Vivek Gupta (soldier)


Vivek Gupta, MVC was an officer in the Indian Army notable for his participation in the Kargil War of 1999. He displayed exemplary courage and leadership and was martyred during the war. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second-highest military decoration.

Early life

Major Vivek Gupta was born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 2 Jan 1970. His father was Col B.R.S. Gupta, an Army Ordnance Corps officer.
He married an army officer Captain Rajshree Gupta, from the Army Medical Corps in 1997.

Military career

Major Vivek Gupta was selected for National Defense Academy and Indian Military Academy and got commissioned into the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, one of the most decorated units of the Indian army, on 13 June 1992. He was awarded the Chief of Army Staff commendation for killing a Pakistani terrorist in hand-to-hand combat. In recognition of his outstanding skills he was posted to Infantry School, Mhow, as a weapon instructor.

Kargil War

During the Kargil war of 1999, Major Vivek Gupta's was part of a light machine gun commando team was asked to recapture Pakistani bunkers along the mountaintop of Tololing. This was a dangerous mission requiring uphill assent on treacherous, icy slopes towards well entrenched enemy posts.
Major Vivek was martyred on June 13 after capturing two enemy posts on the wind-swept, icy slopes of the Drass sector.
For his gallantry actions and bravery which lead to the capture of enemy positions and for laying down his life in service of the nation, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award of India.

Maha Vir Chakra

The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:

In Popular Culture

The character of Major Vivek Gupta was played by Bollywood actor Himanshu Malik in the historical war film, released in 2003.