Anuj Nayyar
Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC (August 28, 1975 – July 7, 1999) was an Indian Army officer of 17 Jat who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for exemplary valour in combat during operations in the Kargil War in 1999.[1]
Anuj Nayyar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 28, 1975 Delhi, India |
| Died | July 7, 1999 (aged 23) Pimple Complex, Kargil, Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1997–1999 |
| Rank |  |
| Unit |  |
| Battles/wars | Kargil War Operation Vijay |
| Awards |  |
Early years and career
Anuj Nayyar was born and grew up in Delhi, India. His father, S.K. Nayyar, worked as a visiting professor in Delhi School of Economics while his mother, Meena Nayyar, worked for the South Campus library of Delhi University.[2]
Nayyar received his high-school education from Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan (1993 batch). He was a bright student who consistently performed well in academics and sports. He graduated from the National Defence Academy (90th course, Echo Squadron) and later was commissioned into the 17th battalion, Jat Regiment (17 Jat) in June 1997 from the Indian Military Academy (100 Reg).
Kargil conflict
Background
In 1999, the Indian Army detected a massive infiltration by Pakistani military and paramilitary forces in the Kargil region of Jammu Kashmir. The army quickly mobilized its forces to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators from Indian territory. 17 Jat was one of the battalions deployed in the region. Nayyar's first major operation involved securing Pimple II, a peak within the Pimple Complex, on the western slopes of Point 4875, a strategic peak in the Mushkoh Valley.
Due to its strategic location, securing Point 4875 was a top priority for the Indian Army. The peak, which stood at 15,990 feet above sea level, had extremely steep slopes and capturing the peak without aerial support was considered near impossible. In a last-ditch attempt, C Coy, 17 Jat, of which Nayyar was the second-in-command, decided to secure the peak without waiting for any aerial support on 6 July.
Operation
During the initial phase of C Coy's assault on Pimple II, Nayyar's company commander was injured, and command devolved upon him. As the unit advanced under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, the lead section reported the location of 3-4 enemy bunkers. Nayyar moved forward and destroyed the first bunker with a rocket launcher and grenades. Still under heavy fire, he then proceeded with the lead section, which consisted of 7 personnel, and destroyed two more bunkers.[3] During the battle, Nayyar killed 9 Pakistani soldiers and destroyed three medium machine gun bunkers.[4] The company then began its assault on the last remaining bunker, but while clearing it, an enemy RPG directly hit Nayyar, killing him instantly.[5][6]
During the entire battle for Pimple Complex, 46 regular members of the Pakistan Army, an unknown number of Pakistani paramilitary troopers and militants, and 11 Indian Army troops, including Capt. Nayyar, were killed.[7] The securing of Pimple Complex paved the way for the recapture of Tiger Hill which finally forced Pakistan to retreat back across the Line of Control.
Recognition and legacy
Nayyar was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery and leadership in combat.
Nayyar's father, S.K. Nayyar, was allotted a gas station in Delhi by the Government of India in recognition of the services of his son. Tejbir Singh, a fellow soldier of the Jat Regiment, named his son Anuj in honour of Nayyar.[8]
A road in Janakpuri area of Delhi, was named as "Captain Anuj Nayyar Marg."
Maha Vir Chakra citation
Gazette Notification: 17 Pres/2000,15.8.99 Operation: Vijay – Kargil Date of Award: 1999 Citation: On 06 July 1999, Charlie Company was tasked to capture an objective, which was a part of the Pimple Complex on the Western Slopes of Point 4875, in the Mushkoh Valley. At the beginning of the attack the Company Commander got injured and the command of the company devolved on Captain Anuj Nayyar. Captain Nayyar continued to command his leading platoon into the attack under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. As the platoon advanced, the leading section reported location of 3 to 4 enemy positions. Captain Nayyar moved forward towards the first enemy position and fired rocket launcher and lobbed grenades into it.
Thereafter, the section, along with Captain Nayyar, physically assaulted and cleared the position. The enemy, which was well entrenched, brought a heavy volume of automatic fire. Captain Anuj Nayyar, unmindful of his personal safety, motivated his men and cleared two more enemy positions. While clearing the fourth position an enemy rocket propelled grenade hit the officer killing him on the spot. This action led by Captain Anuj Nayyar resulted in killing nine enemy soldiers and destruction of three medium machine gun positions of the enemy. The success of this operation after a brief setback was largely due to the outstanding personal bravery and exemplary junior leadership of this daring officer. Captain Anuj Nayyar displayed indomitable resolve, grit and determination and motivated his command by personal example acting beyond the call of duty and made the supreme sacrifice in true traditions of the Indian Army.
In Media
Following Nayyar's death, his heroics during the war were widely covered by Delhi's print media with editorials like Times of India and Hindustan Times running full-page descriptions of his Kargil mission. The plight and ill-treatment of his parents by Indian government officials after his death became the subject of several short telefilms and was widely reported in the Indian news media.[9] Several books and Indian films were made to depict Anuj's life and glorify his contribution to the Indian Army.
- In 2003 the Hindi film LOC Kargil, directed by J.P. Dutta, which depicted the endeavours of the Indian Army during the Kargil War, was released in which Saif Ali Khan played the role of Anuj Nayyar.
- In 2003, the Hindi film Dhoop directed by national award winner Ashwini Chaudhary, was released which depicted the life of Anuj's parents after his death. Om Puri played the role of S.K. Nayyar, Anuj's father.
References
- "#KargilHeroes: Anuj Nayyar, The Braveheart For Whom Nation Always Came First". The Better India. 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- "Captain Anuj Nayyar MVC | Honourpoint". Retrieved 2020-06-23.
- The soldier who became a legend
- Captain Anuj Nayyar – Bharat-Rakshak Archived May 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- 'Did he die fighting?'
- Leading From The Front
- Fighting gets bloodier in Drass, Batalik
- Connecting to Kargil with Express-Iridium Archived February 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- No dhoop for Kargil martyr's kin-Delhi Times-Cities-The Times of India