Major Joginder Shekhawat

Major Joginder Shekhawat hailed from Rajasthan and was born in an Army family. Son of an army veteran Col Dinesh Kumar, he always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and serve in the Armed Forces. He studied from Rashtriya Military School Bangalore, where his resolve to join the Army was further strengthened and the foundation of his future Army career was laid. Eventually, he joined the army and was commissioned into the Army Service Corps, the logistic supply arm of the Indian Army.  Soon he developed into a committed soldier and a fine officer. Besides being a tough soldier, he was a gentleman and very kind-hearted person, who endeared himself to his juniors and seniors as well. 

Later in the year 2008, he got married to Ms Niharika hailing from Jaipur.  After serving for a few years with his parent unit, he was deputed to serve with 24 RR battalion deployed in J & K area for counterinsurgency operations. While serving with 24 Rashtriya Rifles unit, Maj Joginder Shekhawat participated in many counterinsurgency operations. 

Kangan Operation (J&K) : 19 Mar 2010

During March 2010, Maj Joginder Shekhawat's unit of 24 Rashtriya Rifles was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. As the area of his unit’s operation was very volatile and prone to infiltration by militants, the unit had to maintain a strict vigil at all times and deploy armed patrols with regular frequency. The landmines along the patrol routes also posed a serious danger to the troops and the specialist teams were often called upon to sanitize the routes. On 19 Mar 2010, information was received from intelligence sources about the presence of terrorists at Kangan area of the Ganderbal in district of J & K.  After analyzing the specific inputs, it was decided by the security forces to launch an operation with 24 RR unit team to nab the terrorists. The team under the leadership of Maj Joginder Shekhawat, made a quick plan of action and set off to execute it in the evening of 19 Mar 2010.

Maj Joginder Shekhawat and his troops reached the suspected area and launched a search and cordon operation. As the operation was underway, a grenade that Maj Joginder Shekhawat was handling suddenly exploded. The explosion had a devastating effect, injuring Maj Joginder Shekhawat very severely. He soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Maj Joginder Shekhawat was a gallant soldier and a gritty officer, who laid down his life in the service of the nation.  

Major Joginder Shekhawat is survived by his wife Smt Niharika Shekhawat.

Having understood the pain points of the families of the fallen soldiers, Major Joginder Shekhawat's wife Smt Niharika Shekhawat statred her NGO ‘Regards through Humanity' in 2013. The NGO takes up counselling of widows and organizes seminars to create awareness about their rights.