STORY OF BRAVEHEART

Captain was born on 25 June 1975 in Rudha village, in the Sitapur district of . He was born to Gopi Chand Pandey, a small-time businessman living in , 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 NCC of Uttar Pradesh directorate in 1990. As he was from a very middle class family he never excused about his life . In a very short span of his life he achieved and proved many things. He proved age is just a number.

Rise of legend After clearing NDA(NATIONAL Defence ACADEMY entrance exam he was selected for SSB interview. Prior to his selection, during his (SSB) interview, the interviewer asked him, "Why do you want to join the Army?" He immediately replied, "I want to win the Param ."

He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 90th course and belonged to Mike Squadron (Mustangs). Pandey was commissioned a lieutenant in the 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles on 7 June 1997.

"HIS CONTRIBUTION "

In June 1997, Manoj Kumar Pandey was commissioned into the 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles. After the intrusion was reported in the , the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles battalion which completed one and a half year tenure in and was on-the-move to its peace-time location in , was asked to move back to the sector in Kargil. The unit was commanded by who was assigned the responsibility of Jubar, Kukarthaam and Khalubar areas. Manoj Kumar Pandey was a part of the series of actions which led to the capture of Jubar Top. In July, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles' 'B' company was tasked to capture another area-- Khalubar Top. Manoj Kumar Pandey was assigned to command a Platoon to this area. He led his platoon through a narrow and treacherous ridge to the army position. As the platoon was advancing towards the objective, the enemy fired heavily on the . Amid this, Manoj Kumar surged ahead of his troops and charged at the enemy with a full-throated battle cry through a hail of bullets. In this action, he killed four enemy personnel and destroyed two enemy positions. By now, Manoj Kumar was badly wounded in the shoulder and leg. He still showed courage and destroyed the fourth enemy position. He got a fatal burst on his forehead and collapsed at the final bunker. And one more son of mother got supreme sacrifice and one a raise of one more example for youngbloods. Manoj Kumar Pandey: On 15th August 1999, on the occasion of 52nd Independence Day, the then approved the Param Vir Chakra to Manoj Kumar Pandey. On January 26, 2000, during the Republic Day Parade, Manoj Kumar Pandey's father received the Param Vir Chakra from the then President of India. And the reply during the SSB interview given by him was proved, he won the highest gallantry award THE PARAMVIR VIR CHAKRA . And added the PVC CPT. MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY before his name .

" HE KEPT HIS WORDS "

"He came but wrapped in the Tricolour"

"He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in a figure of a lamb the feats of a lion." ~william Shakespeare

JAY HIND

By Cadet, Kartik singh 1 MAH ARMD SQN MITHIBAI COLLEGE