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{{Short description|Indian Army officer and recipient of Param Vir Chakra}}
{{for multi|the politician|Manoj Kumar Pandey (politician)|the actor|Manoj Pandey (actor)|the General|Manoj Pande (lieutenant general)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| name = Manoj Kumar Pandey
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]
| image = Manoj Kumar Pandey PVC.jpg
| image_size = 250 px
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1975|6|25}}
| birth_place = [[Sitapur]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| death_date = {{KIA}}{{death date and age|df=yes|1999|07|03|1975|06|25}}
| death_place = Bunker Ridge, [[Khalubar]], [[Batalik]] Sector, [[Kargil district|Kargil]], [[Ladakh]], [[India]]
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| residence =
| branch = [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1997–1999
| rank = [[File:captain of the Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Captain]]
| servicenumber = IC-56959W<ref name="commission"/>
| other_names =
| awards = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|32px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]
| unit = [[11 Gorkha Rifles|1/11 Gorkha Rifles]]
| battles = '''[[Kargil War]]''' Operation Vijay Battle of Kukarthan Battle of Khalubar
| education =
| allegiance = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| employer =
| home_town =
| title =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature = [[File:Manoj Kumar Pandey signature.jpg|150px]]
}}
[[Captain]] '''Manoj Kumar Pandey''', [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]] (25 June 1975 – 3 July 1999) was an officer of the [[Indian Army]] who was posthumously awarded India's highest military honour, the [[Param Vir Chakra]], for his audacious courage and leadership during the [[Kargil War]] in 1999. An officer of the 1st battalion, [[11 Gorkha Rifles]] (1/11 GR), he sacrificed his life for the nation in battle on Jubar Top of the Khalubar Hills in [[Batalik|Batalik Sector]] of [[Kargil]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cardozo |first1=Ian |title=Manoj Pandey: a braveheart of operation Vijay who forced enemy forces to retreat at Batalik sector and captured Jubar top during the Kargil War in 1999 |last2=Kumar |first2=Rishi |publisher=The Lotus Collection, an imprint of Roli Books Private Limited |year=2013 |isbn=978-81-7436-900-0 |location=New Delhi |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Pawan Kumar |title=Hero of Batalik: Param Veer Chakra : Capt. Manoj Kr. Pandey |publisher=VL Media Solutions |year=2015 |isbn=978-93-85068-26-3 |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Manoj was born on 25 June 1975 in Rudha village, in the [[Sitapur district]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He was born to Gopi Chand Pandey, a small-town businessman living in [[Lucknow]], and Mohini. He was eldest in his family. He was educated at [[Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow]] and [[Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School]]. He had a keen interest in sports with boxing and body building in particular. He was adjudged the best cadet of junior division [[National Cadet Corps (India)|NCC]] of Uttar Pradesh directorate in 1990.<ref>{{Cite book|title=National Cadet Corp, Youth in Action|publisher=Directorate General National Cadet Corps|year=2003|isbn=8170622980|location=New Delhi}}</ref>

Prior to his selection, during his Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, the interviewer asked him, "Why do you want to join the Army?" He immediately replied, "I want to win the Param Vir Chakra." Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey did win the country's highest gallantry honour but posthumously.<ref name="Rediff">{{cite web |title=rediff.com: The Republic Special, Tribute to Param Vir Chakra winner Captain Manoj Pandey |url=https://m.rediff.com/republic/2000/jan/25param.htm |website=m.rediff.com}}</ref>

==Military career==
{{Quote box|width=300px|bgcolor=#E0E6F8|align=right|quote="Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail!"|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Salute to our asli heroes |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/salute-to-our-asli-heroes/story-imsqPdmzDhkChrnCQ2Qu9O.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=15 August 2012}}</ref>|title=Entry in Pandey's personal diary|title_fnt = Arial |tstyle = font size="25";}}

He graduated from the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]] in 90th course and belonged to Mike Squadron (Mustangs).<ref>mike squadron (Mustangs)</ref> Pandey was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 1st battalion, [[11 Gorkha Rifles]] on 7 June 1997.<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1110 |date=1 August 1998|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1998/O-0155-1998-0031-5129.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref name="TOI">{{cite web |last1=May 31 |first1=TNN |title='He died the most glorious death' {{!}} Pune News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/He-died-the-most-glorious-death/articleshow/709608.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

===Kargil War===
In early May, the intrusion in the Kargil sector was reported.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Opinions |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110726/edit.htm#6 |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> The 1/11 Gorkha Rifles battalion had finished a one-and-a-half year tenure in the [[Siachen Glacier]] and was on-the-move to its peace-time location in [[Pune]]. The battalion was asked to move to the Batalik sector in Kargil. It was among the first units to be inducted into this sector. The unit, commanded by [[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] [[Lalit Rai]], was assigned responsibility of the Jubar, Kukarthaam and Khalubar areas and their battalion headquarters was in Yeldor.<ref name="HT">{{cite web |title=20 years after Kargil: The Gorkha Rifles' Pune-to-Kargil about turn, a move for the nation |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/the-gorkha-rifles-pune-to-kargil-about-turn-a-move-for-the-nation/story-2ZGRoOLOwUXzxoTOBakOKJ.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=26 July 2019}}</ref>

Pandey, as part of the battalion, was involved in a series of boldly led attacks. He also took part in a series of actions which led to the capture of Jubar Top.<ref name=PVC>{{citation|url=http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=NCvnix4zLfQhf90l3OuEBw%3d%3d&ParentID=1tHir3NYQjroCJ9AgypEwg%3d%3d|access-date=28 August 2014|title=The Param Vir Chakra Winners (PVC) |publisher=Official Website of the Indian Army}} "Profile" and "Citation" tabs.</ref>

===Param Vir Chakra action===
{{Quote box|width=300px|bgcolor=#E0E6F8|align=left|quote="If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear, I will kill death!"|source=|title=Entry in Pandey's personal diary|title_fnt = Arial |tstyle = font size="25";}}

In early July, 'B' Company of 1/11 GR was assigned the task to capture Khalubar top. Pandey was commanding a [[Platoon]] in this [[Company (military unit)|company]].<ref name="Honourpoint">{{cite web |title=Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey PVC {{!}} Honourpoint |date=3 July 1999 |url=https://www.honourpoint.in/profile/captain-manoj-kumar-pandey-pvc/}}</ref> Quickly sizing up the situation, he killed two enemy personnel and destroyed the second position by killing two more.

Although wounded in the shoulder and leg, he pressed on his solitary charge with serious determination, until he closed in on the first bunker. The two armies engaged in a ferocious, hand-to-hand combat. The troops charged at the enemy and fell upon them. Undaunted
and without caring for his grievous injuries, he continued to lead the assault on the fourth position urging his men and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal burst on his forehead. He collapsed at the final bunker and succumbed to his injuries.{{sfn|Bellamy|2011}}<ref name=PVC/>

===Citation===
The [[Param Vir Chakra]] citation reads as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/manoj-kumar-pandey |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Awardee: Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey , PVC @ TWDI |url=http://twdi.in/node/1067 |website=twdi.in}}</ref>
{{Quotation|{{center|'''CITATION''' 
'''LIEUTENANT MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY''' 
'''1/11 GORKHA RIFLES'''}}
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, a young officer of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, took part in a series of boldly led attacks during Operation Vijay, forcing back the intruders with heavy losses in Batalik, including the capture of Jubar Top.

His finest hour was during the advance to Khalubar, when he was Number 5 Platoon Commander. On the night of 2/3 July 1999, as the platoon approached its final objective, it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. The officer was tasked to clear the interfering enemy positions, so as to prevent his battalion from getting daylighted, being in a vulnerable position. The officer quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire and sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right, while he himself proceeded to clear four other enemy positions on the left. Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel and proceeded to assault the second and destroyed it by killing two more enemy personnel. Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey was injured on the shoulder and legs by enemy fire while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injury, he led the assault on the fourth position urging his men and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal Medium Machine Gun burst on his forehead. It is this singular daredevil act of the officer, which provided the critical firm base for the companies, which finally led to capture of Khalubar.

Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, thus showed most conspicuous bravery, indomitable courage, exemplary personal valour, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty of an exceptionally high order, in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army.|sign=|source=}}

===Gallantry award ceremony===
On the occasion of [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]] 1999, a month after the war ended, the [[President of India]] approved the award of the Param Vir Chakra to Pandey and three others - Captain [[Vikram Batra]], Rifleman [[Sanjay Kumar (soldier)|Sanjay Kumar]] and Grenadier [[Yogendra Singh Yadav]].<ref>{{cite web |title=INDEPENDENCE DAY GALLANTRY AWARDS FOR OPERATION VIJAY |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1999-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1999-08-14_057.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=14 August 1999}}</ref> His father, Gopichand Pandey, received the award from the President of India [[K. R. Narayanan]] during the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day Parade]] in [[New Delhi]] on 26 January 2000.{{sfn|Bellamy|2011}}

==Honours and legacy==
[[File:Lieutenant M K Pandey statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|250px|thumb|Pandey's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], New Delhi]]
Pandey is one of the 21 individuals who have been decorated with India's highest military honour. As a PVC awardee, his statue is at the ''Param Yodha Sthal'' at the [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]].
After his death, multiple places have been named after him including his [[almae matres]].

'''* Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School'''

* They constructed an auditorium in his name, which was inaugurated by his parents.<ref>{{cite web |title=RLB CHINHAT |url=http://rlbcn.org/pride/ |website=rlbcn.org}}</ref>

'''UP Sainik School'''

*Pandey's alma mater, the Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow was renamed after its most illustrious alumnus. It is now called ''CAPTAIN MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY U.P. SAINIK SCHOOL, LUCKNOW''.<ref>{{cite web |title=CAPTAIN MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY U.P. SAINIK SCHOOL, LUCKNOW – We Prepare Best Army Men |url=https://www.upsainikschool.org/}}</ref>
* An auditorium in the school was named after him. Its foundation stone was laid by [[General VK Singh]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.upsainikschool.org/index.php/infrastructure-facilities/|title=Infrastructure & Facilities {{!}} U.P. SAINIK SCHOOL|website=www.upsainikschool.org|access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref>
* The school conducts an inter-school football tournament annually - 'Late Capt. Manoj Kr. Pandey PVC Football Tournament Trophy'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.upsainikschool.org/index.php/trophies/|title=Trophies {{!}} U.P. SAINIK SCHOOL|website=www.upsainikschool.org|access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref>
* The main gate was named after him.

'''National Defence Academy'''
* The [[National Defence Academy]] named the science block as the "Manoj Pandey Block".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-other-tourist-places.html |title=National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | Places of Interest in and around NDA, Khadakvasala |publisher=Nda.nic.in |access-date=2011-10-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929182600/http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-other-tourist-places.html |archive-date=29 September 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* His portrait hangs at the Mike squadron of the academy.<ref name="TOI" />

'''Services Selection Board, Allahabad'''
*A hall is made in the name of Capt. Manoj at Services Selection Board Allahabad named as Manoj Pandey Block.

'''Roads and buildings'''
* The Army Welfare Housing Organisation ([[AWHO]]) designed and constructed an apartment complex for veterans in [[Ghaziabad district, India|Ghaziabad district]], Uttar Pradesh, and named it for Pandey as "Manoj Vihar".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cardozo |first1=Ian |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/manoj-pandey-a-braveheart-of-operation-vijay-who-forced-enemy-forces-to-retreat-at-batalik-sector-and-captured-jubar-top-during-the-kargil-war-in-1999/oclc/903247695 |title=Manoj Pandey: a braveheart of operation Vijay who forced enemy forces to retreat at Batalik sector and captured Jubar top during the Kargil War in 1999 |last2=Kumar |first2=Rishi |publisher=The Lotus Collection |year=2013 |isbn=978-81-7436-900-0 |location=New Delhi, India |language=English |oclc=903247695}}</ref>
* The army quarters near the Cardio Thoracic Center (CTC) hospital in Pune is named after Martyr Capt Manoj Pandey as "Capt. Manoj Pandey Enclave"
* A roundabout is also named after Martyr Capt.Manoj Pandey as "Captain Manoj Pandey Chowk" in his home district [[Sitapur]], Uttar Pradesh and center of Gomti Nagar, [[Lucknow]], Uttar Pradesh, India.
* A gallery in the [[Dras War Memorial|Kargil War Museum]] at [[Dras]] is named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-drass-memorial-invoking-memories-of-kargil-war/20110727.htm#4|title = Drass memorial: Invoking memories of Kargil war}}</ref>
* Gen MM Naravane dedicated a memorial to Capt Manoj Pandey, at his native village Rura on 19 March 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1372869212180340743|title=COAS Gen MM Naravane pays tribute to Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey}}</ref>
Officers Training Academy
Cadets mess is named as Capt Manoj Pandey mess

==In popular culture==
He was portrayed by [[Ajay Devgn]] in the film ''[[LOC: Kargil]]''.<ref>{{Citation|title=LOC: Kargil|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347416/|access-date=2020-05-23}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{citation|first1=Chris|last1=Bellamy|title=The Gurkhas: Special Force|year=2011|isbn=978-1848543423|publisher=Hodder And Stoughton}}
*{{citation |last1=Pandey |first1=Vaibhav |last2=Pandey |first2=Surendra Kumar |last3=Tiwari |first3=Praveen Kumar |last4=Shakya |first4=Pragati |last5=Jha |first5=Shashank Shekhar |last6=Mishra |first6=Ramkrishna |last7=Mishra |first7=Pawan kumar |last8=Pandey |first8=Govind |last9=Malviya |first9=Kapil |date=2021-09-14 |title=Prevalence of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) In And Around Varanasi Region: Some Observations |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-814722/v1 |access-date=2022-03-08 |website=dx.doi.org|doi=10.21203/rs.3.rs-814722/v1 |s2cid=239150796 }}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060425204119/http://www.indianarmy.nic.in/PVC/photo_3.htm Indian Army Webpage]
* Manoj Pandey Chowk is at coordinates {{Coord|26|51|14|N|80|59|40|E|type:landmark}}

{{Param Vir Chakra recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandey, Manoj Kumar}}
[[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Lucknow]]
[[Category:Kargil War]]
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Sainik School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Sitapur]]
[[Category:People of the Kargil War]]
[[Category:National Defence Academy (India) alumni]]

Manoj Kumar Pandey - Revision history

Bot at 12:28, 22 November 2022