Col Vasanth Venugopal AC VSM

Colonel Vasanth Venugopal was born to Shri NK Venugopal and Smt Praphulla in Bangalore, Karnataka. Due to his father’s professional commitments, the family frequently relocated within the state of Karnataka. As a result, Col. Vasanth attended multiple schools in different locations, including Udupi, Shimoga, and Bangalore. Despite the challenges posed by frequent relocations, he excelled academically and developed a strong foundation in discipline and perseverance. He pursued his higher education at MES College, Bangalore, from where he graduated in 1988. Apart from being an exceptional student, Col Vasanth was also a talented athlete. His interest in leadership and service was evident from his active participation in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during his college years. His dedication and exemplary performance in the NCC earned him a place in the Indo-Canada World Youth Exchange Program of 1986-87, an experience that broadened his perspective and reinforced his passion for serving the nation.

Following his graduation, Col Vasanth joined the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, in 1988. After rigorous training, he was commissioned into the 9th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment on 10 June 1989. The Maratha Light Infantry is one of the oldest and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army, known for its indomitable spirit and rich history of valour. Throughout his distinguished military career spanning more than eighteen years, Col Vasanth served in various challenging assignments across India. His postings took him to Pathankot, Sikkim, Gandhinagar, Ranchi, Bangalore, and different operational sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. His leadership style was deeply rooted in camaraderie and commitment to his troops. A testament to his dedication was his unwavering belief that a leader must always stand with his soldiers. When his mother once inquired whether a Colonel should personally lead operations, he simply replied, “I go where my men go.”

Uri Operation: 31 July 2007

In Jul 2007, Colonel Venugopa was the Commanding Officer of the 9 Maratha Light Infantry. At that time, the battalion was deployed in the strategically sensitive Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. His leadership during this tenure was marked by courage, tactical acumen, and an unyielding commitment to national security. His ability to inspire and lead from the front made him a revered figure among his men and a formidable adversary to those who threatened the sovereignty of the nation. On 30 July 2007, upon receiving intelligence regarding the infiltration of terrorists from across the Line of Control, Col Vasanth Venugopal, demonstrating exemplary leadership, personally took command of a contingent of troops. Without hesitation, he swiftly mobilized his unit and intercepted the infiltrating group of terrorists, who, upon being detected, attempted to retreat across the Line of Control.

Foreseeing their possible routes of escape, Col Venugopal displayed strategic acumen and decisiveness by effectively positioning his troops to block all possible avenues of withdrawal. The terrorists, seeking to exploit the dense jungle foliage for concealment, attempted to evade capture. However, Col Venugopal, leading from the front with unwavering resolve, engaged the infiltrators in a fierce and prolonged firefight. This grueling engagement lasted throughout the day and night, yet despite their desperate efforts, the terrorists were unable to break free, thanks to the determined stand taken by the Colonel and his men. As dawn broke on 31 July 2007, Col Venugopal, recognizing the strategic advantage of daylight, rallied his troops for a final offensive. With a well-planned tactical maneuver, he orchestrated an encirclement of the enemy’s position, cutting off all possible escape routes. The terrorists, having taken up a dominant position in the rugged terrain, resisted fiercely. Undeterred by the peril, Col Venugopal personally led the operation to flush them out. In a close-quarters combat engagement, he successfully neutralized one terrorist but sustained injuries in the process. Ignoring his wounds and bleeding profusely, he continued to inspire his men, directing them to maintain their positions and prevent any remaining terrorists from escaping.

Despite being critically wounded, Colonel Vasanth Venugopal mustered his remaining strength and valiantly engaged another terrorist who was attempting to escape. Displaying exceptional courage, he neutralized the fleeing militant. In the fierce exchange of fire that followed, Colonel Venugopal was struck by a burst of gunfire from the enemy. Even as he lost strength and drifted toward unconsciousness, he demonstrated extraordinary bravery by firing one last shot, successfully eliminating the terrorist before succumbing to his injuries. During the same operation, Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant Ganpat also made the supreme sacrifice while fighting alongside Colonel Venugopal. The courageous actions and unwavering spirit of Colonel Vasanth Venugopal ultimately led to the complete elimination of the group of eight heavily armed foreign terrorists. Colonel Vasanth was posthumously awarded the "Ashok Chakra", the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award.

Colonel Vasanth is survived by his wife, Smt Subhashini Vasanth, and their daughters, Ms Rukmini and Ms Yeshodha. Rukmini Vasanth pursued a career in acting and is now a prominent actress in Kannada cinema. She made her debut with Birbal Trilogy Case 1: Finding Vajramuni (2019). Her performances in the 2023 romantic dramas Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A and Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side B earned her widespread critical acclaim, culminating in her winning the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Kannada. Smt Subhashini Vasanth is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer who has dedicated her life to training young aspirants in the classical art form. Her personal experience as a martyr’s wife deeply influenced her decision to support the families of fallen soldiers. She founded the Vasantharatna Foundation for Art in memory of her husband, with the objective of providing emotional and financial support to the families of martyrs. Through this initiative, she has touched numerous lives, ensuring that the sacrifices of brave soldiers like Colonel Vasanth are never forgotten.

The citation for the "Ashok Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On 30 July 2007, on receiving information of infiltration of terrorists from across the Line of Control, Colonel Vasanth Venugopal personally took command of a body of troops, moved swiftly and intercepted the infiltrating group of terrorists who were attempting to escape back across the Line of Control on being detected. Anticipating this move, Colonel Venugopal displaying determined and resolute leadership, deftly organized his troops to block the avenues of escape. Taking advantage of dense foliage, terrorists tried to evade by hiding in the jungle. Colonel Venugopal, leading his troops from the front, engaged the terrorists in a fierce fire fight closing in on the terrorist. This exhausting engagement went on throughout the entire day and night but succeeded in foiling all attempts by the terrorists to make good their escape using cover of darkness and foliage in the night. At daybreak on 31 July 2007, Colonel Venugopal, wanting to take advantage of the first light, rallied his men and personally led the operation to flush out the terrorists who had managed to occupy dominating position. Outflanking the terrorist location, Colonel Venugopal, engaged the terrorists from close quarter killing one terrorist but was himself injured. Unmindful of his injury and bleeding profusely he exhorted his men to block all escape routes and killed another terrorist trying to escape. In the meanwhile, a terrorist fired a burst, which hit Colonel Venugopal. Mustering the last reserves of energy, in a daring act before losing consciousness, Colonel Venugopal fired at the terrorist and killed him.

However, he later succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice for the mother land. Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, thus, displayed outstanding bravery, courage and resolute leadership resulted in determined perseverance by his men to eliminate the complete group of eight foreign terrorists.

Colonel Vasanth Venugopal’s Wife Smt Subhashini Venugopal and his cousin Smt Veena
Prasad have published his biography called ‘Forever Forty’. 

Forever Forty is a celebration of life. The life of Col Vasanth, AC – a life well lived – from growing up in a loving household and making wonderful friends, to marrying the woman he loved, raising beautiful children, and staying true to his calling till the very end. It is also a celebration of love. Love, expressed eloquently in more than four hundred letters he wrote home while posted on cold, rugged, inhospitable mountains, spending almost every New Year, birthday and anniversary away from family, while keeping intact his characteristic sense of humour, and writing so evocatively as to bring everything alive. These letters are juxtaposed with the stories related by his close friends and family, giving one a glimpse into his amazing personality – nothing short of inspiring.

• A bust statue of Colonel Vasanth Venugopal has been erected at the Army Selection Center (South) in Bangalore as a tribute to his bravery and supreme sacrifice.
• The housing colony in Bangalore by AWHO has been named as "Vasanth Vihar" in the memory of Colonel Vasanth Venugopal.