Major Sudhir Kumar Walia: The fearless 'Rambo' of the Indian Army who made the ultimate sacrifice

Kashmir, India: Hailing from Himachal Presh’s Kangra district, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was born into a military family on May 24, 1969. Major Walia always looked up to his far, Subedar Major Rulia Ram Walia and was determined to follow in his footsteps and join Indian Army. young Walia ultimately forced his dream into reality after he gruated from Indian Military Acemy (IMA) in 1988 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into 4th Battalion of famed Jat Regiment.

Since beginning of his military career, Major Walia was ted for his fearlessness and grit. young officer ultimately came to be kwn as ‘Rambo’ by his peers, who witnessed his undaunting spirit on battlefield while Major Walia was engd in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir Valley. Speaking with Republic, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) from 9 Para (SF) who served with Major Sudhir Kumar Walia in Kashmir revealed that young officer h completely relinquished fear.

“He h let go of every ounce of fear inside him. I have served with many officers but have never come across someone like him,” Subedar Sunil Kumar said. It was in Kura’s Haphruda forest where 31-year-old officer attained martyrdom while combating terrorists on August 27, 1999. For his action on battlefield, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashok Chakra.

Major Walia kept service before self

Following commission, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was sent to Sri Lanka as part of Indian Peace-Keeping Force under Indo-Sri Lanka accord. After returning from deployment, young officer joined 9th battalion of Parachute Regiment, a Special Forces unit of Indian Army. Major Walia’s unit was infamous among militants for undertaking covert counter-insurgency operations in valley which often required special forces operators to go undercover in hunt for terrorists.

tably, this strategy facilitated execution of numerous militants and leers of several terrorist organisations operating in Kashmir. Walia was awarded Sena Medal twice for gallantry while engaging in CI/CT Ops in region while serving as a Captain.

In 1997, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was sent to United States to undergo a specialised course, during which he got hour to dress Pentagon in front of representatives from 80 nations attending course. Later in his career, Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was appointed as aide-de-camp (C) to former Chief of Army Staff, General Ved Prakash Malik. During this appointment, Kargil War broke out. In an application dressed to Army Chief, Major Walia sought permission to be deployed on frontline with his unit. officer led an assault during offensive to flush out Pakistan Army troops from Zulu Ridge in Mushkoh Valley.

After Kargil War ended, Major Walia returned to Kashmir to combat terrorism. It was during this deployment that officer undertook a “Search and Destroy” mission in dense Haphruda jungles. Leing a squ of five commandos, officer identified a well-camoufld terrorist hideout and engd enemy while leing from front. tably, Major Walia single-handedly neutralised nine terrorists in battle.

However, during fierce fighting, officer sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen. In a show of grit determination and an undaunting spirit, Major Walia refused to be evacuated and continued giving orders to his team till culmination of operation. officer allowed himself to be evacuated only 35 minutes after operation concluded. While en route to army base hospital, Indian Army’s ‘Rambo’ Major Sudhir Kumar Walia succumbed to his wounds. 

Major Sudhir Kumar Walia was awarded Ashok Chakra for “exemplary leership, unparalleled cour beyond call of duty, conspicuous gallantry under fire and making supreme sacrifice in highest tritions of Indian Army,” citation re. tably, a quote by gallant officer is etched into memory of nation. Major Walia h once said, “I won’t die in an accident or die of any disease. I will go down in glory.”