Havildar AP Ponnappan

Havildar Ayiramthayyil Pathrose Ponnappan hailed from Omanapuzha village in Alappuzha (Alleppey) district of Kerala. After completing his school education, he joined the Indian Army and was recruited into the 18 Madras Battalion of the Madras Regiment—one of the oldest and most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army. Known for its rich traditions, strict discipline, and a distinguished record of valour, the Madras Regiment offered him a path of honour and responsibility, which he embraced with dedication and pride. During the 1971 Indo–Pak War, 18 Madras was deployed in the Nayachor–Umarkot sector on the western front, an area of significant strategic importance. The region was characterised by inhospitable terrain, extreme climatic conditions, and a constant threat from enemy forces, making military operations particularly challenging. Despite these hardships, the battalion played a vital role in containing and repelling Pakistani offensives, thereby preventing any major enemy breakthrough and contributing to the stabilisation of the sector.

As a committed and dependable member of this battle-hardened unit, Hav Ponnappan discharged his duties with professionalism, courage, and quiet determination. Throughout his military career, he served in various operational areas and participated in several important missions, consistently upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

Indo-Pak War: 16-17 Dec 1971

In 1971, Havildar A. P. Ponnappan’s unit, 18 Madras, was deployed in the Southern Rajasthan sector during a period of grave national crisis. India was compelled to go to war with Pakistan following the large-scale atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army in its eastern wing, which led to an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees into India. The magnitude of this humanitarian crisis made armed conflict unavoidable. Consequently, India found itself engaged in a two-front war—on the eastern front, which ultimately resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh, and on the western and northern fronts to counter Pakistani military offensives. On the western front, the Rajasthan sector assumed significant strategic importance. Indian forces in this region included the 11 Infantry Division and the 12 Infantry Division, while the opposing Pakistani forces comprised the 18 Infantry Division, reinforced by additional brigades and paramilitary elements. Indian operational plans envisaged a bold double thrust: the 12 Infantry Division advancing along the Longewala–Rahim Yar Khan axis, and the 11 Infantry Division 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. This attack was decisively repulsed by determined Indian ground forces, supported by effective air strikes from the Indian Air Force, resulting in heavy Pakistani losses and a decisive shift in momentum in India’s favour.

Amid these developments, 18 Madras, under the operational control of 11 Infantry Division, launched offensive operations on 4 December 1971. The battalion swiftly overran Pakistani border posts and, maintaining relentless momentum, advanced nearly 45 kilometres into enemy territory, establishing 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, the battalion reached Hingora Tar, just two kilometres short of Umarkot. At this critical juncture, Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar, serving as the battalion’s Mortar Officer, played a key role in sustaining the unit’s combat effectiveness. Havildar A. P. Ponnappan was an integral part of this forward deployment. On 16 December 1971, as the battalion consolidated its positions at Hingora Tar, it came under intense and sustained enemy shelling. In the midst of this heavy bombardment, Hav Ponnappan continued to carry out his duties with exceptional courage, alertness, and devotion to duty. During this fierce engagement, he was struck by an enemy mortar round and sustained grievous injuries. Despite all efforts to save him, he later succumbed to his wounds, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. His bravery and steadfastness under fire reflected the highest traditions of the Indian Army. The operations in this sector came at a high cost to 18 Madras. Alongside Hav AP Ponnappan and Captain SS Walkar, 21 other brave soldiers of 18 Madras made the supreme sacrifice during these operations, including Sub AP Sreedhara Dass, Nb Sub NN Krishnan, Nk M Mani, L Nk SA Narayan, L Nk Panoly Govi, Sep M Muthaiah, Sep Amir Miyan, Sep GV Pillai, Sep Rajan, Sep NCM Appachu, Sep Sampathu, Sep RG Krishna Kurup, Sep Gajendran, Sep Shaik Mahaboob, Sep MA Kasinathan, Sep Arasan Raju, Sep Basav Rajappa, Sep J Ganesan, Sep C Kandasamy, Sep Revan Siddappa and Sep V SomasekharanTheir collective sacrifice remains a testament to the valour, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the battalion.

Havildar AP. Ponnappan is survived by his mother Smt Stella.