Subedar Shreedhara Das VrC

Subedar Shreedhara Das was born on 29 January 1934 in Manakkad village in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. He was the son of Shri Parameswara Panickar and Smt. Karthiayani. From a young age, he displayed a strong sense of discipline and determination, which later guided him towards a career in the armed forces. On 29 Jan 1951, at the age of just 17, he joined the Indian Army and was inducted into the 18 Madras Battalion of the Madras Regiment—one of the oldest and most decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, known for its rich legacy of valour, steadfast discipline, and distinguished battle honours. Becoming part of such an illustrious regiment was both an honour and a responsibility, which he embraced with pride and unwavering dedication. Over the years, he served in various operational areas across the country, gaining extensive field experience and honing his leadership skills. By 1971, he had completed nearly two decades of service and had risen to the rank of Subedar (Junior Commissioned Officer). In this role, he earned the respect and confidence of both his superiors and the men under his command, owing to his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to duty.

During the Indo-Pak War of 1971, his unit, 18 Madras, was deployed in the Nayachor–Umarkot sector on the Western Front—an area of considerable strategic importance where Pakistani forces attempted to launch offensive operations. The harsh terrain, extreme climatic conditions, and constant threat of enemy action made operations in this sector particularly challenging. Despite these difficulties, the battalion played a crucial role in containing and repulsing enemy advances, thereby preventing any significant breakthrough and contributing to the overall stabilisation of the front. As a platoon commander, Subedar Shreedhara Das operated under continuous threat of enemy fire and was required to exhibit exceptional courage, sound tactical judgment, and strong leadership. His experience and calm demeanour in combat situations proved invaluable to his unit. Throughout his career, he participated in several important operations and served in diverse operational environments.

Indo-Pak War: 16-17 Dec 1971

In 1971, Subedar Shreedhara Das's unit 18 Madras was deployed in the southern Rajasthan sector. India was compelled to go to war with Pakistan following the brutal genocide unleashed by the Pakistani Army in its eastern wing, which triggered an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees into India. The scale of the humanitarian crisis made armed conflict inevitable. India thus found itself fighting a two-front war—on the eastern front, which culminated in the liberation of Bangladesh, and simultaneously on the western and northern fronts to counter Pakistani offensives. On the western front, the Rajasthan sector assumed critical importance. Here, the Indian Army deployed the 11 Infantry Division and 12 Infantry Division, while Pakistan opposed them with its 18 Infantry Division, reinforced by an additional brigade and paramilitary forces. Indian operational planning envisaged a bold double thrust: the 12 Infantry Division advancing along the Longewala–Rahim Yar Khan axis, and the 11 Infantry Division advancing along the Barmer–Naya Chor axis. However, these plans were disrupted when Pakistan launched a major armoured assault on Longewala on the night of 3 December 1971. The attack was decisively blunted by resolute ground defence and devastating tactical air support from the Indian Air Force. Pakistani forces suffered crippling losses—approximately 24 tanks and around 150 vehicles—effectively neutralising their offensive capability in this sector and turning the tide in India’s favour.

Operations of 18 Madras in the Southern Rajasthan Sector