:: 77th Independence Day ::

The Sabha celebrated the Independence Day jointly with the Indian Army, a tradition that has evolved over the decade between the Sabha and the Armed Forces to celebrate both the national days. The Independence Day is in honour of the Fallen Soldier. Accordingly, the Sabha felicitated the Veer Naaris of 25 men-in-uniform who had done the supreme sacrifice of their life for the cause of the nation. These brave women had come from different parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and were felicitated at the hands of Lt. Gen. H. S. Kahlon, General Officer Commanding, (Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa) and his wife Smt. Harkiran Kahlon. Each of the Veer Naari were given a solatium of Rs. 2,50,000/- each and mementos.

The highlight of the day was the inauguration of the Param Vir Chakras gallery in the Sabha. At a glittering function, the GoC inaugurated the gallery comprising of 21 large size busts of those brave men who were conferred the highest army honours by the country since independence. The Param Vir Chakra is the equivalent of Victoria Cross and is the 2 nd highest honour of the country after Bharat Ratna. The gallery contained audio facilities describing the indomitable courage, bravery and outstanding service in the face of grave threats of these men. The stars of the day were the three Param Vir Chakras who are alive. They came from Jammu, Bulandshahr and Khadakvasla to be part of the inauguration. These three men SM & Hon. Captain Bana Singh, SM & Hon. Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav and Sub Major Sanjay Kumar were felicitated by the Sabha and given a cash award of Rs. 2,50,000/- each alongwith a citation and several mementos. It is for the first time that in a non-army platform the three surviving PVCs were together. On 23 rd January 2023 coinciding with the 125 th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi named 21 islands in Andaman and Nicobar after these awardees as various dweeps.

The Sabha conferred the Sri Shanmukha Shaurya Ratna Award on Lt. Gen. DR. V. Ravishankar. it was followed by Musical programme "Swarninad" from Kolhapur who mesmerized from audience with patriotic Songs.

77 Students of the Sabha’s Sangeetha Vidyalaya Song and The National Anthem. The programme was presided over by Lt. Gen. Pawan Chadha, VSM General Officer Commanding (Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa area).

FALLEN HEROES

HAV (LATE) ASHOK B GOSAVI
No 14513421A Havildar Ashok B Gosavi, a resident of Mumbai was enrolled in the Indian Army on 3rd August 1973 as part of EME. During service, he was deployed in operational areas of North as well as Eastern part of the country such as J&K Batot, Nagaland, Leh-Ladakh. During active service, he laid down his life on 1st October 1991 in the line of duty.

NAIK (LATE) SONAWANE NILESH RAMBHAU
No 4583629H Naik (Late) Sonawane Nilesh Rambhau, resident of Jalgaon was enrolled in the Indian Army on 14th December 2010 as part of 1 MAHAR Regiment. During service, he was deployed on various field locations including insurgency affected locations. While performing operational duty on 10th July 2021, he was deployed at sonam-II at Line of Control at height of 17500 feet. He reported giddiness, breathlessness and fell unconscious due to inclement weather and harsh climatic conditions in HAA. He was evacuated to handangbrok and declared dead. He made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.

NAIK (LATE) RAJAT RUMAL BHAI RAVJI
No 4554266F Naik (Late) Rajat Rumal Bhai Ravji, resident of Doli (Gujrat) was enrolled in the Indian Army on 30th November 1982 as part 12 MAHAR Regiment. During his service in the Army, he was deployed in numerous harsh and terrain locations. While posted in Kargil on 5th July 1999, on active duty in Operation Vijay, he made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.

NAIK GORE AMOL TANHAJI
No 2811392M Naik Gore Amol Tanhaji, resident of Washim was enrolled in the Indian Army on 26th March 2011 as part of 11 Bn The PARA Regt (SF). During service, he served in various difficult and inhospitable terrain weather. While performing operational duty on 14th April 2023 in High Altitude Area, he died in East Sikkim in Operation Snow LEOPARD.

SEPOY (LATE) GAWAI ANAND SHATRUGHNA
No 4582173H Sepoy (Late) Gawai Anand Shatrughna, resident of Akola was enrolled in the Indian Army on 15th July 2009 as part of 13 MAHAR Regiment. After completion of training he was deployed in Gurej Sector (J&K). Died while on active duty on 26th January 2017. He sustained multiple injuries in an encounter and breathed his last defending the nation.

SEPOY (LATE) THAKUR RASANGJAI SAVJI
No 14880802M Sepoy (Late) Thakur Rasangjai Savji, resident of Mahesana was enrolled in the Indian Army on 14th June 2017 as part of 517 ASC Bn. During service, he served in various difficult and inhospitable terrain weather along the East Sikkim. On 5th April 2023 he made supreme sacrifice while performing operational duty in high altitude area.

LANCE / Naik (LATE) ANIL KUMAR PANDEY
No 13622167A Lance/Naik (Late) Anil Kumar Pandey, resident of AhmedabadwasenrolledintheIndianArmyon29thMay1998aspart of PARA Regiment. After completion of training he was deployed in Kupwara (J&K). While on active duty on 29th May 2007, he sustained multiple injuries in an encounter and breathed his last defending the nation.

NAIK (LATE) SOMNATH BABAN KHAIRE
No 15563051X Naik (Late) Somnath Baban Khaire, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 3rd February 2000 as part of Bengal Engineer Group. During his service in the Army, he served in multiple harsh terrain and locations along the northern and Eastern Borders. On 18th February 2012 due to premature blast during field fire operational training at Bagdad, Belgaum he lost his life.

HAVILDAR (LATE) SANTOSH TANAJI JAGDALE
No 14427413X Havildar (Late) Santosh Tanaji Jagdale, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 12th January 1999 as part of 216 Med Regt of Artillery. During his years in the Army, he served in multiple harsh field locations in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Assam. On 2nd July 2015 in Dras Sector (J&K) under Operation Rakshak, he fell to the enemy attack.

SUBEDAR (LATE) PALEKAR ARUN LAXMAN
JC-569709N Subedar (Late) Palekar Arun Laxman, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 5th February 1987 as part of 8 MAHAR. During his years in the Army he served in various harsh field locations along the North and Northeast Border in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir. While on active duty, he lost his life during the Operation Rakshak on 8th November 2009 in J&K.

SUBEDAR (LATE) MURADE MANIKRAO DEVRAO
JC-4583781L Subedar (Late) Murade Manikrao Devrao, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 3rd April 1979 as part of 19 MARATHA LI. During service, he served in various difficult areas in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Assam. He died while on active duty on 11th September 2004 during Operation Rakshak in J&K.

SEPOY (LATE) PACHANGE FAKKAD DAGADU
No 2782731W Sepoy (Late) Pachange Fakkad Dagadu, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 5th February 1986 as part of 17 MARATHA LI. During his service, he served in various harsh field locations along the Northern and Eastern borders. On 3rd June 2000 during Operation Rakshak in J&K, he made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the nation.

HAVILDAR (LATE) KARDE HANUMANT NIVRUTTI
No 4560555 Havildar (Late) Karde Hanumant Nivrutti, a resident of Solapur was enrolled in the Indian Army on 12th July 1988 as part of 8 MAHAR. During his years in the Army, he served in multiple harsh field locations in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Assam. On 18th April 2000 under Operation Falcon in Arunachal Pradesh, he succumbed and laid down his life for the motherland.

NAIK (LATE) SHIRISH KUMAR BHISE
No 2788486P Naik (Late) Shirish Kumar Bhise, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 29th December 1990 as part of 21 PARA(SF).DuringhisserviceintheArmy,heservedinmultipleharsh terrain and locations along the northern and Eastern Borders. On 15th November 1999 under Operation Rakshak in J&K he breathed his last.

NAIK (LATE) DHARWADE GAUTAM DADU
No 4557980H Naik (Late) Dharwade Gautam Dadu, a resident of Pune was enrolled in the Indian Army on 23rd July 1985 as part of 7 MAHAR. During his years in the Army, he served in multiple harsh field locations in Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Assam. On 20th April 1996 during Operation Rakshak in J&K, he made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the nation.