An Ashok Chakra Awardee awaits honour in his state, even after two decades of his supreme sacrifice

Not long ago, when there was repeated conflict between the security forces and terrorists in Rajouri, references were being made to Op Sarp Vinash, that had been conducted in the same area, about two decades back. A testimony to how successful the operation had been then.

Needless to say, it is the brains behind the planning and the man behind the machine who makes the operation successful. But sadly, while we do tend to remember how successful an operation may have been and how the desired results may have been achieved so well, we often tend to forget the men behind these successes.

Time and again, I use Rudyard Kipling’s quote ‘ In times of war and not before, God and the soldier we adore. But in times of peace and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted’. This is because there have been many instances where his words are proven right.

Here, I present one more instance of the same.

This time, this instance pertains to Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri, who was a part of Op Sarp Vinash and was decorated with an Ashok Chakra, posthumously. He was born in Bomtaal village in Southern Sikkim and joined Parachute Regiment, in 2001, at the age of 19. He successfully completed his training and was selected to join 9 Para SF. During Op Sarp Vinash, in one of the search and destroy operations, he and his team were engaged in a fierce gun fight with the terrorists. While the commandos of 9 Para SF were out in the open, the terrorists were hiding in safe places and firing from there. Ptr Sanjog realised the gravity of the situation and taking the initiative, crawled for about 100 yards and started firing on the terrorists, from a close range. This way, he killed one terrorist. But he too was grievously injured, yet he eliminated one more terrorist. In the process, he too was shot at, multiple times. This still did not deter him, and he engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with another terrorist and killed him. Later, he too succumbed to his injuries. His act of bravery inspired his team mates and they eliminated the rest of the terrorists. He was awarded the Ashok Chakra – nation’s highest peace time award for his gallant action and supreme sacrifice.

Bravest of the Brave, Ptr Sanjog Chhetri is the only soldier from his state, Sikkim, who has been decorated with an Ashok Chakra.

Two decades later, Veterans of Sikkim have been trying to get his bust installed in Gangtok. One may think that it should be easy to get an approval for this from the authorities, but it may come as a surprise that this proposal is being rejected on the grounds that Ptr Sanjog’s mother had remarried an Indian citizen of Nepalese origin, who was based in Shillong, after the demise of her first husband.

Ironically, Sikkim state has conferred the Sikkim Ratna awards on two distinguished personalities, namely Ms Mala Sinha (born in Kolkata) and Mr Muchkund Dubey (born in Jharkhand).

In June 2020, a special programme ‘Veero Ko Naman’ was organised at Gangtok, as homage to bravehearts who laid down their lives in Galwan, during the standoff with the Chinese. This programme was attended by Hon’ble Governor Shri Ganga Prasad and Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri P S Golay, and a compensation of 1 Lakh each, to the 20 families of the bravehearts was announced.

Eminent personalities who were not born in Sikkim have been conferred with ‘Sikkim Ratna’, and bravehearts belonging to parts of country other than Sikkim have been provided with compensation. But Sikkim’s own Sanjog Chettri, conferred the highest peace time gallantry award, Ashok Chakra is not eligible for a recognition, by the state government, in the form of a statue!

How can the same be denied on a frivolous and illogical reason of his late mother’s second marriage? Would the gallantry act of a brave soldier bring more glory to a state and a nation or would such insignificant things like the origin of the stepfather etc be considered more important?

State governments often are more than eager to felicitate sportspersons who win medals in international tournaments. But somehow when it comes to our soldiers, such recognitions are often buried under rules. While the soldier doesn’t think of which state he belongs to and which state he is fighting in and making a supreme sacrifice, these questions never cease to haunt them, in some cases, even after decades.

Hoping that Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), further to his positive response, will look in to the request submitted to his Principal Secretary and bestow the long overdue and befitting honour to Ptr Sanjog Chhetri by approving an installation of his bust in Gangtok as well as his school in Namchi, so that it continues to inspire the future generations.

Heartfelt thanks to Brig Joshi for not letting the memory of this brave hero die away and for putting in so much efforts and pursuing this cause.