Meet Major Vetri Nathan, the ‘war-hero’ of 1971 who single-handedly destroyed an entire Pakistani bunker

The story of Major Vetri Nathan, a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, is an example of courage and selfless devotion to duty. Hailing from Mumbai, the young officer joined the Indian Army at the age of 21 and served in the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regiment. In December 1971, he led a daring and successful mission against the enemy in the Kargil sector, where he laid down his life for his country. He was only 30 when he attained martyrdom and was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his bravery. Major Vetri Nathan has been immortalized with a monument in Colaba. There is also a road named after him named Major Vetri Nathan Marg.

Major Vetri Nathan’s story will make your chest swell with pride

During the 1971 war, Major Nathan’s battalion of the 2/11 GR was deployed in the difficult Kargil sector, a series of hills along the Line of Control that was of strategic importance to the Army. One such position was Havi Point 13620 on the Srinagar-Leh highway which was under the control of the Pakistan Army. India captured this point in the 1965 war, but had to return it under the Tashkent Agreement of January 10, 1966.

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Since the hill point under enemy control posed a serious threat to the movement of Indian troops on the highway, it was important to dislodge the Pakistanis from there. The task was assigned to Major Nathan and his loyal team, who launched the assault on 6 December 1971. Showing remarkable courage and leadership skills, Major Nathan captured the post known as Black Rocks and encountered them as they advanced towards Point 13620. Enemy medium machine-gun post on top.

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Major Nathan realized that the enemy post had to be destroyed at any cost, and without regard for his personal safety, he stood up with a rocket launcher in one hand and aimed at the enemy bunker. As he fired the rocket which destroyed the MMG bunker, the enemy bullet hit him in the head and he was martyred.

Enraged by this, the soldiers of the furious Gorkha Regiment opened their Khukris and attacked the enemy soldiers, killing many, forcing the rest to abandon all posts and flee before dawn the next day, and the mission Done. In recognition of Major Nathan’s gallantry and successful mission, the post was named Vetri Post in his honor and a memorial was erected there.