Bharatpedia

Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair: Difference between revisions

imported>Whiteguru
(Importing Wikidata short description: "Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra recipient" (Shortdesc helper))
 
(robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.)
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 10: Line 10:
| birth_date    = 17 February 1951
| birth_date    = 17 February 1951
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1993|12|20|1951|02|17|df=yes}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1993|12|20|1951|02|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = Ernakulam, Kerala
| birth_place  = Ernakulam, [[Travancore-Cochin]], now [[Kerala]]
| death_place  = Nagaland
| death_place  = Nagaland
| placeofburial =  
| placeofburial =  
Line 32: Line 32:


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
He was born to R. Neelakantan Nair and P.Saraswathy Amma on 17 Feb 1951 at Ernakulam, Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=As a reminder of his courage. Col N.J Nair|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/thiruvananthapuram/nagaram/1.2063906|access-date=2020-06-03|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref> Nair was an alumnus of [[Sainik School, Kazhakootam]], Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sainikschooltvm.org/html/halloffame_details.htm |title=New Page 1<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=15 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303120126/http://www.sainikschooltvm.org/html/halloffame_details.htm |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He then joined the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Pune]] as part of the 38th course. He was a member of the 'I' Squadron.<ref>[http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-martyrs.html National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | NDA Martyrs<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929182428/http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-martyrs.html |date=2011-09-29 }}</ref> He attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] in [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]].
He was born to R. Neelakantan Nair and P.Saraswathy Amma on 17 Feb 1951 at Ernakulam, then in [[Travancore-Cochin]], now [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=As a reminder of his courage. Col N.J Nair|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/thiruvananthapuram/nagaram/1.2063906|access-date=2020-06-03|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref> He was a descendant of the former Dewan Peshkar of [[Travancore]], [[Kappazhom Raman Pillai]]. Nair was an alumnus of [[Sainik School, Kazhakootam]], Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sainikschooltvm.org/html/halloffame_details.htm |title=New Page 1<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=15 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303120126/http://www.sainikschooltvm.org/html/halloffame_details.htm |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He then joined the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Pune]] as part of the 38th course. He was a member of the 'I' Squadron.<ref>[http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-martyrs.html National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | NDA Martyrs<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929182428/http://nda.nic.in/html/nda-martyrs.html |date=2011-09-29 }}</ref> He attended the [[Defence Services Staff College]] in [[Wellington Cantonment|Wellington]].


==Military career==
==Military career==
Line 40: Line 40:
In 1983, in [[Mizoram]], Nair engaged the insurgents in [[Close-quarters combat]] for which he was awarded the [[Kirti Chakra]] in recognition of his exceptional gallantry. He was promoted substantive major on 13 June 1984,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1767 |date=27 October 1984|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1984/O-0835-1984-0043-36669.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was promoted lieutenant-colonel (by selection) on 1 January 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1818 |date=2 October 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0410-1993-0040-16531.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
In 1983, in [[Mizoram]], Nair engaged the insurgents in [[Close-quarters combat]] for which he was awarded the [[Kirti Chakra]] in recognition of his exceptional gallantry. He was promoted substantive major on 13 June 1984,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1767 |date=27 October 1984|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1984/O-0835-1984-0043-36669.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was promoted lieutenant-colonel (by selection) on 1 January 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1818 |date=2 October 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0410-1993-0040-16531.pdf|publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>


In 1993, his unit, the 16th battalion the [[Maratha Light Infantry]] was deployed in [[Nagaland]]. In December 1993, he was leading an advance party convoy in Nagaland, when they were ambushed by about one hundred insurgents. The overwhelming fire from automatic weapons killed one junior commissioned officer and 13 jawans on the spot. Col Nair, who was seriously injured, did not lose his courage. Unmindful of his serious injury, he organised his jawans in an assault line and charged at the insurgents when they broke ranks and fled. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra]] posthumously in 1994.<ref name=TheHindu /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/Nair.html |title=Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=15 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128124902/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/Nair.html |archive-date=28 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1993, his unit, the 16th battalion the [[Maratha Light Infantry]] was deployed in [[Nagaland]]. In December 1993, he was leading an advance party convoy in Nagaland, when they were ambushed by about one hundred insurgents. The overwhelming fire from automatic weapons killed one junior commissioned officer and 13 jawans on the spot. Col Nair, who was seriously injured, did not lose his courage. mindful of his serious injury, he organised his jawans in an assault line and charged at the insurgents when they broke ranks and fled. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra]] posthumously in 1994.<ref name=TheHindu /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/Nair.html |title=Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=15 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128124902/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/HEROISM/Nair.html |archive-date=28 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Major decorations==
==Major decorations==

Latest revision as of 04:48, 16 July 2022


Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair, AC, KC (popularly known as "NJ") was a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army. On 20 December 1993, while heading an advance party of the battalion, his convoy was ambushed by Naga rebels. Nair personally led the attack to break the ambush and sacrificed his life defending his men. For this act of valour, he was conferred the Ashoka Chakra.[1][2][3]

Colonel

N J Nair

AC, KC
File:Col N. J. Nair.jpg
Nickname(s)NJ
Born17 February 1951
Ernakulam, Travancore-Cochin, now Kerala
Died20 December 1993(1993-12-20) (aged 42)
Nagaland
AllegianceIndia Republic of India
Service/branchFlag of Indian Army.svg Indian Army
Years of service1971–1993
RankColonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel
Service numberIC-25070K
Unit16 Maratha Light Infantry
Battles/warsInsurgency in Northeast India
AwardsAshoka Chakra ribbon.svg Ashoka Chakra
Kirti Chakra ribbon.svg Kirti Chakra
Alma materNational Defence Academy

Technically Nair is the most decorated officer of the Indian Army, as the only serviceman to have been awarded both the highest (Ashoka Chakra) and second highest (Kirti Chakra) awards for gallantry.

Early life and educationEdit

He was born to R. Neelakantan Nair and P.Saraswathy Amma on 17 Feb 1951 at Ernakulam, then in Travancore-Cochin, now Kerala.[4] He was a descendant of the former Dewan Peshkar of Travancore, Kappazhom Raman Pillai. Nair was an alumnus of Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Kerala.[5] He then joined the National Defence Academy, Pune as part of the 38th course. He was a member of the 'I' Squadron.[6] He attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

Military careerEdit

Nair was commissioned into 16 Maratha Light Infantry on 13 June 1971.[7] He was promoted lieutenant on 13 June 1973 and to captain on 13 June 1977.[8] His career in the Indian Army spanned over two decades, during which he had held varied command as well as staff appointments.[1][9] He served in the IMTRAT in Bhutan. He also served as an instructor at the Army Intelligence school in Pune.

In 1983, in Mizoram, Nair engaged the insurgents in Close-quarters combat for which he was awarded the Kirti Chakra in recognition of his exceptional gallantry. He was promoted substantive major on 13 June 1984,[10] and was promoted lieutenant-colonel (by selection) on 1 January 1992.[11]

In 1993, his unit, the 16th battalion the Maratha Light Infantry was deployed in Nagaland. In December 1993, he was leading an advance party convoy in Nagaland, when they were ambushed by about one hundred insurgents. The overwhelming fire from automatic weapons killed one junior commissioned officer and 13 jawans on the spot. Col Nair, who was seriously injured, did not lose his courage. mindful of his serious injury, he organised his jawans in an assault line and charged at the insurgents when they broke ranks and fled. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1994.[2][12]

Major decorationsEdit

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Reddy, Kittu (2007). "Chapter 6: Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Bravest of the Brave (Heroes of Indian Army). Ocean book Publisher. pp. 102–105. ISBN 81-87100-00-1.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Staff Reporter (18 February 2007). "Souvenir on war hero released". The Hindu. Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  3. ↑ Superhero Comic book on NC Nair http://www.indianexpress.com/news/remembering-super-men/499540/0
  4. ↑ "As a reminder of his courage. Col N.J Nair". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  6. ↑ National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | NDA Martyrs Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 September 1972. p. 1272.
  8. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 September 1973. p. 1078.
  9. ↑ "Insurgency will be dealt with an iron fist, says Army Chief". The Hindu. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 October 1984. p. 1767.
  11. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 October 1993. p. 1818.
  12. ↑ "Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neelakantan_Jayachandran_Nair&oldid=372218"