Major AK Ramaswamy MVC

Major Annavi Krishnaswamy Ramaswamy hailed from Ayilam village of Palghat district in Kerala and was born on 31st October 1924. His family later moved and settled down in south Malabar in Kerala. He was commissioned into 3 Para Maratha Light Infantry Regiment on 15 Dec 1946 at the age of 22 years. By the year 1948, he had put in nearly 20 years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Major. 

Indo-Pak War (Naushera Sector): 16 Jan 1948

The attack by Pakistani raiders on Jammu and Kashmir which commenced in Oct 1947 continued unabated and they captured Jhangar on 24 Dec 1947. The capture of Jhangar gave them the strategic advantage to push for their advance to Naushera and Poonch.  Thus the recapture of Jhangar became very important to thwart the advance of enemy forces to Naushera. In order to to recapture Jhangar, Indian Army planned a two Brigade advance on Naushera-Jhangar road. During this advance two companies of 3 Maratha Light Infantry were tasked to march as a vanguard of 50 Para Brigade. Maj AK Ramaswamy was commanding one of the companies that took on the assigned task.

On 16 January 1948, Maj Ramaswamy, whilst in command of a company of a para battalion at Naushera, was ordered to reinforce the forward company which was under enemy fire. He helped relieve the pressure of enemy fire. After the rest of the battalion had safely withdrawn, it was the turn of Maj Ramaswamy’s company to withdraw. The route of withdrawal was covered by heavy enemy fire. While negotiating an exposed part of the ground, one of his soldiers got wounded and was left behind. Maj Ramaswamy, without any regard for his personal safety, ran back to evacuate the wounded soldier.

The wounded soldier warned this officer not to come to his aid and expose himself to enemy fire. But undeterred, he went ahead and carried the soldier for about 15 yards under a hail of enemy fire. However while doing so, Maj Ramaswamy got severely wounded by enemy fire. He later succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated and was martyred. Maj Ramaswamy was a gallant soldier and a gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty. Maj AK Ramaswamy was given the nation's 2nd highest gallantry award, "Maha Vir Chakra" for his extraordinary courage, leadership and camaraderie.  

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

On 16 January 1948, Major A.K. Ramaswamy, whilst in command of a company of a para battalion at Naushera, was ordered to reinforce the forward company which was under enemy fire. He helped relieve the pressure of enemy fire. After the rest of the battalion had safely withdrawn, it was the turn of Major Ramaswamy’s company to withdraw. The route of withdrawal was covered by heavy enemy fire. While crossing the most exposed part of the ground, a sepoy got wounded and was left behind. Major Ramaswamy, without any regard for his personal safety, ran back to evacuate the wounded sepoy.

The wounded sepoy gallantly warned this officer not to come to his aid and thus expose himself to enemy fire. But undaunted, the officer went to his aid and managed single-handed to bring back the wounded soldier 15 yards under a hail of enemy fire when he himself was mortally wounded and died while being evacuated to the regimental aid post.

• The Housing project of Ramaswamy Nagar in Bangalore has been named after Major A K Ramaswamy MVC.