Service No: 13436
Birth Place:Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Service: Air Force
Last Rank: Flight Lieutenant
Award : Kirti Chakra
Date of Martyrdom : Nov 21, 1981
Flight Lieutenant Shankar Iyer Chandrashekar was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Son of Mr CB Sankara, Flt Lt Chandrashekar joined the IAF in the Administrative branch. During 1981, Flt Lt Chandrashekar was serving in the Air Force station located in Lucknow.
Train Incident : 21 Nov 1981
On 21st November,1981, Flt Lt Chandrashekar was travelling by train on his annual leave to Chennai by Lucknow –Jhansi express in first class compartment with other three co-passengers. At 2330 hours when the train was passing between Malna and Lalpur railway station which is 59 Km from Kanpur, four armed robbers entered the compartment of Flt Lt Chandrashekar. When one of the passengers was stabbed by the robbers, he immediately cried for help. Flt Lt Chandrashekar immediately jumped down from his berth and caught hold of the robbers and simultaneously tried to pull the alarm chain. At that time one of the robbers shot Flt Lt Chandrashekar on his right temple at a close range with a country made revolver, killing him on the spot. Flt Lt Chandrashekar’s daring action caused panic among the robbers and they escaped in the darkness without injuring any other passengers.
Flt Lt Chandrashekar gave his life while helping the hapless co-passengers from robbers by displaying highest tradition of service before self. The officer reacted with reflex of a well trained and disciplined member of the Indian Air Force. For this act of bravery and self sacrifice Flt Lt Chandrashekar was awarded the nation’s second highest peace time gallantry award “Kirti Chakra”.
The Citation for the Kirti Chakra Awarded to him reads:-
On the 21st November, 1981, Flight Lieutenant Sankara Iyer Chandrasekhar (13436) Administrative, was proceeding by train on his annual leave to Madras by Lucknow-Jhansi Express and was travelling in a First Class compartment along with three other co-passengers. At about 2330 hours when the train was between Malana and Lalpur railway stations (59 kms from Kanpur), four armed robbers forced their way into their compartment. One of the passengers was stabbed. Awakened by the disturbance and responding immediately to the victim’s cries for help Flight Lieutenant Chandrasekhar jumped down from his berth and grappled with the armed robbers while simultaneously attempting to pull the alarm chain. At this stage, one of the intruders shot the officer on his right temple at close range with a country made revolver killing him on the spot. Immediately thereafter, the armed robbers escaped under the cover of darkness without inflicting any further injury to the other passengers.
The circumstances under which Flight Lieutenant Chandrasekhar gave his life were obviously such that only a person with abundant courage and steeped in the highest traditions of Service before self could respond in the manner he did. Knowing fully well that he was facing a group of desperadoes armed with lethal weapons and unhesitating in using them, the officer reacted with reflexes of a well trained and disciplined member of the Air Force.
During the entire episode the Flight Lieutenant Sankara Iyer Chandrasekhar displayed conspicuous bravery and courage of the highest order and laid down his life in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.
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Shruthi Rana
2017 at 11:16 amIndia is fortunate to have a son like you ..!
Kanupriya Bazaz
2017 at 10:25 amSalute to the Brave Son Of Mother India!
Jai Hind
Suman Raj
2017 at 11:36 amI salute your heroism and sacrifice..Jai Hind..!
Savitha
2025 at 7:07 amSalute to the great Humanbeing.God bless his family
Dr Ramaprasad
2025 at 1:12 pmJai Shree Ram! I Salute the brave heart!