Major R K Dadkar VrC

Major Ramesh Kumar Dadkar hailed from Maharashtra and was born on 20th Aug 1942. He studied from Ramnarain Ruia College of Science and Arts in Mumbai and later joined the Indian Army. He was commissioned into 22 MLI battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, an infantry regiment well known for its gallant soldiers and a number of battle honours. After completing his training, he served in various operational areas and developed into a fine officer with admirable leadership skills. By 1971, he had been promoted to the rank of Major and had gather substantial field experience. As the war clouds with Pakistan were gathering on the horizon, his unit 22 MLI got deployed on the eastern front.   

Battle of Hilli (Indo-Pak War): 26 Nov 1971

During Indo- Pak 1971 war Maj RK Dadkar's unit 22 MLI was deployed in the Eastern Sector. The unit was deployed near Hilli a strategic border town of the erstwhile East Pakistan under the operational control of 202 Mountain Brigade. The Battle of Hilli, was one of the most decisive battles of 1971 and is considered to be one of the most ferocious battles ever fought by a gallant band of soldiers from highly motivated units. 202 Mountain Brigade functioning under operational control of 20 Mountain Division was tasked to capture Hilli in November 1971. The battle of Hilli turned out to be the most savagely fought battle in the Eastern sector. The battle of Hilli was fought over two phases; first from 22 Nov to 24 Nov and second phase from 10 Dec to 11 Dec 1971. Maj RK Dadkar's unit 22 MLI along with 8 Guards and 5 Garhwal were committed by 202 Mtn Bde for this battle with the support of Artillery and armour.

The main objective of the battle was to capture Bogra, thereby cutting off Pakistani forces in the North from the rest of East Pakistan. The best way of reaching Bogra was through Hilli. Maj Dadkar was commanding B Company of his battalion which got deployed on 25 Nov to defend a recently captured objective Morapara. Maj Dadkar's Company got deployed to face the enemy to the east and C Company under Maj Chandrasekharan facing north. A platoon of Maj RK Dadkar's Company was sent to a feature 500 yards away under Lt Tombing as a screen position. On 26 Nov, the enemy attacked the position held by Maj RK Dadkar's Company. In the attack one of the JCOs Naib Subedar Mohamad Ismail had his leg blown off after he stepped on an anti-personnel mine. Immediately Maj RK Dadkar, swung into action and without caring for his won safety went ahead to move the injured JCO to safety. However while doing so, he received a machine gun burst and got severely injured. Eventually he succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Maj RK Dadkar was a gallant soldier and a gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty.

Maj RK Dadkar was given the nation’s third highest gallantry award “Vir Chakra” for his outstanding courage, camaraderie fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. Maj RK Dadkar is survived by his wife Smt Geeta Dadkar. 

The citation for the Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

• The well known cricketing nursery, "Veer Major Ramesh Dadkar Maidan" in Dadar, Mumbai is named after Major Ramesh Kumar Dadkar in his honour. It is located bang opposite Ramnarain Ruia College of Science and Arts, where Major Ramesh Kumar Dadkar had studied.