Grenadier Hari Bhakar SM

Grenadier Hari Bhakar hailed from Joosari village in Makrana Tehsil of Nagaur district, Rajasthan. He was born on 01 October 1998 to Shri Padma Ram Bhakar and Smt. Kamla Devi was in a patriotic military family where service to the nation was a long-standing tradition. Nearly fifteen members of his extended family had served in the Armed Forces, and this legacy of uniformed service strongly influenced his upbringing and aspirations. He grew up in an atmosphere defined by discipline, commitment, and great national pride. He was the eldest of three siblings, with a sister, Manoja and a twin brother, Harendra, who later also joined the Indian Army, continuing the family’s tradition of military service. Grenadier Hari Bhakar completed his early schooling at Karni Senior Sec. School Mindkiya and then Saraswathi Public School, Makrana. From a young age, he was known for his sincerity, physical fitness, and clear determination to pursue a career in the armed forces.

During March 2019, Grenadier Hari Bhakar was serving with his unit, 4 Grenadiers, which was deployed in the Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC). This stretch of the border has historically remained one of the most sensitive and volatile operational zones. India shares a 3,323-km border with Pakistan, of which a significant portion — including about 221 km of the International Border and nearly 740 km of the LoC — falls within Jammu and Kashmir. The LoC is frequently marked by tension, infiltration attempts, and ceasefire violations, often taking place without prior warning. The year 2018 recorded an exceptionally high number of ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces, and the pattern continued into 2019 despite repeated flag meetings and appeals for restraint. Against this backdrop of heightened hostilities, Pakistani troops carried out another ceasefire violation in the Poonch sector on 23 March 2019. At about 5:30 pm, Pakistan Army posts across the border initiated unprovoked firing targeting Indian forward positions in the Shahpur Qasba and Kerni areas. At the time, Grenadier Hari Bhakar’s battalion was deployed on forward posts, maintaining a high state of alert and vigilance. The ceasefire violation quickly escalated, with the opposing side employing heavy weapons, mortars, and rockets, resulting in intense cross-border shelling that affected both military positions and nearby civilian areas.

Indian Army troops responded promptly and effectively to the aggression, engaging the hostile positions and returning fire in a calibrated and determined manner. A heavy exchange of fire followed and continued intermittently through the night. During this intense shelling, Grenadier Hari Bhakar was grievously wounded by shell splinters while performing his operational duties at the forward location. Despite immediate evacuation and the best possible medical care at a military hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on 24 March 2019. His actions reflected courage, steadfastness, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave danger. In recognition of his exceptional bravery, professional commitment, and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Grenadier Hari Bhakar was posthumously awarded the "Sena Medal" on 26 January 2020.

Grenadier Hari Bhakar is survived by his father, Shri Padma Ram Bhakar, and mother, Smt. Kamla Devi, his sister Smt. Manoja Devi and his twin brother Shri Harendra Bhakar, who continues the family’s proud tradition of service as a soldier in the 17th Grenadiers Battalion. Grenadier Hari Bhakar's sacrifice remains a source of pride and inspiration for his family, his regiment, and the nation.