Major Lil Bahadur Gurung VrC

Major Lil Bahadur Gurung hailed from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh  and was born on 18 March 1941. He got commissioned into 10 Mahar Battalion of the Mahar Regiment, an infantry regiment founded in 1941 which had a glorious history of gallantry in various operations. He soon evolved into a committed soldier and a fine officer with superior field-craft skills. By the year 1971, he had gathered substantial field experience and had been promoted to the rank of Major.  

Eastern Border Operation : 19 Mar 1972

During 1971, Maj Lil Bahadur Gurung’s unit was deployed in in the eastern sector. Though the 1971 war officially ended on 16 December 1971,  border skirmishes continued thereafter for quite sometime. Indian Army regularly launched armed patrols to monitor the border area and deal with any cease fire violations. During Mar 1972, Maj Lil Bahadur Gurung was functioning as a commanding officer of a Company of 10 Mahar battalion. On 19 Mar 1972, in response to a hostile action by the enemy, Maj Lil Bahadur Gurung was tasked to attack the enemy post in their area of responsibility. Maj Gurung launched a determined attack on the enemy post along with his troops. 

The enemy retaliated and his company came under intense and accurate fire from enemy medium machine guns. Undeterred by the heavy volume of fire, Maj Gurung led a determined attack and, by his personal example, inspired his troops to maintain the momentum of the attack. Maj Gurung got injured during the exchange of fire but though severely wounded in the leg, he crawled up to an enemy MMG bunker. While doing so, he received another burst in his leg. Though seriously wounded, he lobbed a grenade into the bunker neutralizing the gun, thus facilitating the capture of the objective by his company. He continued to encourage his men until he succumbed to his wounds on the battlefield. Maj Lil Bahadur Gurung was a valiant soldier and gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty.

Major Lil Bahadur Gurung was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” (posthumously) for his cold courage, fighting spirit, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.