Ashok Chakra In The History Of Indian Army |url=https://www.ssbcrack.com/2016/03/meet-captain-radhakrishnan-nair-youngest-ever-recipient-ashok-chakra-history-indian-army.html |access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160608081808/http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/heroes.htm Heroes of Parachute Regiment]

{{Ashoka Chakra award recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harshan, R}}
[[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kerala]]
[[Category:Para Commandos]]
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Ashoka Chakra]]