Service No: IC-13654
Date of Birth : 04 May 1942
Birth Place : Punjab
Service: Army
Last Rank : Major
Last Unit : 3 Jat
Arm/Regt : The Jat Regiment
Operation: Op Riddle
Date of Martyrdom : Sep 22, 1965
Major Rishi Dev Vatsa
Maj Rishi Dev Vatsa was born on 04th May 1942 in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab. Son of Shri Jitendra Nath, Maj Vatsa was the youngest among five siblings to his parents. Maj Vatsa’s other brothers included C K Vatsa, B K Vatsa, R C Vatsa, and S P Vatsa. He did his schooling from Dav High School Hoshiarpur and completed Matric in the year 1957. Thereafter he completed his FSC (intermediate Science Faculty) from Punjab University College, Hoshiarpur. He was a bright child during his school and also took a keen interest in sports and other extra-curricular activities. He was the member of Pen Friends Society and First Aid Unit in the Punjab University College Hoshiarpur.
After completing his education he joined the army and was commissioned into 3 Jat battalion of the Jat Regiment, an infantry regiment well known for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honors. After being commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant he joined his unit in Sikkim in Dec 1962. When the war with Pakistan broke out in 1965, the unit got deployed in the western sector as a part of 54 Infantry Brigade. The unit took part in the historic battle of Dograi and fought one of the toughest battles of the war.
Battle of Dograi(Indo-Pak War) : Sep 1965
After Pakistan launched “Operation Grand Slam” aimed at occupying the important town of Akhnoor in J & K, Indian Army decided to shift the theater of war to Pakistan’s Punjab area. The intended aim was to attack from the west so that the enemy would be forced to relocate troops engaged in the Akhnoor operation to defend Punjab. This move planned by 54 Infantry Brigade using 15 Dogra, 13 Punjab, C squadron of 14 Horse and 3 Jat, proved to be the turning point of the war. 3 Jat under the command of Lt Col Desmond Hayde was the first to cross the international border on 06 Sep 1965. The two companies of 3 Jat captured the hamlet of Dograi by midday in a surprise and daring attack. However, due to inadequate follow-on support and air cover, the companies had to withdraw and move back to Santpura 9 km away from Dograi. The unit had to wait another fifteen days at Santpura to launch the second attack on Dograi on the night of 21/22 Sep 1965. Maj RD Vatsa was commanding one the rifle companies of the battalion and along with his troops, he used these fifteen days in preparing for the second attack on Dograi.
54 Infantry Brigade planned the attack in two phases. The 13 Punjab was told to overrun enemy defenses east of Dograi and secure mile 13 on Grand Trunk road in the first phase/ Once 13 mile was secured 3 Jat was to attack Dograi in the second phase. Mile 13 could not be secured but 3 Jat pressed on with the attack. The attack was launched at 01. 40 am on 22nd Sep with all companies of the battalion attacking simultaneously. It was a daring attack and every soldier who fought in Dograi that night appeared possessed. Dograi was captured by 3 am though sporadic firing continued. The CO of the battalion Lt Col Hayde met Maj Vatsa at 0330 hrs to congratulate him for the hard-earned victory. However, the enemy was rattled by the loss of Dograi and launched a strong counterattack at 0630 hrs. During this attack, Maj Vatsa was hit directly by shell weighing 200 pounds and was martyred.
Maj RD Vatsa within two and half years of his short service had developed into a dedicated and battle-hardened soldier with field craft skills of a very high order. Displaying outstanding courage, determination and fighting spirit he laid down his life at the age of 23 years in the service of the nation following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Tribute by his niece, Vandana Vatsa Minocha :
Major R. D. Vatsa, was my uncle, younger brother of my daddy(Shri S.P. Vatsa). I was born almost a year after the martyrdom of chachaji. Right from my childhood, I had been hearing episodes, relating to chachaji from my daddy. My daddy used to show me and my brother, Honey, photos/certificates of chachaji from his well-kept file. While narrating the episodes and showing pics, he invariably used to get emotional. A couple of episodes:
1: While leaving for the battlefield, after the cancellation of leave of army personnel in 1965 from Hoshiarpur(East Punjab) chachaji had fed grapes to his mother, with his own hands and touched her feet to get her blessings. While leaving the home, chachaji said to his mother, “Mataji, if something untoward happens the letter will come at Hoshiarpur”. And this actually happened when the telegram intimating about his martyrdom was received at Hoshiarpur.
2: As a tiny tot, my chachaji used to accompany his mother, almost every time, whenever, she used to leave for social obligations or religious functions in the neighbourhood. Chachaji was so attached to his mother that he used to be called, in the mohalla, “Mataji’s Poonch(tail)”. And this was probably the reason why my Dadi left for the heavens to seek/ search her tail soon after the martyrdom on 22/9/65. My Dadi left for her heavenly abode on, 9/6/66, just 9 months after the martyrdom of chachaji.
Major R D Vatsa, my Chachaji, left too early in the prime of his life. I salute to his sacrifice for our country and all other soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty. I am very proud to belong to the family of Major R D Vatsa.
Vandana Vatsa Minocha
Tribute by his elder brother Shri Shiva Prakash Vatsa:
My younger brother, Rishi Dev Vatsa, had come on leave, to Hoshiarpur, (East Punjab) to meet parents, in 1965. During his stay with the parents, leaves of Army personnel were canceled and they were asked to report to their respective units. Rishi Dev lost no time to get ready to report to his unit. Before leaving his home, Rishi Dev fed his mother, grapes with his own hands and also said that if something extraordinary happened, the intimation would come at Hoshiarpur address and that was what actually happened.
He left for duty and never came back again. He was given field promotion to the rank of Major after the casualty of Major Asa Ram Tyagi. The inland letter sent to him by the family to c/o 56 APO, congratulating him for the promotion was received back undelivered, with the words written on the face of the letter(killed in action on 22nd). His end was instantaneous. The exact age of Major R D Vatsa, on the day of his martyrdom, was 23 years, 4 months and 18 days.
My younger brother was the brightest star of the Vatsa Family. We pay our respectful tribute to him. We salute to his fighting spirit and pay respectful homage to all warriors, who fell in the line of duty, in the six wars since independence.
We bow our heads in silence to cherish his memory.
Shiva Prakash Vatsa
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Shubha (Vatsa) Sagar
2019 at 10:27 pmI am so proud of my uncle, dad’s youngest brother(chachaji), Major Rishi Dev Vatsa, who lost his life in the 65 war. I vividly remember, I was 5 year old then, my dad receiving a telegram that he had been promoted to the rank of Major post war. It was a day of jubilation for the family. The very next day we recd yet another telegram informing us of his death as he was hit by an arsenal shell. He was too young to die but we are proud to have such a brave soldier in our family. Salute to him and all the soldiers who laid their luves for their nation.
Shiva Prakash Vatsa
2019 at 3:39 pmMy younger brother ,Rishi Dev Vatsa, had come on leave , to Hoshiarpur , (East Punjab) to meet parents , in 1965 . During his stay with the parents, leaves of Army personnel were cancelled and they were asked to report to their respective units . Rishi Dev , lost no time to get ready to report to his unit . Before leaving his home , Rishi Dev fed his mother , grapes with his hands and took her blessings and also said that if something extraordinary happens , the intimation shall come at Hohiarpur address and that is what happened .
He left for duty and he left never to come again. He was field promoted to Major after the casualty of Major Tyagi. The inland letter sent to him by the family to C/O 56 APO , congratulating him for the promotion was sent back undelivered , with the words written on the face of the letter “ Killed in Action on 22nd”.His end was instantaneous.
The exact age of Major R.D.Vatsa , on the day of his martyrdom was 23 years, 4 months and 18 days.
My younger brother was the brightest star of VATSA family . We pay our respectful tribute to him . We salute to his fighting spirit and pay respectful homage to all warriors of the six wars since independence.
We bow our heads in silence to cherish his memory.
Shiva Prakash Vatsa (Elder brother )
Daisy .S. Vatsa
Supriyam Vatsa
Rachna Vatsa
Vidushi Vatsa
Dhru Vatsa
BK Vatsa
2019 at 8:48 amI am very proud my brother whom had accomplished a lot at the young age of 24. He was a very intelligent, brave, courageous and selfless man to fight for the country so generations to come could have a peaceful life. Although the news of his death was daunting. He left this world teaching all in the family and his peers so much and inspired and motivated them to keep achieving their goals. Although he is not with me physically I remember him each day and appreciate I am linked to such a extraordinary soul. He has not only made us all in his family proud but also the whole nation.
Aabha Rosy Vatsa
2019 at 12:36 pmHOMAGE TO A PATRIOT
I grew up a little girl
Watching the picture of a soldier
ALL I could comprehend
Was he was, my young Uncle
Killed in the war
It took several decades, later
And an ardent patriotic feeling
To realize how fortunate I was
To belong to the Vatsa clan
A clan that produced a fine soldier
The brightest and the youngest of the siblings
From the town of Hoshiarpur
Memories of the ancestral home came flooding back
The Myani stacked with books
Which served as a home library
Rishi not content to serve the nation in a government job
Like his father and siblings
Wanted more out of life
A burning passion to dedicate
His life to the country
He prepared hard to get through the Entrance exams
A focused young man
With his vision firmly fixed on his goal
He passed out of IMA
Vowing to serve his country
It was destiny that his Noble intention
Manifested truly
Destiny gave him a wonderful chance
And at the young age of 23
He laid down his, life at the battlefield
After being promoted to the rank of a Major
But he was destined to be more than a mere Major
A martyr
Who gladly gave up his life
In the 1965 Indo Pak War
Rishi Uncle
It is a joy indeed
To go through your certificates
Identity cards
And Testimonials from your contemporaries
Blessed indeed is the Vatsa family
To have borne a great soldier
Through this poem I pay a humble tribute to your memory
A memory beautifully etched in red stone
At the newly created War Memorial
At India Gate
You brave soldier
You taught the significance of patriotism
To the entire nation
But especially to the family you left behind
My heart bursts with pride
That I am the niece of such a Noble soldier
Your memory is, forever etched
In the War Memorial at, India Gate
The coming generations of Vatsa clan
Shall not only salute your life
But be hugely inspired
Hail brave martyr Rishi Dev Vatsa
You are a shining star of the nation
A brilliant diamond of the Vatsa clan
A million salutes to you
For bringing laurels to the nation
And to the Vatsa clan
RIP brave soldier.
Copyright Aabha Rosy Vatsa
Shiv Kunal Verma
2020 at 12:21 amThe battle of Dograi was fought by a band of exceptional men. Just 23, Major Vatsa’s name is forever etched in the anals of India’s military history. It is 55 years since but their memories will never fade.
Luv vatsa
2022 at 1:02 amHe is brave my father brother my name is luv vatsa
Luv vatsa
2022 at 1:06 amOur father proudly say he brave son in our family my grand father ranbir chand vatsa say brave child in our family may be we never see such a brave soul in a century
Manish Vimal
2023 at 10:49 amWe all are safe and sound today, due sacrifices made by our fellow citizens earlier. The country will not forget supreme sacrifice made by the brave Indian soldier Major Rishi Dev Vatsa who laid down his life for the cause of the Nation. Jai Hind.