Manoj Kumar Pandey Biography 
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, was born on 25 June 1975, in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. He was an officer of the Indian Army of the regiment 1/11 Gorkha Rifles. He was awarded the India's highest military honor, Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his audacious courage and leadership during adverse times. Manoj, son of Shri Gopi Chand Pandey, a businessman living in lucknow. Manoj was selected and educated at Uttar Pradesh Sainik School, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School.
Manoj Kumar having a keen interest in sports especially in boxing and body building passed out from National Defence Academy. It was a strange consequence that even before his service selection interview, the interviewer had asked him, "Why do you want to join the Army?" Manoj had immediately replied to him, "I want to win the Param Vir Chakra." He came true to his words; Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey won the country's highest gallantry honour but posthumously at a tender age of 24 only.
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey took part in a series of boldly led attacks during Operation Vijay and he managed to force back the intruders answering them in right manner and making them pay heavyly with his stratgicies in Battlik including the capture of Jubbar Top. But during the night of 3 July 1999 Captain Pandey was on a mission to clear the interfering enemy positions to prevent his battalion from getting day lighted but being in a vulnerable position Manoj Kumar decided to move his platoon to an advantageous position and sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and himself proceeded to clear the enemy positions from the left.
While on the mission Manoj killed two enemy personnel and destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was seriously injured on the shoulder and legs while clearing the third position. However, he kept moving without caring for his grievous injuries and 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 was constantly encouraging his men to move forward and his last word were in typical war cry "Na chhodnu" ("Don't Spare Them" in Nepali language). Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey showed bravery, outstanding leadership, devotion to duty, and the supreme sacrifice in line with the traditions of the Indian Army.
Published: N/A
Updated: April 16, 2015
