CAPT RN GUPTA, VIR CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUS)
By
Brig Mohinder Nath Mahajan, Veteran
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| RN VrC |
Capt
Ravender Nath Gupta was born in Varanasi on 20 Dec 1945. He did
Senior Cambridge from Oak Groves School Mussoorie in 1960,
where his mother was
the Principal. He did his Inter Science from Ewing Christian College Allahabad in
1962 and soon thereafter joined 28th NDA Course, Fox Squadron at National
Defence Academy Khadakvasla in July 1962, where I had also joined a few days
earlier. His Father (Late) Shri JW Gupta was an Officer with Indian Railways.
He had two younger brothers, Virender who joined Indian Navy (through NDA) is
settled in USA and the youngest joined IMA
(Indian Military Academy Dehradun) but
unfortunately died in a swimming accident.
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| http://twdi.in/node/2529 |
RN (as
he was affectionately called) was very good both in Academicsand Sports, had a
dashing personality and used to stand out among Cadets. It was only after our
stay together for about two years, we learnt that he was Christian as the name and
conduct gave no such indication. Also in those days, we never gave a thought to
caste or religion.
Capt
RN Gupta was commissioned into the Madras Sappers on 15 June 1966. During his
formative years, after the YOs (Young Officers) Course at CME
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| 27-C DEGREE AT CME PUNE |
(College Of Military Engineering) Pune, he served with 9 Engineer Regiment in NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) as a Platoon Commander (Second Lieutenant), did his Degree Engineering Course from CME and joined 9 Engineer Regiment again as Captain at Lucknow in January 1971. I was also commissioned into Madras Sappers and so we were together during the YOs and Degree Engineering Course. I joined 201 Engineer Regiment at Allahabad in Jan 1971 and both “The Nine” and “Two Not One” Engr Regts were part of the same Formation ie 416 Engineer Brigade located in Lucknow.
While 9 Engr Regt moved for operations from
Lucknow and was allotted to 54 Infantry Division, I as part of 201 Engr Regt
moved from Allahabad and continued to be part of 416 Engr Bde. I met RN last in
Oct 1971 in Meerut during Road Move from our respective locations to Punjab.
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During Indo- Pak War 1971, Capt RN Gupta was one
of the Sub-task Force Commanders for breaching of a minefield in the Basantar
Area, part of Western Sector. The success of operation depended upon the
completion of Vehicle Safe Lanes through enemy minefield so that an Armoured
Regiment could be inducted in the area before enemy launched a Counter attack.
The area was continuously under enemy Artillery and Mortar fire and information
regarding the depth of the enemy minefield was not available. Considering the
shortage of time, Cap RN Gupta volunteered to lead a small party on foot on a wide
outflanking move to ascertain the far edge of the minefield. With this move,
the party was able to get the final information within an hour. Subsequently,
when enemy attacked, Capt RN Gupta personally guided our Tanks through the
cleared minefield with complete disregard to his safety. Later while engaged in
maintenance of the Safe Lane, he was hit by an enemy artillery shell resulting
in his death on 17 Dec 1971.
In this action, Capt RN Gupta (IC 16871)
displayed courage, devotion to duty beyond words, gallantry, determination and leadership of a high order and was
awarded ‘Vir Chakra’ (Posthumous).
 |
LT GEN BT PANDIT AT
WAR MEMORIAL |
As per the then prevalent system, he was buried
at Christian Cemetery in Jammu with full military honours. Passing away of a
course-mate was sad for all of us but the consolation was that he died
defending the borders of our country.
I have had discussions with Lt Gen BT Pandit,
PVSM, Vr C (who retired as Adjutant General of Indian Army) the then CO of Capt
RN Gupta, who described RN as a dashing knowledgeable Sapper officer, a ‘Leader
of Men’ who was always willing to take on challenges.
Col Vivek Mundkur, our Course-mate and Madras Sapper was
posted in Jammu in 1988. He visited the Garrison Cemetery Jammu and found that
the grave was in a state of dis-repair and in a bad shape. He got the grave
renovated with the help of Brig Sukhdev Singh who was commanding an Engr Regt
in Nagrota.
Planning for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations (GJC)
of commissioning of Course in June 2016 commenced around March 2016. I hit upon
the idea of renovating the grave of Capt RN Gupta through his Regt. I decided
that I will announce the execution of work carried out as a surprise to the Course
during the GJC.  |
MAJ REEN (9-ER) LAYS WREATH
- 15 Dec 2020 |
I requested Maj Gen
Surinder Sharma, Veteran, ex CO 9 Engr Regt who had served with me in 201 Engr
Regt and was later my student in DSSC Wellington. He got the things moving but
9 Engr Regt was located thousands of Kilometres away. Finally the Grave was
nicely done up in March 2017 and I informed my course mates (28 NDA, 37 IMA and
21 Tech) accordingly which was a pleasant surprise for all of them. Regular
contact was also maintained with Mr Virender Gupta, younger brother of RN, the
only living family member, who is settled in USA. He informed me that Citation
and Vir Chakra of Capt RN Gupta were presented to Madras Engineer Group and
Centre Bangalore.
I am grateful to 9 Engr Regt for the excellent
renovation work executed very well both technically in granite and
aesthetically. Photographs of Capt RN Gupta and the Grave are attached.
9 Engr Regt celebrates "Basantar Day" as Regiment Day on 15 Dec every year. One regimental Officer with a small team ensures cleanliness of the Grave area and pays homage on that day. Mr Virender Gupta and all of us feel satisfied and happy that memory of our course-mate, Capt RN Gupta is kept alive.
FOR DOWNLOADING THIS ARTICLE - CLICK HERE
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REST IN PEACE COURSEMATE |
.
Mr JW GUPTA (RN's FATHER) AT REGTL
CEREMONY - 9 ENGR REGT
CITATION OF CAPT RN GUPTA VrC,
AS RECEIVED FROM MEG.
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THE CITATION
(http://twdi.in/node/3843) |
On the night of Dec 17, Capt Ravindernath Gupta volunteered for the task of conducting a recce along the wide frontage of the enemy minefield across river Basantar. Despite the grave risk involved and very intense enemy fire he and his party brought back vital data which enabled 17 Horse to be inducted into the bridgehead well in time to take on the enemy's counter attacks and eventually led to the destruction of his armoured formation west of river Basantar. Determinedly working on improving the crossing, Capt Gupta was among those killed on Dec 17, by enemy fire.
For his exemplary courage, he was posthumously decorated with the Vir Chakra (http://twdi.in/node/3843)
Brig Mohinder Nath Mahajan, Veteran
mnmahajan@yahoo.com
(IC16825)
9810893347
0120--4333567
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