Service No : IC-57513N

Date of Birth : March 3, 1973

Place of birth : Jabalpur , (MP)

Service : Army

Last Rank : Lieutenant

Arm/Regt : The Regiment of Artillery

Martyrdom : May 5, 2000

Lt Chaitanya Dubey

Lieutenant Chaitanya Dubey hailed from Raipur in Chhattisgarh and was born on 03 Mar 1973 into a military family. Son of an army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Arun Dubey and Smt Neerja Dubey, Lt Chaitanya Dubey had a sister Priya as his sibling. He had an innate wisdom and made his mark as a gentle and precocious child. His twinkling, impish eyes spoke of a rare combination of intelligence and child-like innocence. His love for the armed forces and army in particular was clear when he did little things like taking interest in readying his father's uniform and also to not let anyone use it to wear just on a whim or fun's sake. While living in the Ambala Cantonment as a 10-year-old, he developed his love for flying as he watched planes and helicopters fly past his home. Tanks were a special love, too.

 

He continued to pursue his dream and made it to the top of merit list of NDA . He had full confidence that he was going to join the Air Force to become a fighter pilot and had entered all three of his options as Indian Air Force in the form. As luck would have it, even though he'd earned merit, he couldn't join the Air Force as he could not meet the medical standards required for vision. After college, he continued to follow his passion of manning guns like his father did in the two Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Eventually his dream of donning Army uniform came true when he got selected to IMA, Dehradun. He was commissioned on 06 Dec 1997 into 24 Med Regt of the Regiment of Artillery, the combat arm of the Indian Army well known for its booming guns and other heavy caliber weaponry. 

 

Warfare Training Operation : 05 May 2000

 

During 2000, Lt Chaitanya Dubey was serving with his unit deployed in Faridkot in Punjab, which was his first posting after commissioning. He soon honed his field-craft skills and developed into a fine officer. He acquitted himself very well and earned the respect of his seniors and peers as well. In May 2000, Lt Chaitanya's Regiment was tasked to take part in a warfare exercise along the Rajasthan-Pak border.

 

By early May 2000, Lt Chaitanya along with his unit troops had joined the warfare exercise which also included elements of various other combat units. The troops were not only being tested for their combat skills but also for their ability to withstand hostile weather conditions. To make the maters worse, a brutal sand storm began brewing at 5.00 pm on the fateful day of May 05, 2000. Despite poor visibility conditions Lt Chaitanya and his men continued with the combat maneuvers till late night. Lt Chaitanya was functioning as Forward Observation Officer with ‘B’ Sqn of the 84 Armoured Regiment during the ongoing exercise “Garam Hawaa”. However at about 10.00 pm, the tank carrying Lt Chaitanya toppled owing to low visibility and difficult terrain conditions. In the process, Lt Chaitanya's neck got struck by the hatch of the cupola of the tank. The severe and sudden injury proved fatal for him and a bright and exemplary young officer's life was extinguished. Lt Chaitanya Dubey was a committed soldier and a fine officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

 

Lt Chaitanya Dubey is survived by his father Lt Col Arun Dubey (Retd), mother Smt Neerja Dubey and sister Priya Dubey.

  • If you find any information that is incorrect or inappropriate or have additional information about the soldier that can be added to his memorial site, please contact us by using the tab given below.
12 Comments
  • Hema Ram kumar

    2021 at 4:29 pm Reply

    Dearest Chaitan… .. You are a wonderful boy and a wonderful person like Mrs & Col Dubey and Priya… Your good mornings and good evenings are still with me. you teasing Priya and Mummy behind your back to have your Chyawanprash, going to school…
    .. People say God takes away people whom he loves most, but God did not realize that we love you more and you would have made us happier being amidst us. I think nobody can question the Creator … Rest in Peace, my love…

    • Kulwant Rathi

      2021 at 7:11 pm

      Proud of your son valour and sacrifice for the Nation.
      I know the feeling of a martyr family.
      I also lost my elder brother Late Capital Kuldeep Singh Rathi Vrc. in 1971 Indo-pak war.
      My regards and respect to the Martyrs family.Salute to all of you.

  • सौरभ मिश्रा

    2021 at 10:09 am Reply

    वास्तव में शोनु एक बेहद शांत,निश्छल और पवित्र soul था,जिसे अकाल काल ने हम से छीन लिया,उसका अपने परिवार या किसी के लिए भी जुड़ाव भावनात्मक एवं निस्वार्थ होता था जिसके कारण जो भी उससे मिलता वह उस पर एक अविस्मरणीय छवि छोड़ जाता …यादें शेष

    • Anu

      2021 at 4:02 pm

      Sir ink parents kahn rehte hain

  • rumbo

    2022 at 7:43 pm Reply

    #REMEMBERING THE SOLDIER
    छत्तीसगढ़ के शूरवीर

    Lt Chaitanya Dubey, son of veteran Col AK Dubey from #Raipur , #Chhattisgarh joined 24 Medium SP regiment in Dec 1997.

    He was performing the duties of Forward Observation Officer with ‘B’ sqn of the 84 Armoured Regiment during exercise “Garam Hawaa” on the Indo-Pak border in the harsh deserts of Rajasthan. On May 5, 2000 at around 2145 hrs, Lt Chaitanya Dubey made the supreme sacrifice while trying to negoatie his tank through a sandstorm- when the tank toppled over.

    Lt Chaitanya Dubey has found a place of tribute in Smriti Van at Raipur.

    His coursemates , gunner officers , army personnel from HQ COSA , veterans and citizens of raipur joined at Chaitanya Upvan to pay tributes on the occasion of his birth anniversary on 03 March 2022

  • Col Amitosh Chauhan

    2022 at 8:25 pm Reply

    Trained together at IMA,Dehradun & School of Artillery Deolali.
    Chaitanya was a very simple ,clear headed & very motivated officer,a true Soldier

  • Maj Rajesh Arora

    2023 at 5:21 pm Reply

    A life very well lived by our dear mate, he all the way did what he cherished and loved the most – rugged soldiering.

    One of the brightest, warmest and most promising of our band of brothers, he was blessed with exceptionally unique merits and qualities, which easily made him stand apart. Simple, inquisitive, sharp and engaging. All under an admirably unassuming and gentle veneer.

    He’s left an indelible mark on all who’ve had the happy chance of knowing him.

    Cheers to you dear brother, till we meet again…

  • Col Rishi Teotia

    2023 at 9:03 pm Reply

    Sharp,Calm & Charismatic that’s how I remember him. A go-getter & an all out altruist,a balance struck by very few, other than the myriad experiences we shared on training grounds what stands out in my memory lane is our Sunday’s Cafe discussions about anything under the sky over Aloo kaa Paranthas. He lived with unparalleled junoon,a joie de vivre which caught on too with all around him. Dear Chaitanya, you are dearly remembered & deeply missed… In admiration always… Rishi

  • Col Rudrax Atri

    2023 at 9:45 pm Reply

    Chaitanya was a simple and cheerful officer. Balanced and mature for his age he conducted himself very well. Remembering the noble soul with fond memories of training days at the Academy.

  • Col Amitosh Chauhan

    2023 at 9:51 pm Reply

    Chaitanya & me were together in the Zojila company in IMA.I found Chaitanya a very simple ,down to earth,hardworking , compassionate & very clear headed .

    We did our YOs together at Deolali where again his sharp intellect ,clarity of thought and his large heartedness was very evident amongst all other officer’s.

    On 06 May 2000 ,I called him up excitedly that I had become a Captain in the Field Area. But God had different plan for him. His senior Sub Altern informed about the unfortunate accident.

    In 2016 , during a Corps Exercise ,I landed up at the place where his bust has been installed at the accident site.I paid rich tributes to him & info my officers about Chaitanya’s soldierly qualities.

    He was a true soldier & a thorough gentleman.

  • Col Rajbir Singh Raghu

    2023 at 12:07 pm Reply

    Chaitanya joined 24 Med Regt(SP) during first year of my Command of unit in Dec 97. Right from the first time when I saw him during my interview, I was impressed by his cool, calm and confident way of conducting himself. I had so much of faith in his capabilities that I started giving him responsibilities much more than expected to be given to officers of his seniority and as expected he delivered goods. Number of times, he was highly appreciated by senior visiting officers.
    The sad news of the accident was received from exercise area by me at midnight which shook the entire unit and formation. I admit this was the most difficult time of my command and it leaves a strange feeling whenever I remember it even today. But these are the ways of God.
    Will always miss you ….dear Chaitanya

  • Lt Col Manish Dogra

    2023 at 1:39 pm Reply

    “This is the day we pay homage to all those who didn’t come home. This is not Martyr’s Day, it’s not a celebration, it is a day of solemn contemplation over the cost of freedom.”
    “This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is home of the Braves like LT CHAITANYA DUBEY.
    Courage is contagious. When a brave man like LT CHAITANYA takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.
    So long as the memory of CHAITANYA lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.
    In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
    Our debt to the heroic & valiant
    LT CHAITANYA in the service of our country can never be repaid. He has earned our undying gratitude. Nation will never forget his sacrifices.
    It is foolish and wrong to mourn the death of LT CHAITANYA. Rather we should thank God such HERO’ lived.
    We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.

Post a Comment