Echoes of Valor: India Salutes 1971 War Hero Lt. Ashok Mutgikar in Grand Tribute
India will honor 1971 war hero Lt. Ashok Mutgikar with a grand tribute featuring his family, dignitaries, and a symbolic battlefield journey.
India is set to honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Lieutenant Ashok Prahladrao Mutgikar, a young officer of the 7 Grenadiers Regiment, who laid down his life during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. A grand commemoration ceremony is being organized at his memorial site in Gajansoo, Jammu, where his family, Army officials, and local dignitaries will come together to pay their respects.
Lt. Ashok Mutgikar played a significant role in the Battle of Chicken Neck, a crucial military operation on the Western Front of the Indo-Pak War. On December 6, 1971, he and his company, led by Lt. Col. M.K. Menon, advanced into Pakistan using Infantry Fighting Vehicles (BMPs). As they moved forward, the unit came under a sudden and fierce attack from the Pakistani Air Force. Despite being critically injured, Lt. Mutgikar refused to retreat and instead continued fighting, even engaging enemy aircraft with a machine gun. His bravery and determination in the face of imminent danger became a shining example of courage and selflessness.
Recognizing his heroism, his Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. M.K. Menon, wrote an appreciation letter to his father, Shri P.N. Mutgikar, on December 9, 1971. The letter described Lt. Mutgikar’s fearless actions and his dedication to his country, ensuring that his sacrifice was not forgotten. This letter remains a priceless testament to his unwavering spirit, reminding future generations of the indomitable courage of India’s soldiers.
To keep his legacy alive, the villagers of Gajansoo have invited his family from Karnataka to participate in the commemoration ceremony. Fourteen family members, including his sister and four brothers along with their spouses and children, will travel to Jammu for this emotional occasion. The tribute will be attended by senior Army officials, political dignitaries, and local leaders, all of whom will join hands in remembering Lt. Mutgikar’s supreme sacrifice.
The event will feature a wreath-laying ceremony at his memorial, where dignitaries and family members will offer floral tributes. A prayer meet will be held in his honor, followed by a community gathering, where the family will interact with the people of Gajansoo, who have preserved Lt. Mutgikar’s memory for more than five decades. One of the most touching moments of the tribute will be when the family retraces the battlefield route that Lt. Mutgikar and his unit took on December 6, 1971. Walking through the same terrain where he fought his last battle will be an emotional experience, allowing his family to connect deeply with his sacrifice.
The next day, on March 18, 2025, the family will visit Balidan Stambh, the State War Memorial in Jammu, a site dedicated to honoring India’s fallen soldiers. Here, they will pay tribute not only to Lt. Mutgikar but to all the bravehearts who have given their lives for the nation.
This grand tribute is a symbol of national pride and gratitude. It serves as a powerful reminder that the bravery, sacrifice, and dedication of India's soldiers will never be forgotten. Lt. Ashok Mutgikar’s story is not just about war—it is about valor, duty, and the selfless spirit of the Indian Armed Forces. His legacy lives on, immortalized in the words of his Commanding Officer, in the hearts of his family, and in the collective memory of a grateful nation.
As India remembers one of its finest sons, this tribute reinforces the eternal respect and honor that the country holds for its soldiers—those who fight, protect, and lay down their lives so that the nation may live in peace.(PR)
सहयोग करें
हम देशहित के मुद्दों को आप लोगों के सामने मजबूती से रखते हैं। जिसके कारण विरोधी और देश द्रोही ताकत हमें और हमारे संस्थान को आर्थिक हानी पहुँचाने में लगे रहते हैं। देश विरोधी ताकतों से लड़ने के लिए हमारे हाथ को मजबूत करें। ज्यादा से ज्यादा आर्थिक सहयोग करें।
ताज़ा खबरों की अपडेट अपने मोबाइल पर पाने के लिए डाउनलोड करे सुदर्शन न्यूज़ का मोबाइल एप्प