Mariappan Saravanan
Encyclopedia
Major Mariappan Saravanan ( – ), was an officer
in the prestigious Bihar Regiment
of the Indian Army
who was killed during the Kargil War
. He was killed in hand to hand combat with intruders after killing four intruders in the Batalik area of Kargil Sector on , along with 33 soldier
s and four other officers. Saravanan had just completed four years of service on .
Major Sarvanan was possibly the first officer killed in the Kargil War. The attack led by him came in the early stages of the conflict when adequate information
was not available. The men in 1 Bihar took an oath after Maj. Sarvanan’s fall to fight to the finish and recover the heights, to the battle cry of ‘Bajrang Bali ki Jai’, they launched subsequent offensives that saw it not just take the heights but drive the Pakistanis all the way across the Line of Control
. His actions have led to him being referred to as the "Hero of Batalik".
n state of Tamil Nadu
, Saravanan was commissioned into the famous Bihar Regiment on from OTA Chennai. He began his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya
in Gaya district
and later graduated from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli
in 1992.
Saravanan was also the president of the student union at St. Joseph's College in 1992, an interesting development since the most popular candidate (Thirichelvam) could not stand for election that year and all support went to Saravanan. Saravanan at college had a thin body frame and is a C certificate holder of NCC INFANTRY UNIT.
His father Lt. Colonel Adi Mariappan died in a road accident in Bangalore
on while serving in the Indian Peace Keeping Force
during Operation Pawan
in Sri Lanka
. Major M Saravanan was survived by Mrs A Mariappan, his mother, and two sisters. The elder one, Chitra, is a doctor whereas the younger one Revathi is a Computer Engineer.
After completing his schooling in various places—Belgaum, Kannoor, Gurdaspur, Jorhat and Bihar, he joined St Joseph's College in Tiruchi. "After college he tried to get into the National Defence Academy and landed up in the Officers Training Academy," says his closest friend Amalraj. He graduated from the OTA in 1995 and joined the First Bihar regiment as a lieutenant. After joining the Army he had served at places like TAMILPUR, COOCH BEHAR and BHUTAN before moving to Kargil. He was made captain the following year and major in 1999.
They were a bunch of three friends—Saravanan, Karthik and Amalraj. A few years ago, they had made a trip to Kanyakumari. On the way, their bus driver fell asleep on the wheel and crashed headlong into an incoming lorry. "Seven people died on the spot and many were injured. We students were in a shock. But not Saravanan, he was cool. He went about checking the dead. Then he helped the injured into passing vehicles and took them to hospital. It was his army background that made him react to an emergency so calmly and resolutely." Amalraj is an IPS officer now and the superintendent of police in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
when the Kargil War broke out. They were ordered to move to Kargil
, Jammu
, and Kashmir
. From the heat of Assam to the cold of Kargil wasn't an easy change. There wasn't enough protective weather gear.
On the night of , Major Sarvanan was assigned the task of capturing a well-fortified Pakistani position at 14229 feet (4,337 m) in the Batalik sector. He and his men launched an attack at 04:00. Despite intensive firing from the enemy with artillery
and automatic weapons, they charged into a volley of bullets. Saravanan fired a rocket launcher
into the enemy position that killed two enemy soldiers. During the combat, he was hit by shrapnel and injured but continued fighting. His commanding officer
ordered him to retreat because too many Indian soldiers had been injured. 'Genghis Khan fall back,' came the order. 'Not today sir, we are very close to the objective,' replied Sarvanan who was code name
d Genghis Khan. He killed two more invaders but this time he was hit by a bullet in the head at 06:30, his body nestled in the snow. A friend in Bangalore called his mother and told her Saravanan had died in Kargil. "We switched on the television and saw it in a news bulletin." Two days later, the official telegram arrived. "He was the first officer to fall".
The Vir Chakra
was awarded to Saravanan posthumously and presented to his mother by President K. R. Narayanan
. Its citation reads: "For our tomorrow..... he gave his today......".
Many of his friends and relatives are desirous of contributing money and kind of this purpose. It has hence become necessary to streamline the inflow of money and ensure proper spending of the same in the name of Late Major Saravanan.Vr.C., In order to have a permanent arrangement, this trust has been made.
The Trust is meant for the welfare of the poor, indigent and needy to serve the society at large without any discrimination as to caste, colour and creed. Also it aims at motivating the youngsters to "Join the Army and serve the nation".
Eight years post Kargil war, the memories of the gory battle fought on the inhospitable terrain of Dras and Batalik sectors in Jammu and Kashmir seem to be fading. Through the fading images of our heroes, one figure which looms larger than life is of Major Saravanan, the brave son of Tiruchirapalli city.
At a colourful function organised by 117(TA)Battalian,Trichy, Major General B.Sivasankar, General Officer Commanding, Head Quarters, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, unveiled the War Memorial on the Collector Office road, in the presence of Major General M S Balhara, Colonel of the Bihar Regiment and a large number of officials and men of the army, District Collector Ashish Vachchani, Senior police officials and a large number of common people.
The first side of the memorial has the portrait of Major Saravanan while the other two sides bear the citation of the brave martyr engraved in marbles, both in Tamil and English. A replica of his assault gun and cap is also mounted atop the memorial.
Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariyappan, the mother of Saravanan and his family were the first to place a wreath on the memorial, followed by army officials with full army honors.
In his address, Major General Sivashankar praised the war hero for his bravery and his mother for giving a son, who made the army and country proud, in a befitting manner. Saravana's sacrifice will continue to inspire the future generation to serve the army and will be remembered fondly by one and all in the Indian army.
This historic memorial constructed and maintained by Major Saravanan Memorial Trust and construction cost Rs.725,000, fully spent by his mother Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan.
The Postmaster
General, Central Region, Tiruchi S.P. Rajalingam released the first special cover and handed it over to K.K. Tripathi, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Tiruchi at a function organised by Major Saravanan Memorial Trust here.
Praising late Major Saravanan for his bravery during the Kargil War, Mr. Rajalingam said that the Postal Department took pride in bringing out a special cover in memory of the Kargil hero.
Mr. Tripathi said that the release of a special cover brought out in memory of Major Saravanan was a befitting tribute to the late Army officer who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting for the country.
"The sacrifices of our defence personnel should always be remembered", he said, adding that "Major Saravanan’s sacrifice did not go in vain".
Collector T. Soundiah, Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman, Colonel C.P. Medappa, Commanding Officer, 117 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) The Guards, Tiruchi, R.K. Jain, General Manager, Ordnance Factory, Tiruchi, Colonel Benz K. Jacob, Group Commander, NCC Group, Tiruchi, Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan, the mother of late Major Saravanan, and senior Army officers took part in the function.
"I am often referred to as the mother of the HERO OF BATTALIK I am proud that my son kept vigil over the frontiers even after his death, I am proud that my son was the first officer martyr from the Indian Army, and the last to come back home" said Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan, the mother of late Major Saravanan.
Major Saravanan even after his death his body was staking claim of the land that is rightfully India's.
The great handsome boy in aduthurai
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the prestigious Bihar Regiment
Bihar Regiment
The Bihar Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment can trace its origins back to the British Indian Army. The Bihar Regiment was formed in 1941 by regularising the 11th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and raising new battalions.- History :In India, Hindu, Buddhist and...
of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
who was killed during the Kargil War
Kargil War
The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
. He was killed in hand to hand combat with intruders after killing four intruders in the Batalik area of Kargil Sector on , along with 33 soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s and four other officers. Saravanan had just completed four years of service on .
Major Sarvanan was possibly the first officer killed in the Kargil War. The attack led by him came in the early stages of the conflict when adequate information
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
was not available. The men in 1 Bihar took an oath after Maj. Sarvanan’s fall to fight to the finish and recover the heights, to the battle cry of ‘Bajrang Bali ki Jai’, they launched subsequent offensives that saw it not just take the heights but drive the Pakistanis all the way across the Line of Control
Line of Control
The term Line of Control refers to the military control line between the Indian- and Pakistani-controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which, to this day, does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary but is the de facto border...
. His actions have led to him being referred to as the "Hero of Batalik".
Childhood
Born on on the island of Rameswaram in the IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Saravanan was commissioned into the famous Bihar Regiment on from OTA Chennai. He began his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....
in Gaya district
Gaya District
Gaya is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. The district is having a common boundary with the Jharkhand state in the south. Gaya city is its largest city and the district headquarters.-History:...
and later graduated from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli
St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli
St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli is a Jesuit-founded college in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.-The College Coat Of Arms:“The college blazon is not the heirloom of an ancient and noble family handed down with pride of name and glorious memories of the past. It is only distinctive badge...
in 1992.
Saravanan was also the president of the student union at St. Joseph's College in 1992, an interesting development since the most popular candidate (Thirichelvam) could not stand for election that year and all support went to Saravanan. Saravanan at college had a thin body frame and is a C certificate holder of NCC INFANTRY UNIT.
His father Lt. Colonel Adi Mariappan died in a road accident in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
on while serving in the Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force
Indian Peace Keeping Force was the Indian military contingent performing a peacekeeping operation in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1990...
during Operation Pawan
Operation Pawan
Operation Pawan was the codename assigned to the operation by the Indian Peace Keeping Force to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE , in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Major M Saravanan was survived by Mrs A Mariappan, his mother, and two sisters. The elder one, Chitra, is a doctor whereas the younger one Revathi is a Computer Engineer.
Military career
The 27-year-old officer Saravanan, as a Major in the Indian Army fell defending the peaks of Batalik in the Kargil war.After completing his schooling in various places—Belgaum, Kannoor, Gurdaspur, Jorhat and Bihar, he joined St Joseph's College in Tiruchi. "After college he tried to get into the National Defence Academy and landed up in the Officers Training Academy," says his closest friend Amalraj. He graduated from the OTA in 1995 and joined the First Bihar regiment as a lieutenant. After joining the Army he had served at places like TAMILPUR, COOCH BEHAR and BHUTAN before moving to Kargil. He was made captain the following year and major in 1999.
They were a bunch of three friends—Saravanan, Karthik and Amalraj. A few years ago, they had made a trip to Kanyakumari. On the way, their bus driver fell asleep on the wheel and crashed headlong into an incoming lorry. "Seven people died on the spot and many were injured. We students were in a shock. But not Saravanan, he was cool. He went about checking the dead. Then he helped the injured into passing vehicles and took them to hospital. It was his army background that made him react to an emergency so calmly and resolutely." Amalraj is an IPS officer now and the superintendent of police in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
The Kargil War
The First Bihar Regiment was in AssamAssam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
when the Kargil War broke out. They were ordered to move to Kargil
Kargil
' :* Kargil district, in Ladakh, Indian-administered Kashmir* Kargil town, the chief town of the district* Kargil War, a 1999 armed conflict between India and Pakistan in the Kargil district...
, Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, and Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. From the heat of Assam to the cold of Kargil wasn't an easy change. There wasn't enough protective weather gear.
On the night of , Major Sarvanan was assigned the task of capturing a well-fortified Pakistani position at 14229 feet (4,337 m) in the Batalik sector. He and his men launched an attack at 04:00. Despite intensive firing from the enemy with artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
and automatic weapons, they charged into a volley of bullets. Saravanan fired a rocket launcher
Rocket launcher
A rocket launcher is any device that launches a rocket-propelled projectile, although the term is often used in reference to mechanisms that are portable and capable of being operated by an individual....
into the enemy position that killed two enemy soldiers. During the combat, he was hit by shrapnel and injured but continued fighting. His commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
ordered him to retreat because too many Indian soldiers had been injured. 'Genghis Khan fall back,' came the order. 'Not today sir, we are very close to the objective,' replied Sarvanan who was code name
Code name
A code name or cryptonym is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage...
d Genghis Khan. He killed two more invaders but this time he was hit by a bullet in the head at 06:30, his body nestled in the snow. A friend in Bangalore called his mother and told her Saravanan had died in Kargil. "We switched on the television and saw it in a news bulletin." Two days later, the official telegram arrived. "He was the first officer to fall".
The Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...
was awarded to Saravanan posthumously and presented to his mother by President K. R. Narayanan
K. R. Narayanan
Kocheril Raman Narayanan , also known as K. R. Narayanan, was the tenth President of India. He was the first Dalit, and the first Malayali, to have been President....
. Its citation reads: "For our tomorrow..... he gave his today......".
MSMT-Major Saravanan Memorial Trust
The family of Saravanan had a long cherished desire to establish a Public Charitable Trust to Immortalize the name of the Great Martyr.Many of his friends and relatives are desirous of contributing money and kind of this purpose. It has hence become necessary to streamline the inflow of money and ensure proper spending of the same in the name of Late Major Saravanan.Vr.C., In order to have a permanent arrangement, this trust has been made.
The Trust is meant for the welfare of the poor, indigent and needy to serve the society at large without any discrimination as to caste, colour and creed. Also it aims at motivating the youngsters to "Join the Army and serve the nation".
War Memorial
Major Saravanan, the legend, has been enshrined in the history of one of the most difficult and brutal wars ever fought by any Army. His name and his saga of extreme bravery has been etched in golden letters in the annals of the Indian Army as the entire nation stands as one to salute him.Eight years post Kargil war, the memories of the gory battle fought on the inhospitable terrain of Dras and Batalik sectors in Jammu and Kashmir seem to be fading. Through the fading images of our heroes, one figure which looms larger than life is of Major Saravanan, the brave son of Tiruchirapalli city.
At a colourful function organised by 117(TA)Battalian,Trichy, Major General B.Sivasankar, General Officer Commanding, Head Quarters, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, unveiled the War Memorial on the Collector Office road, in the presence of Major General M S Balhara, Colonel of the Bihar Regiment and a large number of officials and men of the army, District Collector Ashish Vachchani, Senior police officials and a large number of common people.
The first side of the memorial has the portrait of Major Saravanan while the other two sides bear the citation of the brave martyr engraved in marbles, both in Tamil and English. A replica of his assault gun and cap is also mounted atop the memorial.
Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariyappan, the mother of Saravanan and his family were the first to place a wreath on the memorial, followed by army officials with full army honors.
In his address, Major General Sivashankar praised the war hero for his bravery and his mother for giving a son, who made the army and country proud, in a befitting manner. Saravana's sacrifice will continue to inspire the future generation to serve the army and will be remembered fondly by one and all in the Indian army.
This historic memorial constructed and maintained by Major Saravanan Memorial Trust and construction cost Rs.725,000, fully spent by his mother Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan.
Special Cover and Cancellation
On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Divas on Saturday, , the Postal Department brought out a special cover and cancellation in memory of Major M. Saravanan, the ‘Hero of Batalik’.The Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
General, Central Region, Tiruchi S.P. Rajalingam released the first special cover and handed it over to K.K. Tripathi, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Tiruchi at a function organised by Major Saravanan Memorial Trust here.
Praising late Major Saravanan for his bravery during the Kargil War, Mr. Rajalingam said that the Postal Department took pride in bringing out a special cover in memory of the Kargil hero.
Mr. Tripathi said that the release of a special cover brought out in memory of Major Saravanan was a befitting tribute to the late Army officer who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting for the country.
"The sacrifices of our defence personnel should always be remembered", he said, adding that "Major Saravanan’s sacrifice did not go in vain".
Collector T. Soundiah, Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman, Colonel C.P. Medappa, Commanding Officer, 117 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) The Guards, Tiruchi, R.K. Jain, General Manager, Ordnance Factory, Tiruchi, Colonel Benz K. Jacob, Group Commander, NCC Group, Tiruchi, Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan, the mother of late Major Saravanan, and senior Army officers took part in the function.
"I am often referred to as the mother of the HERO OF BATTALIK I am proud that my son kept vigil over the frontiers even after his death, I am proud that my son was the first officer martyr from the Indian Army, and the last to come back home" said Mrs. Amirthavalli Mariappan, the mother of late Major Saravanan.
Major Saravanan even after his death his body was staking claim of the land that is rightfully India's.
The great handsome boy in aduthurai