The Rajputana Rifles daredevil won a Vir Chakra, something his father could not achieve

Col (retd) VN Thapar has just one regret in his life. After his son Capt Vijyant Thapar made the supreme sacrifice during Operation Vijay, there is nobody left in the family to carry forward the legacy of serving the Indian Army.

Daredevil: Capt Vijyant Thapar

But, he is satisfied that the Vir Chakra, for which he was nominated after the 1965 war, was won by his son, though posthumously.

"It's not just about his being awarded a gallantry award. He proved that he was a better soldier than me," said Col Thapar, who was commissioned into Maratha Light Infantry and retired after commanding 14 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles (JAKRIF).u00a0u00a0

Capt Thapar's unit 2 Rajputana Riflesu00a0(RAFRIF) was tasked to clear Tololing and Pimple hills and the young officer was asked to attack the enemy bunkers with a platoon of soldiers.u00a0

"For a number of them it was one of the most difficult tasks but Vijyant called it a life time opportunity," said Capt Thapar's mother Tripta.

Vijyant brought the first victory to his unit by successfully capturing the Barbad Bunker on Tololing Top, which so far had managed to halt all attacks over Tololing hills. "Barbad bunker was one of the most fortified locations of the Pakistani intruders. But Vijyant's platoon suffered a number of casualties," said an Army officer.

It runs in the family: Col (retd) VN Thapar (above) is proud that his son won Vir Chakra, an honour for which he was nominated after the 1965 war. How do you like the new new mid-day.com experience? Share your feedback and help us improve. Read Next Story Lives could've been saved› Trending Stories Latest Photos Latest Videos Latest Web Stories ADVERTISEMENT Mid-Day Fast ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT