Service No: IC-41913
DOB: 21 Sep 1963
Last Rank : Major
Unit : 8 JAK LI
Arm/Regt : The J & K Light Infantry
Operation : Op Rakshak (J&K)
Award : Kirti Chakra
Date of Martyrdom: Jun 17, 2000
Major Pradeep R Tathawade KC
Maj Pradeep R Tathawade hailed from Kendur Pabal village of Shirur Taluka in Pune district, Maharashtra. Son of Shri Ramachandra Krishnarao Tathawade and Smt Kusum R Tathawade, Maj Tathawade was second among three siblings with an elder brother Milind and sister Sushma. After his primary education he went on to study from class V in Sainik School at Satara in Maharashtra. The foundation of his military life was laid at this school and eventually he got selected to join the prestigious National Defence Academy in the year 1980.
He was commissioned in June 1984, into 8 JAK LI of the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment, a regiment known for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. By the year 2000, Maj Tathawade had put in around 16 years of service in the army and developed into a battle-hardened soldier after having served in challenging operational areas.
Poonch Operation: 17 June 2000
During June 2000, Maj Tathawade’s unit was deployed in Poonch district of J & K and was engaged in operations against the militants on a frequent basis. On 17th June 2000, Maj Tathawade’s unit received information from intelligent sources about the presence of a group of militants in Shahpur village in Poonch district. Maj Tathawade was officiating as Commanding Officer of the battalion that time and took a decision to launch an operation against the militants. He decided to lead the team himself and reached the suspected area immediately. Soon the assault team made contact with the militants who fired at the troops on being asked to surrender.
A gun battle ensued thereafter with a heavy exchange of fire from both sides. During the ongoing battle, Maj Tathawade saw two militants trying to break away. Maj Tathawade in a swift action shot at the two militants killing them on the spot. In the meantime, the third militant attacked Maj Tathawade from behind. He rolled to the ground along with the militant, who sprang up and shot at Maj Tathawade from close quarters. Although shot in the stomach and thigh Maj Tathawade managed to eliminate the third militant. By then he was bleeding profusely but continued to direct the operation, warning his people to stay back till the militants were killed or captured. Later when the remaining militants were killed, Maj Tathawade was rushed to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Maj Tathawade displayed courage and leadership of a very high order and laid down his life in the service of the nation, following the traditions of the Indian army.
Maj Pradeep R Tathawade was given the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award “Kirti Chakra” for his exceptional courage, unyielding fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.
Maj Pradeep R Tathawade is survived by his wife Smt Leenta Tathawade, daughter Bhagyashree, and son Sagar.
Citation for the Kirti Chakra awarded to him reads:-.
Maj Pardeep R Tathawade, the Second-in-command, volunteered to lead the search for five hardcore foreign mercenaries who had broken contact and displayed dynamic leadership in tracking them to a re-entrant replete with dense foliage. Maj Pradeep R Tathawade was commissioned into 8 JAK LI on 09 Jul 1984. He was performing the duties of Second-in-Command of the Bn when on 17 Jun 2000 five militants sneaked in the Bn AOR from Pakistan. Maj PR Tathawade sprung the cordon, disposing troops adroitly. Heavy exchange of fire ensued, during which he noticed three terrorists attempting to escape under regarding own safety. He then broke cover at close quarters, and displaying steady steel nerves, shot two terrorists dead including one area commander. His charge to intercept the third locked them in hand to hand combat before they both fired at each other, and the officer was fatally wounded. His buddy shot the third terrorist dead.
For this gallant action, Maj PR Tathawade was conferred with the award of “Kirti Chakra” (Posth).
- A public park in Pune has been named as “Shahid Major Pradeep Tathawade Udyan” in his honour.
- A life-size statue of Major Tathawade stands at the entrance to the garden. The park is spread over 2.75 acres land and has a 260 meters long jogging track along the circumference. The park features several water fountains and a children’s play park.
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51 Comments
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Ramraj
2020 at 10:14 pmThis Nation and the people will forever be indebted to such Bravehearts.
S.K. Barve
2020 at 10:20 pmSalute to Major…Om Shanti
Vijay Deshpande
2020 at 10:27 pmMy sister lives just next to the Tathwade Udyan, a public Garden in the prime location of Karve nagar,Pune. I have passed by and visited this garden umpteen number of time only to realize today that the garden is dedicated to this braveheart military officer. It would have been also not possible for me to connect the dots about Maj. Pradeep Tathwade, the way I am able to now, had my batch mate Dipak from College of fisheries , Ratnagiri , who is also Maj. Pradeep’s Sainik School mate, not told me about Maj. Pradeep.
I am sure Dipak also doesn’t know that there is a fabulous public garden dedicated to Maj. Pardeep Tathawade’s sacrifice.
In the memory of this courageous officer I bow million and one time to pay our tribute to his sacrifice and shall feel inspired forever now….And my next visit to sister’s place and thereafter always shall make me visit first to Tathawade Udyan and pay my respect and then go to my sister’s house.
Major Pradeep Amar Rahe, Jai Hind
Gajanan S Ghode
2020 at 11:04 pmNo words to express gratitude for such a sacrifice of the highest order for motherland. Salute to Major Pradip. Jai Hind. Jai Shivaji
Jonathan John
2020 at 11:19 pmI salute the Braveheart.
The courage and determination.
Jai Hind.
Venkat Srirangam
2020 at 12:57 amWe are ever indebted to your services!
Jai hind!!
Mujumdar Anil Anant
2020 at 4:31 amA great warrior .We are proud of you and your act on field. God BLESS YOUAND PERFECT PEACE IN THE NEXT WORLD
Brig Anand Thakur, Retd, Ajinkyan SSS1981
2020 at 6:00 pmDeath leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal….
Even after 20 years now, the intensity and pain of Pradeep’s absence is still being strongly felt by all his friends and family members alike. Dear friend, you are gone but not forgotten.
I had the privilege to be by his side for the better part of his life. Our journey together commenced right from his child hood at Sainik School Satara (Mah) in Class 5th. A robust sportsman, a humble human being, a helpful individual, Tatya (as he is known to all his classmates) was an excellent combination of robustness of a rural lad and the sophistication of a city bred child. Unassuming that he was, he rarely spoke but when he did, only pearls flowed. It was his encouragement that created my interest in football. His magnanimous nature to always take hostel friends home for a meal, showed what real hospitality was. Thank you Aie for those delicious home cooked dishes I have enjoyed at your place.
Those we love can never be more than a thought away;
for as long as there’s a memory, they live on in our hearts.
Not the topper kind of a guy in academics but Tatya was always amongst the top 10 percentile. In fact he was the right material that Army looks for – physically fit and mentally strong. So his selection to the NDA’s Jun 1980 Course (B/64) in his very first attempt, was no surprise to anyone. Being in the same SSB Batch with him, I was privy to and envious about the ease with which he made friends even with strangers (fellow SSB mates) right from alighting at the Allahabad rly station. I still feel that our selection to NDA for the same Course was largely thanks to his supportive nature.
He had the eye that saw the best in a person, a heart that used to forgive the worst, a mind that forgot the bad and a soul that never lost faith in the God.
Although we parted ways after NDA (he joined the Infantry, inspired by his fauji maternal uncle and I went to the Engineers), we were always in touch through the postman. Listening to his and his Unit’s (8 JAK LI, the Bravest of the Brave) achievements of the 1985-87 times in Sichen was my favourite activity during the JC Course that we later did together. That was also the time Linata walked into his life as his better half. Earlier, we had cleared the PABT together but he was lucky to get to fly helicopters at Patiala and Andamans. The memories of their often coming to our home at Ambala with little Bhagyashree and Sagar are still vivid in my mind…..
20 years ago on 17 June 2000, a good heart had stopped beating, fighting the terrorists in the J&K’s Rajauri-Poonch Sector. Tatya was privileged to lay down his life and thus make the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The grateful Country honoured him with one of the highest Gallantry Awards – the Kirti Chakra. This gallant soldier’s physical absence notwithstanding, by the age of just 36 years his heart had touched so many lives that it even today lives on in so many that it loved.
Pradeep, you had instilled so much self confidence in your parents, siblings and in Linata vahini that they are all pretty successful in their respective ventures. You must be feeling proud to see the success your children have achieved by now. Keep blessing them all and your innumerable well wisher who flock the Tathawade Udyan at Kothrud, Pune and proudly salute your statue every single day.
You are our inspiration dost. Keep us on your right side as always…. Jai Hind……
……. Brig Anand Thakur, Retd, G/64
VIKRAMJIT PAUL
2023 at 12:57 amHe was an Aviator and an Infantry Officer from Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI).
Brig Anand Thakur
2024 at 7:22 pmहुतात्मा मेजर प्रदीप ताथवडे, कीर्ती चक्र, यांच्या 21 Sep 2024 जन्मदिनानिमित्त पुण्याच्या कोथरूड भागातील ताथवडे उद्यान येथे आयोजित केलेला आजचा सोहळा सर्वसामान्य कर्वेनगर नागरिक आणि तसेच सैनिक स्कूलमध्ये त्यांच्याबरोबर असलेले फौजी अधिकारी तसेच इतर शाळेतील विद्यार्थ्यांच्या उपस्थितीत अतिशय सोज्वळ पद्धतीत साजरा झाला. शाळेमधील अनेक सैन्याधिकारी… ब्रिगेडियर कुंडलकर, ब्रिगेडियर ठाकूर, कर्नल खाडिलकर… तसेच दक्षिण कमांड मार्फत पुष्पचक्र (wreath) अर्पण करण्यासाठी सैनिक स्कूलचे माजी विद्यार्थी व ब्रिगेडियर जगताप… उपस्थित होते. त्यांच्या हस्ते शहीद मेजर ताथवडे यांच्या पुतळ्यास हार घालण्यात आला. सदर कार्यक्रमास अनेक मुलकी अधिकारी व इतर व्यावसायिक उपस्थित होते, बँक ऑफ महाराष्ट्र चे निवृत्त जनरल मॅनेजर श्री नारखेडे तसेच अनेक मान्यवर उपस्थित होते…. भारत माता की जय वंदे मातरम्, शहीद ताथवडे अमर रहे यांच्या घोषणा देत कार्यक्रम पूर्ण जोशात संपन्न झाला… उपस्थित सर्व सेनाधिकारी व सैनिक स्कूल मधील माजी विद्यार्थी यांचा स्थानिक नागरिकांना मार्फत पुष्पगुच्छ आणि गुलाब देऊन सत्कार करण्यात आला. तत्पशात अल्पोपहार होऊन कार्यक्रमाची सांगता झाली.