|
Lt Nawang Kapadia, who was commissioned in the Fourth Battalion
the Third Gorkha Rifles, died while gallantly fighting Pakistan
based terrorists in the jungles of Rajwar in Kupwara district of
Srinagar on 11th Nov 2000.
The happiest day in twenty four year old Mumbai-born Nawang’s
life was when he joined the Officers’ Training Academy at
Chennai. His parents, well-known mountaineers Harish and Geeta,
encouraged him to the fullest in spite of the cynical views of others.
It was a proud moment indeed at the Passing Out Parade on 2nd of
September 2000 when his family and friends saw him receiving his
Lieutenant stars on commissioning to the prestigious Fourth Battalion
The Third Gorkha Rifles. After a brief visit home, Nawang proceeded
to the Regimental Centre at Varanasi from where he joined his Battalion
on 29th Oct 2000. The Battalion was, during this period, continuously
involved in operations against foreign terrorists who had infiltrated
and were in the process of establishing their bases in the Kupwara
area of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nawang was immediately involved in these operations where his qualities
of heart and mind as well as his abundant courage were a beacon
to the troops under his command.
On the 10th of Nov the Battalion received information of a large
number of terrorists hiding in the notorious jungles of Rajwar near
Kupwara. Search and destroy operations were immediately launched
with Nawang leading his own platoon. At approximately 11 am, a large
hideout was discovered by the Battalion and Nawang’s platoon
came under fire from a group of eight to ten terrorists in the vicinity.
Havaldar Chitra Bahadur got a burst in the stomach and fell mortally
wounded. At this stage, Nawang instinctively rushed to rescue Chitra
Bahadur, firing his weapon ,under the covering fire of his comrades.
A terrorist who was hiding in the nearby foliage fired at Nawang.
In the crossfire, Nawang got a bullet in the face and died, leading
his troops in the highest tradition of valour and sacrifice.
The encounter has resulted in the killing of two terrorists of the
Al Omar Tanzeem, a Pakistan based organization, with reports of
two others grievously wounded and likely to have died. Large quantities
of arms and ammunition have been recovered. Since reports which
have last come in, the search and destroy mission is still going
on. Lt Nawang Kapadia died in the highest traditions of the Indian
Army, living up to the ethos and standards of his Battalion, which
earlier had lost two officers like him in counter insurgency operations
in 1983-85 and again performed gallantly, despite severe casualties,
in the Batalik Sector of Kargil.
Nawang Harish Kapadia was born on December 15, 1975, in Mumbai three
years after his elder brother, Sonam . As his surname indicates,
theirs is a family of traditional cloth merchants, of a community
that has a scarce presence in the Defence Services.
From his early childhood, Nawang had imbibed the best adventurous
talents of his parents, both of whom have many achievements under
their belt. Sonam and Nawang were named after famous Sherpa mountaineers;
ironically both are Gorkha names. Nawang means “leader of
men”, a very apt name for an able soldier.
Nawang did his initial schooling at New Era School and subsequently
at the St. Xavier’s Boys’ Academy. All through his student
days, Nawang was always a free-spirited lad, spending a lot of time
on the sports’ field and displayed leadership qualities from
a young age. With such a fun-loving and carefree attitude, he was
always making new friends, many of whom developed and maintained
close and loving bonds with the entire family. He did his B. Com.
from Jai Hind college, Bombay. In college, his interests included
trekking, hiking, mountaineering (which of course, was in his genes),
sports, martial arts and music. He enjoyed life to the maximum,
and it was most evident in his passion for food. When it came to
eating, no one could match him. Nawang could out-eat anyone and
at anytime.
Lt Nawang Kapadia’s sacrifice will remain a shining light
to inspire future generations. The city of Mumbai should be proud
of its son who lived his life here and leaves behind a sorrowing
family and a large circle of friends.
He was cremated with military honours on Tuesday 14 November, 2000.Nawang
lies in peace, having chosen a career as he desired and dying for
the country, trying to save a life, in best traditions of the army.
www.nawang.com
|
