Lieutenant Colonel Harsh Uday Singh Gaur was born on 1st of July 1953 in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. Son of Sri Rajendra Singh Gaur, Lt Col Gaur had undergone his earlier education in his hometown and later finished his graduation in 1972 from CM Nehru college. In September of 1973, he joined the Officers Training Academy (OTA) and was commissioned into the Bihar Regiment on 12th May 1974. After passing out from the Academy , he served in various operational areas in different units and formations.
An alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Lt Col Gaur also served as an Instructor in the infantry school. By 1994 he had put in about twenty years of service in the army and had evolved into a battle-hardened soldier and a fine officer. Later he was posted as the commanding officer of 10 Bihar battalion deployed at Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Baramulla Operation: 29 Nov 1994
In 1994, Lt Col Gaur’s unit was deployed in Baramulla district of J & K and was engaged in counterinsurgency operations. Lt Col Gaur believed in leading from the front and would often lead the operations himself against the terrorists. On 29th November 1994, his unit received information from the intelligence sources about the presence of 10 to 12 terrorists in Bazipura village of Baramulla district. After analyzing the situation Lt Col Gaur planned a search and cordon operation in the suspected area. Keeping in view the expected scale of operation , Lt Col Gaur decided to lead the operation himself. As planned the assault team cordoned off the area and launched the search and combing operation.
While the search operation was underway, at around 0700 hrs the terrorists fired at the troops triggering a gun battle. Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur quickly redeployed his troops tactically so that all escape routes for the terrorists could be blocked. Despite heavy exchange of fire, he kept moving forward from a flank and reached close to the firing position of the mercenaries.
After a heavy exchange of fire Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur a soldier who always believed in leading from the front using cover moved forward from a flank and in a bold and unexpected action surprised the mercenaries completely. In the ensuing fire fight he killed three mercenaries.
Next Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur, set about to tackle a Universal Machine Gun firing at him from behind a rock. Unmindful of the danger with bullets flying all around him, he in a act of most conspicuous bravery crawled forward with a grenade in his hand and lobbed it at the universal machine Gun position, killing yet another mercenary and neutralising the fire which otherwise would have inflicted a terrible loss of life to his troops.
Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur in the best traditions of the Indian Army inspired his command and set an example of self sacrifice in saving lives of his troops. His grit and dogged determination to eliminate four Afghan/Pakistan mercenaries inspite of being critically wounded was an act of courage over and beyond the call of duty.
Lt Col Gaur’s bold and unexpected action completely unnerved the terrorists and in the ensuing exchange of fire, he killed three terrorists. Later he went ahead to neutralize the Universal Machine Gun that was firing at him from behind a rock. With bullets flying all around him, he bravely crawled forward and lobbed a hand grenade at the gun position, killing yet another terrorist and silenced the gun. However during the fierce exchange of fire Lt Col Gaur got seriously wounded and later succumbed to his injuries. Lt Col Gaur was an exemplary soldier and an officer par excellence who inspired his troops by leading from the front.
Lt Col Harsh Uday Singh Gaur was given the nation’s highest peace time gallantry award, ” Ashok Chakra” for his extraordinary courage, dedication to duty and supreme sacrifice.
He was and will remain a real life Hero and a very good example in our family. He became a Hero for the country and made every Indian proud with his Gallantry Award. We all miss him immensely.
Thanks to the Government of India and the Defence Organization for recognising his sacrifice and granting him the Honor’s.
On 1st July his birth anniversary we will gather to pay our respect on inaugural function of his Statue at Shahid Udyan Opp DM Bungalow, Hardoi, UP.
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