28 June 1999: Remembering Major Padmapani Acharya, Hero of the Kargil War

Major Padmapani Acharya (Service No. IC-55072) was an officer in the Indian Army. He was born into a family with roots in Odisha that later settled in Hyderabad. His father, Jagannath Acharya, was a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force who served the nation during the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. After his military service, he worked at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad.

 

 

Acharya was commissioned into 2nd Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, a well-known and decorated infantry Regiment of Indian Army.

 

 

During Kargil war, Major Padmapani Acharya along with his battalion, under the command of Lt Col MB Ravindranath, which was part of 81 Mountain Brigade in the Lolab valley was inducted into the Drass sector on 04 June 1999.

 

 

 

 

The battle of Tololing was one of the pivotal battles in Kargil War. On 28 June 1999, in the battalion attack on the Tololing feature by the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, Major Padmapani Acharya as a Company Commander, was assigned the formidable task of capturing an enemy position which was heavily fortified and strongly held with mine fields and sweeping machine gun and artillery fire. This was a very strategic position as it overlooked the Srinagar Leh highway. It was at an altitude of 5,000 metres, and the enemy was positioned on the hill top, showering bullets. Success of the battalion and brigade operation hinged on the early capture of this position. However the company attack almost faltered at the very beginning, when the enemy’s artillery fire came down squarely on the leading platoon, inflicting large numbers of casualties.

 

 

With utter disregard to his personal safety, Major Acharya took the reserve platoon and led it through raining artillery shells. The risks were huge and so were the causalities but achieving his mission was his sole purpose.

 

 

Unmindful of the hail of bullets from the enemy’s bunker, Major Acharya moved upwards crawling up to the enemy position and threw grenades at the enemy. During this battle, he was seriously injured. Even though he was struggling to move, he provided cover for his men and told them to charge ahead. Acharya’s troops took down the enemy and captured the important position which was crucial for India in the Kargil War. The battle of Tololing Top was fierce and night long but in the end, Major Acharya’s team succeeded in recapturing Tololing Top.

Sadly during his efforts to provide cover, he succumbed to injuries. He was awarded nation's second highest gallantry award 'Maha Vir Chakra', posthumously for his outstanding bravery and supreme sacrifice.