Naib Subedar Chuni Lal AC VrC SM

The citation for the Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

Hav Chuni Lal was part of a special mission operation at the Line of Control in Doda- Poonch Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. On 24 August 2000, he successfully thwarted enemy’s attack to capture own forward post. On the night 23rd/24th August 2000, the enemy started shelling and firing heavily at own post. Despite heavy shelling, Hav Chuni Lal displayed undaunted bravery by moving from bunker-to bunker in his section and motivating his troops who brought down effective medium machine gun fire on the enemy’s attacking column. Subsequently, he inspired his men by personal example to fight a close quarter battle in open trenches. Observing that two enemy soldiers have jumped inside own communication trench, he picked up a light machine gun and rushed I at them disregarding own safety and shot them dead. Taken by surprise at the ferocity of the pro-active stance of own troops, the enemy quickly retreated leaving behind several weapons at our post. Twelve enemy soldiers were killed in the action. Hav Chuni Lal displayed conspicuous courage and relentless offensive action in the face of the enemy.

Tribute from a fellow soldier:

If there was one quality that marked Chuni Lal as a soldier, it was daredevilry. When bullets were flying around him he said he would lead from the front. Naib Subedar Chunilal was the rarest of the rare in the army. It was not a chance incident where he showed his bravery. Bravery and valour were in his blood. This is no exaggeration because every time he got an opportunity, he made the best use of it. He never allowed his subordinates to go ahead of him in danger. Even in this operation, he pulled one soldier back, saying — ‘I am the commander, let me go first.’ That kind of ethos and mental attitude is not seen in the real sense.

He was 17 years old when he joined the battalion in 1985. I have seen him grow from one rank to the other. He was dashing, took a lot of initiative, had team spirit and the courage of conviction. He excelled in all military subjects.  Just two years after joining service he got an opportunity to be part of an operation with Subedar Bana Singh in 1987. He volunteered to go into that operation where the post was recaptured and renamed Bana Top. He was the first few to reach that post along with Bana Singh and received a Sena Medal.  In 1999 — when the unit was deployed in Poonch, there was an attempted intrusion and he fought back. As the post commander, he synchronised the firing and deployment — 12 infiltrators were killed and he was awarded the Vir Chakra. So before the Ashok Chakra, he was already a twice decorated soldier. He was a very fit man and served as an instructor at the NCC Officers Academy, Kamptee, Madhya Pradesh. He used to always come first in the battle physical efficiency test.

Tribute from his Battalion in Sudan:

He represented the Indian Army in Sudan in 2006 as a United Nations Peacekeeper and displayed devotion to duty while serving in the difficult operational situation in Sudan. We were tasked to set up the initial mission there. There were terrain and climatic challenges and we were tasked to move the entire store from India to Sudan and establish the team site.  There was a crisis between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the forces took out their tanks and guns and started firing and we with the blue berets were required to calm them down. It was successfully carried out by the Indian contingent. Within 7 days it was calmed down. The unit carried out the humanitarian operation, the relief operation and the evacuation of UN officials out of that location to a safe place. For this the battalion was awarded the United Nations Unit Citation for valour. We are the only battalion to receive a citation from the UN. It is a very rare accomplishment.

Chinta Devi, Naib Subedar Chuni Lal’s widow:

My husband loved the army. He always looked forward to going back after the end of his holidays. He used to come once a year for a month or so. He had always wanted to be a soldier and used to tell me about his life serving on the border.  My loss is immense but I know he did such a great task for the country. Everyone in my village speaks so highly of him, they all say he was such a brave man. He truly was.

My son wants to join the army as an officer. He has to live up to his father’s name. ‘Mujhe daddy ka badla lena hain’ (I want to avenge my father’s death). My husband also wanted my son to join the army. I am not scared that my son could face the same fate, because his father wanted him to join the army. That was his wish.

Manveer Singh, Naib Subedar Chuni Lal’s son:

“I was at home when the news of my father’s death reached us. He was a very brave man. Everyone says that. I want to join the army and become an infantry officer. I have always wanted to join the army. I am not scared. I have my father’s example before me but it is sad that he will not be there from now on. I want to do something for this nation. I know it can be dangerous but there are certain things that have to be faced. I just want to make my father proud”.