Lt Col Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan

Lt Col Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan

Lt Col Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan was born in Kerala and did his initial schooling from Kochi. After finishing his school he joined National Defence Academy the cradle for producing officers for Indian Armed forces. After completing his training at the National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, he went to IMA Dehradun for his advanced training before being commissioned into the Army. He was commissioned into the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its intrepid soldiers and many battle honours.

During his army carrier, besides serving on Indian soil, Lt Col Vishwanathan also served with Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and later with UN Peace Keeping Force in Angola. He gained the reputation of being a very dedicated soldier and commanded the respect of his seniors and soldiers under him as well. During 1999, Lt Col Vishwanathan’s unit was deployed in the J & K along the LOC.

Tololing Operation: 02 June 1999

18 Grenadiers battalion was inducted in Drass area on 19 May 1999 under the command of 121 Inf Bde and were operating along with 1 Naga and 8 Sikh battalions. These battalions along with 28 RR less a company operated under 121 Inf Bde till 22 May when HQ 56 Mountain Brigade assumed the command of the Drass area.  18 Grenadiers under the command of Col Khushal Thakur was tasked to launch an attack to capture Tololing on 02 June 1999. Amidst the action during the war Lt Col Vishwanathan assumed the role of a leader of one of the missions wherein they had to retrieve the bodies of 3 of their comrades from the windswept slopes of the Tololing ridge and get them down. Earlier Maj Rajesh Adhikari had laid down his life while trying to capture Tololing ridge. Lt Col Vishwanathan displayed rare valor in closing in on enemy positions under heavy enemy automatic fire and intense artillery shelling. The attack took the enemy by complete surprise as it came along a very difficult approach and terrain at an altitude of over 15,000 feet.

During the attack, Lt Col Vishwanathan sustained multiple gunshot wounds. In spite of being severely injured, he refused to be evacuated and exhorted his troops to press on further. He charged through enemy defenses destroying three enemy positions and eliminated four intruders single-handedly in close hand-to-hand combat. Due to his efforts, the battalion could secure a foothold on the enemy location which later facilitated the capture of Point 4590. Though Second-in-Command of his unit, Lt Col Vishwanathan disregarded his seniority and preferred being where his men were fighting: and led from the front.  The first aid given to Lt Col Vishwanathan didn’t help much and as his troops were trying to get him back to Drass, he succumbed to his injuries on the way.

Lt Col Vishwanathan was a valiant soldier and a gritty officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation. Lt Col Vishwanathan was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his cold courage, leadership, comradeship and supreme sacrifice.