Service No: JC-39418
Date of Birth: Jan 29, 1934
Place of Birth: Manakkad, Kerala
Service: Army
Last Rank: Subedar
UNIT: 18 Madras
Regiment: The Madras Regiment
Operation : Op Cactus Lily
Award: Vir Chakra
Date of Martyrdom : Dec17, 1971
Subedar Shreedhara Das was born on 29 January 1934 in Manakkad village in Erankulam district of Kerala. Son of Sri Parameswara Panickar and Smt Karthiayani , Sub Shreedhara Das joined the Army at the age of 17 years and was inducted into the 18 Madras battalion of the Madras Regiment, a regiment with a rich history of battle honours.
By 1971, Sub Shreedhara Das had put in about 20 years of service and had served in various operational areas in different parts of the country. As a junior commissioned officer, he commanded respect of his officers as well as men under him. During the war of 1971, Sub Shreedhara Das’s unit, 18 Madras was deployed in the Nayachor/Umarkot sector on the western front and played a very crucial role in containing the Pakistani attack.
Indo-Pak War : 17 Dec 1971
In December 1971 India had to go to war with Pakistan as the genocide perpetrated by Pakistani army in their erstwhile eastern part of the country had posed an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees. India had to fight war on its eastern as well as western and northern fronts which culminated in liberation of a new country Bangladesh. On the western front Sub Shreedhara Das unit 18 Madras, was deployed in the Nayachor/Umarkot sector of Rajasthan. Though the war was officially over on 16 Dec 1971 when the Pakistani forces surrendered on the eastern border, but the border skirmishes were continuing on the western border. By 16 Dec 1971, 18 Madras had reached positions at Hingora tar about 2 kms from Umarkot.
Sub Shreedhara Das and his men had reached Hingora Tar after a forced march of almost three days through the trackless desert. The battalion did not have artillery or the administrative cover and faced shortage of food and ammunition too. But despite the lack of artillery cover and air support Sub Shreedhara Das and his men did not lack courage and determination. In the wee hours of 17th December 1971, the enemy launched a massive attack and Sub Shreedhara Das as platoon commander, without thinking of his personal safety, moved from trench to trench encouraging his men to repulse the attack. During the process he got seriously wounded but he refused to be evacuated.
After some time the enemy launched another wave of attack and started closing in. On noticing that one of the LMGs crew had been killed, Sub Shreedhara Das himself took over and attacked the incoming enemy soldiers. However during the exchange of fire, Sub Shreedhara Das got grievously wounded and later succumbed to his injuries. Sub Shreedhara Das displayed gallantry and leadership of a very high order during the operation and laid down his life in the line of his duty.
Sub Shreedhara Das was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his cold courage, fighting spirit, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.
Citation for the Vir Chakra Awarded to him reads:-
Subedar Shreedhara Das was a platoon commander in a company of a Battalion of The Madras Regiment. On the 16th December 1971, his battalion had taken up a defended area at Hingora Tar in the Western Sector. In the early hours of 17th December 1971, the enemy launched an attack in strength. with utter disregard to his safety, Subedar Shreedhara Das moved from trench to trench encouraging his men to repulse the attack. Though seriously wounded, he refused to be evacuated. Half an hour later, the enemy launched another attack and this time was able to close in with the defences. Seeing that the crew of one of his Light Machine Guns had been killed, he took over the light Machine Gun and killed a number of enemy troops himself. During the fight he was seriously wounded as a result of which he died.
In this action, Subedar Shreedhara Das displayed gallantry determination and leadership of a high order.
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Santosh Das
2018 at 4:41 pmI am proud to be the son of Sub Sreedhara Das . You are always in my prayers.
Jai Hind
KS Rajan
2018 at 12:23 pmI AM proud of my maternal uncle Sub. Sreedhara Dass . On that fateful day myself was serving in Indian Navy
Purushotaman
2019 at 9:37 amDeath in service to one’s own country is the greatest heroism .
Please know that prayers of so many people are with his family .
Remembering his ultimate service
Ramachandran Nair
2018 at 3:38 pmI am proud to be his brother in law.You will be a role model for all of us.
Jai Jawan.
KM Jayachandran
2018 at 7:20 amI AM proud of my maternal Uncle Sub.Sreedhara Dass..VrC…I was in 6th Std on that fateful day…& he was my Inspiration to join the Armed Force.
Chandramathiamma PK
2018 at 9:18 pmA rare photo
For some it is shining up memory
For some it is a new image
A rare personality
Some were lucky to have his warmth,care and Inspiration on his days
For some he is a hero in a war story as he moved trench to trench to save the motherland..
For him it was a call of honour
Gets very few soldiers
You are agreat hero to remember and to show to the future generation
Salutes…
Jai hind
Saneesh surendran
2021 at 4:09 pmThe brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men. The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
Jai hind
Pa
2020 at 7:56 pmJai hind.
T. P. Baby
2020 at 3:28 pmA real hero of Indian Army.
B Ravichandran
2020 at 11:09 pmProud to be associated family member of Infantry Division. Madras Regiment. My father was in same Regiment and may be colleague of Sub Das. He was also in 1971 war.
K.Rajendran nair
2022 at 9:56 pmA great and patriotic soldier who laid his life for his mother land.