Captain Ravinder Kaura VrC

Capt Ravinder Kaura hailed from Jagraon village in the Ludhiana district of Punjab. Born on 28 September 1946 to Late Shri L. D. Kaura, he grew up with a deep sense of patriotism and a strong aspiration to don the uniform. His determination to serve the nation eventually led him to join the Indian Army on 6 August 1967, at just 21 years of age. After completing his training, he was commissioned into the 39 Medium Regiment of the Regiment of Artillery—an arm of the Indian Army renowned for its firepower, heavy weaponry, and decisive battlefield support using field guns, howitzers, and other sophisticated artillery systems. During his short yet impactful military tenure, Capt Ravinder Kaura gained a reputation for being disciplined, committed, and tactically sound. Barely four years into service, circumstances demanded his courage and professionalism as border tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in 1971. When the Indo-Pak War broke out, Capt Ravinder found himself at the forefront of the conflict, contributing to operations with unwavering resolve and a deep sense of duty.

Battle of Chhamb (Indo-Pak War)-  03 Dec 1971

During the Indo–Pak War of 1971, Capt Ravinder Kaura’s unit, 39 Medium Regiment, was deployed on the western front. The regiment operated under the 10th Infantry Division in the strategically sensitive Chhamb sector, one of the most fiercely contested battlefields of the war. The Battle of Chhamb is remembered as one of the most tactically intense engagements across all three Indo-Pak conflicts, noted for its operational planning, armoured manoeuvres, and small-unit bravery under fire. In this sector, 191 Brigade, comprising four infantry battalions, was entrusted with defending Indian positions. These battalions covered the Ceasefire Line (CFL) stretching from the Manawar village–Jhanda area in the south to Mandiala in the north. On the night of 3 December 1971, just before 2100 hours, Pakistan’s 23 Division launched a coordinated offensive along the CFL, beginning with heavy and concentrated artillery shelling on Indian forward posts.

At the time of hostilities, Capt Ravinder Kaura was serving as a Forward Observation Officer (FOO)—a critical role that required him to direct artillery fire from the front lines with extreme accuracy. Positioned in a defended locality in the Chhamb sector, he was responsible for observing enemy movements and guiding artillery fire to neutralize advancing forces. Between 3rd and 4th December 1971, Pakistani forces launched repeated and well-supported attacks on his position. Despite the relentless bombardment and grave personal risk, Capt Ravinder continued to expose himself to enemy fire in order to adjust and direct artillery barrages with precision. His composure under fire and unwavering courage inspired the troops around him and played a decisive role in blunting the enemy assault. His accurate fire orders inflicted heavy casualties and disrupted Pakistani attempts to break through Indian defences. However, during one such engagement, Capt Ravinder Kaura was struck by enemy shelling and sustained severe injuries. Though initially declared Killed in Action, later accounts led to the belief that he may have been captured alive.

Capt Ravinder Kaura’s name appears among the ‘Missing 54’—Indian soldiers believed to have been taken as Prisoners of War (PoWs) in 1971 and never returned. While India asserts these soldiers remain in Pakistani custody or died there, Pakistan denies holding them. For years, Capt Ravinder’s family lived with the grief of uncertainty. In the late 1980s, hope resurfaced when Mukhtiar Singh, an Indian civilian released from a Pakistani prison, claimed in a media interview that several Indian soldiers—among them Capt Kaura—were alive in the facility where he had been incarcerated. This testimony renewed questions, but no official verification ever followed. For his exceptional bravery, leadership under fire, and steadfast devotion to duty, Capt Ravinder Kaura was awarded the Vir Chakra, one of India’s highest wartime gallantry awards. His story remains a reminder not only of courage on the battlefield but also of the unresolved pain of soldiers who never returned—and families who still wait.

The citation for Vir Chakra awarded to him reads :

Captain Ravinder Kaura of the Regiment of Artillery was an observation post officer in a defended locality in the Chhamb Sector. On the 3rd/ 4th December 1971, the enemy attacked this position in strength on a number of occasions. These attacks were supported by intense and accurate artillery fire. Undeterred by the heavy shelling and unmindful of his personal safety. He repeatedly exposed to himself to danger in order to bring down accurate artillery fire on the enemy. He inspired and encouraged the men to hold on to the position continued to bring down effective artillery fire, breaking up enemy attacks till he was killed by an enemy shell.

In this action, Captain Ravinder Kaura displayed gallantry, determination and leadership of a high order.