Captain SS Walkar MVC

Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar was born on 8 March 1943 in Kadgaon village, located in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. Raised in a region known for its strong martial traditions and patriotic spirit, he imbibed the values of discipline, courage, and service to the nation from an early age. These ideals shaped his decision to pursue a career in the armed forces and dedicate his life to the country's defence. At the age of 26, on 15 June 1969, he was commissioned into the Indian Army as an officer. He was allotted to the 18 Madras Battalion of the Madras Regiment, one of the Army’s oldest and most decorated infantry regiments, renowned for its fearless soldiers, exceptional discipline, and an illustrious record of battle honours. Very early in his military career, Captain Walkar was called upon to serve in active combat. With the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he found himself in the midst of a full-scale conflict.

During this war, 18 Madras was deployed in the Nayachor–Umarkot sector on the western front, a strategically sensitive area where Pakistani forces attempted to apply pressure through offensive actions. In this challenging operational environment, Captain Walkar’s unit played a crucial role in containing and blunting Pakistani attacks, thereby preventing enemy advances and stabilising the sector. The deployment demanded high levels of endurance, tactical awareness, and steadfast courage, all under the constant threat of enemy fire. As a young officer, Captain Walkar gained invaluable combat experience during these operations, contributing effectively to his unit’s mission and upholding the proud traditions of the Madras Regiment. 

Indo-Pak War: 16 Dec 1971

In 1971, Captain Walkar's unit 18 Madras was deployed in the southern Rajasthan sector. India was compelled to go to war with Pakistan following the brutal genocide unleashed by the Pakistani Army in its eastern wing, which triggered an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees into India. The scale of the humanitarian crisis made armed conflict inevitable. India thus found itself fighting a two-front war—on the eastern front, which culminated in the liberation of Bangladesh, and simultaneously on the western and northern fronts to counter Pakistani offensives. On the western front, the Rajasthan sector assumed critical importance. Here, the Indian Army deployed the 11 Infantry Division and 12 Infantry Division, while Pakistan opposed them with its 18 Infantry Division, reinforced by an additional brigade and paramilitary forces. Indian operational planning envisaged a bold double thrust: the 12 Infantry Division advancing along the Longewala–Rahim Yar Khan axis, and the 11 Infantry Division advancing along the Barmer–Naya Chor axis. However, these plans were disrupted when Pakistan launched a major armoured assault on Longewala on the night of 3 December 1971. The attack was decisively blunted by resolute ground defence and devastating tactical air support from the Indian Air Force. Pakistani forces suffered crippling losses—approximately 24 tanks and around 150 vehicles—effectively neutralising their offensive capability in this sector and turning the tide in India’s favour.

Operations of 18 Madras in the Southern Rajasthan Sector

In the southern Rajasthan sector, the 18 Madras Battalion was placed under the operational control of 11 Infantry Division. On 4 December 1971, the battalion launched aggressive operations, swiftly overrunning Pakistani border posts. Maintaining relentless momentum, the unit advanced nearly 45 kilometres into Pakistani territory and established contact with the Naya Chor defences by 11 December. By 16 December 1971, after a gruelling advance of over 40 miles across harsh desert terrain under constant threat of enemy fire, 18 Madras reached positions at Hingora Tar, barely two kilometres from Umarkot. At this decisive stage, Capt Shankar Shankhapan Walkar, serving as the Mortar Officer of the battalion, played a pivotal role in sustaining the unit’s combat effectiveness. On 16 December 1971, as the battalion consolidated its positions at Hingora Tar, it came under intense and sustained enemy shelling. Displaying exemplary leadership and complete disregard for personal safety, Captain Walkar moved from one rifle company position to another to coordinate and “tie up” defensive mortar fire tasks, ensuring that all likely enemy approaches were effectively covered. During this hazardous movement under heavy fire, he was struck twice by shell splinters and seriously wounded. Despite his injuries, he refused evacuation and continued to perform his duties with unwavering determination. Enemy shelling persisted through the night, and in the early hours of the following morning, Pakistani troops launched assaults on two company positions.

Though already wounded, Captain Walkar once again rose to the occasion. Leading from the front and inspiring his men by personal example, he engaged the enemy in close combat, shooting at least four enemy soldiers and forcing the attackers to withdraw, thereby preventing a potentially dangerous breakthrough. In the course of this fierce action, he was fatally wounded and later succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army at the young age of 28 years. Along with Captain Walkar, 22 other brave soldiers of 18 Madras made the supreme sacrifice during these operations, including Sub AP Sreedhara Dass, Nb Sub N N Krishnan, Hav A P Ponnappan, L Nk S A Narayan, L Nk M Mani, L Nk Panoly Govi, Sep M Muthaiah, Sep Amir Miyan, Sep G V Pillai, Sep Rajan, Sep N C M Appachu, Sep Sampathu, Sep R G Krishna Kurup, Sep Gajendran, Sep Shaik Mahaboob, Sep M A Kasinathan, Sep Arasan Raju, Sep Basav Rajappa, Sep J Ganesan, Sep C Kandasamy, Sep Revan Siddappa and Sep V Somasekharan. For his exceptional bravery, indomitable fighting spirit, inspirational leadership, and supreme sacrifice, Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the nation’s second-highest gallantry award. His actions during the 1971 War stand as a timeless example of courage under fire and selfless devotion to duty, embodying the finest traditions of the Indian Army. 

The citation of "Maha Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:-

Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar was the Mortar Officer of a battalion of the Madras Regiment, during the recent operations against Pakistan on the Western Front. On the 16^th December 1971, when the battalion reached Hingore Tar after advancing 42 miles it came under very heavy shelling from enemy positions. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Captain Walkar went to each rifle company position to tie up defensive fire tasks. In doing so, he was hit twice by splinters and sustained injuries, but he refused to evacuated and carried on with his tasks displaying outstanding courage and devotion to duty. Heavy enemy shelling continued during the night and early next morning the enemy assaulted two Company positions. Although wounded, Captain Shankar Shankapan Walkar inspired his men to hold fast, he himself shot at least four enemy personnel and forced the enemy to pull back. He was, however, fatally wounded in this action. After firing the last round, he succumbed to the injuries.

Throughout Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar displayed conspicuous gallantry, inspiring leadership and exemplary devotion to duty. He fought bravely to the last.

• The Housing project of Shankar Enclave in Mumbai has been named after Captain Shankar S Walkar, MVC in his honour.