Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari, the recipient of the Mahavir Chakra, was born on 25 December 1970 and was martyred on 30 May 1999. He was an Indian Army Officer who had sacrificed his life during the Kargil war. After his death, he was awarded the second-highest Indian military honor, the MahaVir Chakra, for his bravery on the battlefield.
Adhikari hailed from Almora but was brought up in Nainital in a Kumaoni Rajput family. He had completed his schooling in 1987 at St. Joseph’s College. He did his intermediate from Government Inter College in Nainital and completed his B.Sc from Kumaon University in 1992.
Adhikari joined the Indian Military Academy in India. He was commissioned from the IMA on 11 December in the year 1993. After his graduation, he joined the Indian Army in 2 Mech. Infantry.
When he was fighting in the Kargil region in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian state, many tough battles took place, and he had faced a lot in this battle and gave his life for the country.
During the war, Mr. Major and the second army officer were about to die in the operations against pervaders. They had caused heavy casualties to the infiltrators and forced them to withdraw before being injured in the Drass sector. It was one of the most significant battles, and at the end, at the Battle of Tololing, Rajesh had made the utmost sacrifice.
On 30 May 1999, Major Rajesh’s post was located in a hazardous, mountainous terrain about 15,000 feet above sea level and covered with snow. There he had to capture the Tololing hill, which was his part of the battalion operation, and he was targeted to secure the initial areas and where the enemy had a strong power. As he was leading his team towards their goal, he got fired from two of the bunkers with machine guns. Although he was wounded, he continued to advance, fired upon the two bunkers, and brought them down.
After his valiant sacrifice, he was awarded the most specific bravery award, the MahaVir Chakra. It is the second-highest Indian Army decoration.