Sepoy Revan Siddappa

Sepoy Revan Siddappa, son of Shri Rathinamma, hailed from Mahagaon village in Gulbarga district of Karnataka—a region known for its rich cultural heritage and a proud tradition of service in the armed forces. From an early age, he imbibed the values of discipline, hard work, and patriotism. After completing his school education, he chose the path of national service and enlisted in the Indian Army. He was recruited into the 18 Madras Battalion of the Madras Regiment, one of the oldest and most distinguished infantry regiments of the Indian Army. Renowned for its fearless soldiers, strict discipline, and illustrious record of valour, the regiment instilled in him a deep sense of pride, responsibility, and commitment to uphold its glorious traditions. During the 1971 Indo–Pak War, Sepoy Revan Siddappa’s unit, 18 Madras, was deployed in the strategically significant Nayachor–Umarkot sector on the western front. The region presented formidable operational challenges, including vast stretches of inhospitable desert terrain, extreme climatic conditions, and the constant threat of enemy engagement. Despite these hardships, the battalion operated with exceptional determination and resilience. It played a crucial role in containing and repelling Pakistani offensives, effectively preventing any major enemy breakthrough and contributing significantly to the stabilisation of the sector.

A dedicated and disciplined soldier, Sepoy Revan Siddappa carried out his duties with professionalism, quiet courage, and unwavering resolve. He was known among his comrades for his sincerity, dependability, and ability to perform under pressure in demanding operational conditions. Throughout his service, he was deployed in multiple operational areas and participated in several important assignments, consistently upholding the highest traditions and core values of the Indian Army.

Amid these developments, 18 Madras, operating under the 11 Infantry Division, launched offensive operations on 4 December 1971. The battalion rapidly overran Pakistani border posts and, maintaining relentless momentum, advanced nearly 45 kilometres into enemy territory, establishing contact with the Naya Chor defences by 11 December. By 16 December 1971, after a gruelling advance of over 40 miles across harsh desert terrain under constant threat of enemy fire, the battalion reached Hingora Tar, just two kilometres short of Umarkot. At this critical juncture, Captain Shankar Shankhapan Walkar, serving as the battalion’s Mortar Officer, played a vital role in sustaining the unit’s combat effectiveness through accurate and timely fire support. Sepoy Ravalli Siddappa was an integral part of this forward deployment and shared in the hardships and dangers of continuous combat operations. On 16 December 1971, as the battalion consolidated its positions at Hingora Tar, it came under intense and sustained enemy shelling. Displaying exemplary courage, composure, and devotion to duty, Sepoy Siddappa continued to perform his responsibilities amidst the heavy bombardment. During the course of this fierce engagement, he sustained grievous injuries and, despite all efforts to save him, succumbed to his wounds, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. The operations in this sector came at a heavy cost to 18 Madras. Alongside Captain SS Walkar and Sepoy Ravalli Siddappa, 21 other brave soldiers of 18 Madras made the supreme sacrifice during these operations, including Sub AP Sreedhara Dass, Nb Sub NN Krishnan, Hav A P Ponnappan, Nk M Mani, L Nk SA Narayan, L Nk Panoly Govi, Sep M Muthaiah, Sep Amir Miyan, Sep GV Pillai, Sep Rajan, Sep NCM Appachu, Sep Sampathu, Sep RG Krishna Kurup, Sep Gajendran, Sep Shaik Mahaboob, Sep MA Kasinathan, Sep Arasan Raju, Sep Basav Rajappa, Sep J Ganesan, Sep C Kandasamy and Sep V Somasekharan. Their collective bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to duty remain a lasting testament to the finest traditions of the Indian Army.