Second Lieutenant Ajit Kumar

Second Lieutenant Ajit Kumar was born in the Munger district of Bihar, the only son of Shri Bankey Bihari Kumar and Smt. Madhavi Kumari. He was the third child in the family, cherished by his elder sisters, Kiran and Shabnam Singh. From an early age, 2nd Lt. Ajit displayed remarkable intellect and academic potential. He received his education at the prestigious Birla Vidya Mandir in Nainital, where his excellence was evident in his academic performance and the numerous scholarships he earned, including several rural scholarships. These achievements reflected not just his intelligence but also his unwavering dedication and drive to succeed. In addition to his academic pursuits, 2nd Lt Ajit was a gifted sportsman. His talent in boxing shone through during his school years, earning him several medals and accolades in competitive tournaments. His love for the sport flourished further at the National Defence Academy (NDA), where he continued to win laurels in the boxing ring. His academic and sports achievements marked him as a well-rounded and disciplined cadet. He graduated from the NDA on 31st May 1985, fully prepared to serve his country. 

He then went to IMA Dehradun for further training and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion of the Naga Regiment, commonly known as 1 Naga—one of the youngest yet most distinguished infantry battalions in the Indian Army. It was raised on 1st November 1970 at the Kumaon Regimental Centre in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. The battalion was created to honour and integrate the martial traditions of the Naga people from Northeast India, particularly Nagaland, into the broader Indian military framework. Within this prestigious unit, 2nd Lt  Ajit Kumar quickly distinguished himself as a promising young officer. His strong leadership, commitment to duty, and exemplary conduct earned him the admiration and respect of his comrades and commanding officers alike. 

Counter-Insurgency Operation: 25 June 1988

In 1988, 2nd Lieutenant Ajit Kumar of the 1 Naga Regiment was deployed to Arunachal Pradesh—a region of immense strategic importance and intense geopolitical sensitivity. Nestled in India’s northeastern frontier, Arunachal Pradesh shares a long and contested boundary with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). During this period, the region witnessed a sharp escalation in military tensions, particularly in the Sumdorong Chu Valley. This remote valley had become a focal point of confrontation, with both India and China accelerating troop deployments and rapidly developing military infrastructure in an effort to assert territorial claims and strategic dominance. The operational environment in Arunachal Pradesh is among the most hostile faced by any armed force in the world. The landscape is dominated by steep, unforgiving mountains and dense, often impenetrable forests. Soldiers operating in this terrain contend not only with the physical challenges of extreme altitudes and freezing temperatures but also with the constant threat of landslides and sudden weather changes that can turn routine missions into life-threatening ordeals. In such a setting, every movement demands meticulous planning, and every action requires a high degree of mental toughness, physical endurance, and unwavering resolve.

It was into this crucible that 2nd Lt Ajit Kumar, a young officer just 23 years old, was thrust. Despite his youth, he displayed remarkable maturity and leadership. Assigned to lead a patrol mission through this tense and treacherous sector, he exemplified the qualities expected of an Indian Army officer: courage under fire, clarity in command, and an unflinching sense of duty. On 25 June 1988, after successfully completing a high-risk patrol operation in the operational zone, 2nd Lt Ajit Kumar and his team began their return to base. As they navigated the perilous terrain, he lost his footing on a boulder and fell into a fast-moving mountain stream. The icy waters, swollen by monsoon runoff and fed by glacial melt, formed powerful currents that made rescue efforts perilous. His comrades, without hesitation, risked their own lives in a desperate attempt to save him. Tragically, the current overwhelmed them, and despite their best efforts, 2nd Lt Ajit Kumar was swept away. His body was never recovered. In the years that followed, search operations were launched repeatedly in hopes of recovering his remains and providing closure to his family. But the mountains kept their silence. For his mother, Smt Madhavi Kumari, the absence of final proof left space for hope. She refused to accept his loss, firmly believing that her son would one day return. This belief became the defining thread of her life—a quiet yet unyielding hope that sustained her until her final days.

It was only in 2014, after the passing of both his parents, that the family gathered to perform 2nd Lt Ajit Kumar’s last rites. It was an emotional moment—an act of closure, remembrance, and honour. They paid tribute not only to the young officer who gave his life in the service of his nation but also to the ideals of valour, sacrifice, and devotion to duty that he represented. 2nd Lt Ajit Kumar was a valiant soldier and a fine officer who, at the age of 23, laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Second Lieutenant Ajit Kumar is survived by his sisters, Smt Kiran Thakur and Smt Shabnam Singh.