Sepoy Babu Lal Gurjar

Sepoy Babu Lal Gurjar was born on August 5, 1966, in Dhamadi Ka Pura, a village in Nadoti Tehsil of Karauli district, Rajasthan. He was the son of Shri Ramswaroop Gurjar and Smt. Resham Devi. Growing up in a humble and patriotic environment, he was deeply influenced by the stories of valour and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces. Like many young men from his village, he aspired to don the uniform and serve the nation. His unwavering dedication and passion for the armed forces led him to join the Indian Army after completing his school education. Upon his selection, Sepoy Babu Lal Gurjar was recruited into the 12 Jat battalion of the Jat Regiment, one of the most formidable infantry regiments of the Indian Army.

Known for its legacy of courage, discipline, and exceptional combat skills, the Jat Regiment has played a crucial role in several military operations throughout history. Sepoy Babu Lal, through his rigorous training and dedication, quickly adapted to the challenging life of a soldier. He displayed exemplary commitment, discipline, and bravery, earning the respect of his comrades and superiors. He was married to Ms Chandrakala, and despite the challenges of a soldier’s life, he remained devoted to both his family and his duty to the nation.

Operation Pawan – August 13, 1988

By the mid-1980s, Sri Lanka was embroiled in a violent civil conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization fighting for an independent Tamil state. To bring stability to the region and enforce the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987, the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) was deployed in Sri Lanka as part of Operation Pawan. This mission aimed to oversee the disarmament of LTTE militants, facilitate peace, and protect civilian lives. However, the operation quickly escalated into a full-scale military conflict, as the LTTE refused to disarm and launched aggressive attacks against the IPKF. The Indian Army found itself engaged in intense counter-insurgency warfare in unfamiliar and hostile terrain, where the enemy had the advantage of deep local knowledge, well-entrenched positions, and guerrilla tactics. The IPKF had to operate in extremely challenging conditions, facing ambushes, booby traps, landmines, and surprise attacks from an elusive and well-trained adversary.  In August 1988, Sepoy Babu Lal Gurjar was serving with the 12 Jat Battalion, which was deployed in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). The battalion was actively engaged in counter-insurgency operations against the LTTE, conducting regular missions to restore stability in the region.