Yogendra Singh Yadav

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For the politician, see Yogendra Yadav.

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain

Yogendra Singh Yadav

PVC
Yogendra Singh Yadav PVC.jpg
Subedar Yadav, wearing his PVC Medal.
Born (1980-05-10) 10 May 1980 (age 41)[1]
Bulandshahr District, Uttar Pradesh. India
AllegianceIndia Republic of India
Service/branchFlag of Indian Army.svg Indian Army
RankSubedar Major - Risaldar Major of the Indian Army.svg Subedar Major
Captain of the Indian Army.svg Honorary Captain
Unit18th Grenadiers
Battles/warsKargil War
AwardsParam-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg Param Vir Chakra
Alma materGovernment High School, Aurangabad Ahir, Bulandshahar

Subedar Major[2] and Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav PVC is a commissioned officer in the Indian Army, who was awarded the highest Indian military honour decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his action during the Kargil War. Aged 19 when he received the decoration, he is the youngest person to be awarded the medal.[3][4]

Early life[]

Yogendra Singh Yadav was born on 10 May 1980[3] in Village Aurangabad Ahir, Bulandshahr District, of Uttar Pradesh.[5] His father Karan Singh Yadav served in the Kumaon Regiment, participating in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan wars.[3] Yadav joined Indian Army at age 16 years and five months.[6]

Param Vir Chakra Awardee Yogendra Yadav at India Gate on Kargil Vijay Divas, 2018

Career[]

Kargil War[]

Main article: Battle of Tiger Hill

Yadav enlisted with the 18 Grenadiers, and part of the Ghatak Force commando platoon, tasked to capture three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill in the early morning hours of 4 July 1999. The bunkers were situated at the top of a vertical, snow-covered, 1,000 ft (300 m) cliff face. Yadav volunteered to lead the assault, climbed the cliff face, and installed ropes that would allow further assaults on the feature. Halfway up, machine gun and rocket fire came from an enemy bunker, killing the platoon commander and two others. In spite of being hit by multiple bullets in his groin and shoulder, Yadav climbed the remaining 60 feet (18 m) and reached the top. Though severely injured, he crawled to the first bunker and lobbed a grenade, killing four Pakistani soldiers and neutralizing enemy fire. This gave the rest of the platoon the opportunity to climb up the cliff face[7] bunker along with two of his fellow soldiers and engaged in hand-to-hand combat, killing four Pakistani soldiers. The platoon subsequently succeeded in capturing Tiger Hill. Though Yadav was hit by 12 bullets he played a major role in its capture.[8]

The Param Vir Chakra was announced for Yadav posthumously, but it was soon discovered that he was recuperating in a hospital, and it was his namesake who had been slain in the mission.[9]

Later career[]

Yadav receiving the honorary rank of Captain from Lieutenant General Rajeev Sirohi in 2021

Yadav was conferred the honorary rank of Captain by the President of India on Independence Day of 2021. Lieutenant General Rajeev Sirohi, Military Secretary and Colonel of the Grenadiers, presented the rank badges.

Param Vir chakra citation[]

The Param Vir Chakra citation on the official Indian Army website reads as follows:

Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was part of the leading team of Ghatak Platoon tasked to capture Tiger Hill on the night of 3/4 July 1999. The approach to the top was steep, snow bound and rocky. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, unmindful of the risk involved, volunteered to be in the lead and fixed rope of his team to climb up. On seeing the team, the enemy opened intense automatic grenade, rocket and artillery fire killing the commander and two of his colleagues and the platoon was stalled. Realising the gravity of the situation, Grenadier Yadav crawled up to the enemy position to silence it and in the process sustained multiple injuries. Unmindful of his injuries and in the hail of enemy bullets, Grenadier Yadav continued climbing towards the enemy positions. Lobbing grenades and continuously firing from his weapon, he killed four enemy soldiers in close combat and silenced the automatic fire. Despite multiple injuries, he refused to be evacuated and continued the charge. Inspired by his gallant act, the platoon charged on to the other positions with renewed punch and captured Tiger Hill Top.

Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav displayed the most conspicuous courage, indomitable gallantry, grit and determination under extreme adverse circumstances.[10]

Portrayal in film and media[]

The three living recipients of the Param Vir Chakra Award: Yogendra Singh Yadav, Bana Singh and Sanjay Kumar

In the Bollywood film Lakshya about Tiger Hill, the actions of the fictional war hero Karan Shergill played by Hrithik Roshan is a screen adaptation depicting the heroic deeds of Yadav's platoon, among others. It provides a detailed description of their arduous journey to capture the strategically placed bunkers on Tiger Hill.[11]

The assault led by another Ghatak platoon from the same regiment on Tololing was adapted as one of the prominent battle scenes in the Hindi film LOC Kargil. Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpai portrayed the role of Yadav in the film.

Other Honours[]

He joined the show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2020 on a special invitation from Amitabh Bachchan along with his fellow Param Vir Chakra winner subedar Sanjay Kumar and donated the entire amount (₹2.5 millions) won to the Army Welfare Fund. In the year 2015, he was awarded the state's highest award Yash Bharti by Uttar Pradesh Government for service to the country.[12]

[13]

Yadav's statue at Param Yodha Sthal, National War Memorial, New Delhi

References[]

  1. ^ "Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, PVC". twdi.in. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Yogendra Singh Yadav is shown to be a Subedar Major". 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Major General Ian Cardozo (2003). Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle. Roli Books Private Limited. pp. The Last Ghatak. ISBN 9789351940296.
  4. ^ "YOGENDER SINGH YADAV | Gallantry Awards". gallantryawards.gov.in. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. ^ S. D. S. Yadava (1 January 2006). Followers of Krishna: Yadavas of India (Google eBook). Lancer Publishers. p. 47. ISBN 9788170622161.
  6. ^ Cardozo, Major General Ian (2003). Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle. Roli Books Private Limited. p. The Last Ghatak. ISBN 9789351940296.
  7. ^ "Profile on Yadav on the Indian Army website". Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2006.
  8. ^ Rachana Bhatt (2006). The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories. History. Penguin Books. pp. YSY. ISBN 9789351188056.
  9. ^ "Army orders inquiry into PVC blunder". Rediff.com. 17 August 1999. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  10. ^ The Param Vir Chakra Winners (PVC), Official Website of the Indian Army, retrieved 28 August 2014 "Profile" and "Citation" tabs.
  11. ^ "10 Army Heroes and Their Extra Ordinary Tales of Bravery". TBI Team. thebetterindia.com. The Better India. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  12. ^ "यश भारती सम्मान से 56 हस्तियां अलंकृत 12063610" (in Hindi). jagran.com.
  13. ^ "The Real Story behind LOC Kargil Movie". Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.

External links[]

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