Lt Chaitanya Dubey

Lieutenant Chaitanya Dubey hailed from Raipur in Chhattisgarh and was born on 03 Mar 1973 into a military family. Son of an army veteran Lieutenant Colonel Arun Dubey and Smt Neerja Dubey, Lt Chaitanya Dubey had a sister Priya as his sibling. He had an innate wisdom and made his mark as a gentle and precocious child. His twinkling, impish eyes spoke of a rare combination of intelligence and child-like innocence. His love for the armed forces and army in particular was clear when he did little things like taking interest in readying his father's uniform and also to not let anyone use it to wear just on a whim or fun's sake. While living in the Ambala Cantonment as a 10-year-old, he developed his love for flying as he watched planes and helicopters fly past his home. Tanks were a special love, too.

He continued to pursue his dream and made it to the top of merit list of NDA . He had full confidence that he was going to join the Air Force to become a fighter pilot and had entered all three of his options as Indian Air Force in the form. As luck would have it, even though he'd earned merit, he couldn't join the Air Force as he could not meet the medical standards required for vision. After college, he continued to follow his passion of manning guns like his father did in the two Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Eventually his dream of donning Army uniform came true when he got selected to IMA, Dehradun. He was commissioned on 06 Dec 1997 into 24 Med Regt of the Regiment of Artillery, the combat arm of the Indian Army well known for its booming guns and other heavy caliber weaponry. 

Warfare Training Operation : 05 May 2000

During 2000, Lt Chaitanya Dubey was serving with his unit deployed in Faridkot in Punjab, which was his first posting after commissioning. He soon honed his field-craft skills and developed into a fine officer. He acquitted himself very well and earned the respect of his seniors and peers as well. In May 2000, Lt Chaitanya's Regiment was tasked to take part in a warfare exercise along the Rajasthan-Pak border.

By early May 2000, Lt Chaitanya along with his unit troops had joined the warfare exercise which also included elements of various other combat units. The troops were not only being tested for their combat skills but also for their ability to withstand hostile weather conditions. To make the maters worse, a brutal sand storm began brewing at 5.00 pm on the fateful day of May 05, 2000. Despite poor visibility conditions Lt Chaitanya and his men continued with the combat maneuvers till late night. Lt Chaitanya was functioning as Forward Observation Officer with ‘B’ Sqn of the 84 Armoured Regiment during the ongoing exercise “Garam Hawaa”. However at about 10.00 pm, the tank carrying Lt Chaitanya toppled owing to low visibility and difficult terrain conditions. In the process, Lt Chaitanya's neck got struck by the hatch of the cupola of the tank. The severe and sudden injury proved fatal for him and a bright and exemplary young officer's life was extinguished. Lt Chaitanya Dubey was a committed soldier and a fine officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Lt Chaitanya Dubey is survived by his father Lt Col Arun Dubey (Retd), mother Smt Neerja Dubey and sister Priya Dubey.

• An old staff with 38 years of service in the regiment spoke of Lt Chaitanya that for as long as the man had been in service, he had not seen any officer without a single flaw, except "Dubey saahab".
• The Adjutant of the regiment said, "... young men from the Academy are trained to be officers in the regiment. Lt Chaitanya did not need that. He was already an officer."

Chaitanya was most favourite not only amongst the troops but even the officers and families. Somewhere in him we all were taught to live for the day - Carpe Diem - and give our best. He taught us to always be cheerful and work with smile or in the Army lingo, with 'Josh’. Being from 24 (The Double Dozen), he at a tender age taught us ‘The Chaubisiyat’ - Espirit De Corps. He lived with utmost honour and pride.

In Chaitanya I personally lost a dear brother and colleague who has left a never-fillable vacuum. He must be showering his smile and wishes on all of us from wherever he is.. Sure enough he would be the most favourite even of the Almighty.❤️

Col (then Maj) Raj Kapil
Lt Chaitanya's Adjt and Battery Cdr

It is said that we are all born to die. Yet, there will be some, a chosen few, who are ordained to live on forever. In the hearts of all those who knew them, in the minds of all who will know of them, and in the conscious of a doting Motherland, for whom they unflinchingly gave their all. Immortalized they are, gloriously shrouded in nobility of their inspiring deeds, a life lived way above the ordinary. The everlasting presence of their ever so charming essence, does somewhat soothes away the pangs of their absence.

To them we owe our todays and tomorrows, to them the generations shall look up in reverence, and to them we shall remain beholden for all the happy memories they’ve gifted us with. Having been privy to their uniquely human sides, before they merrily ascended to the Elysium, the fortunate few of us can look back at those times with a wistful glee. Perhaps it’s an apt remembrance, a celebration of their times, for us to relish their sagacious outlooks, and to embody their little big sterling traits that were so effortlessly a part of their cruising journey. Shine on, our dear mate, brother, the true tough legionnaire.

Major Rajesh Arora

course mate and batch mate in IMA and YOs Course. A friend for life.