Tributes were paid to Major Mariappan Saravanan, an officer in the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army and recipient of Vir Chakra, who died after killing four intruders in hand-to-hand combat during the 1999 Kargil war at the 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Chennai, Headquarter Dakshin Bharat Area.
Major Saravanan was assigned the task of capturing a well-fortified Pakistani position at 14,229 feet in the Batalik sector. He and his men launched an attack at 4 am. Despite intensive firing from the enemy with artillery and automatic weapons, they charged into a volley of bullets. Major Saravanan fired a rocket launcher into the enemy position that killed two enemy soldiers. During the combat, he was hit by shrapnel and was injured but continued fighting. Unmindful of the enemy fire, he crawled forward to destroy the last remaining enemy position and before being fatally hit by an enemy bullet, killed two more enemy soldiers.
Family members and Trustees of Major Saravanan Memorial Trust have constructed a memorial located opposite to the St John Vestry Higher Secondary School, Tiruchy (picture) to inspire youngsters and imbibe in them qualities of selfless sacrifice and pure patriotism. It aims to keep alive the ideals for which our brave young soldiers live and die for. The memorial also serves to motivate the youngsters to join the Army and serve the nation and has become one of the important landmarks of Trichy.
