Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair

Colonel N J Nair AC, KC
Nickname(s)	NJ
Born	17 February 1951 Ernakulam, Travancore-Cochin, now Kerala
Died	20 December 1993(1993-12-20) (aged 42) Nagaland
Allegiance	Republic of India
Service / branch	Indian Army
Years of service	1971–1993
Rank	Colonel
Service number	IC-25070K
Unit	16 Maratha Light Infantry
Battles / wars	Insurgency in Northeast India
Awards	Ashoka Chakra Kirti Chakra
Alma mater	National Defence Academy Sainik School Kazhakootam
Relations	Kappazhom Raman Pillai

Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair, AC, KC (popularly known as "NJ") was a highly decorated officer of the Indian Army. On 20 December 1993, while heading an advance party of the battalion, his convoy was ambushed by Naga rebels. Nair personally led the attack to break the ambush and sacrificed his life defending his men. For this act of valour, he was conferred the Ashoka Chakra.^[1][2][3]

Technically Nair is the most decorated officer of the Indian Army, as the only serviceman to have been awarded both the highest (Ashoka Chakra) and second highest (Kirti Chakra) awards for gallantry.

Early life and education

He was born to R. Neelakantan Nair and P.Saraswathy Amma on 17 Feb 1951 at Ernakulam, then in Travancore-Cochin, now Kerala.^[4] He was a descendant of the former Dewan Peshkar of Travancore, Kappazhom Raman Pillai. Nair was an alumnus of Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Kerala.^[5] He then joined the National Defence Academy, Pune as part of the 38th course. He was a member of the 'I' Squadron.^[6] He attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

Military career

Nair was commissioned into 16 Maratha Light Infantry on 13 June 1971.^[7] He was promoted lieutenant on 13 June 1973 and to captain on 13 June 1977.^[8] His career in the Indian Army spanned over two decades, during which he had held varied command as well as staff appointments.^[1][9] He served in the IMTRAT in Bhutan. He also served as an instructor at the Army Intelligence school in Pune.

In 1983, in Mizoram, Nair engaged the insurgents in Close-quarters combat for which he was awarded the Kirti Chakra in recognition of his exceptional gallantry. He was promoted substantive major on 13 June 1984,^[10] and was promoted lieutenant-colonel (by selection) on 1 January 1992.^[11]

In 1993, his unit, the 16th battalion the Maratha Light Infantry was deployed in Nagaland. In December 1993, he was leading an advance party convoy in Nagaland, when they were ambushed by about one hundred insurgents. The overwhelming fire from automatic weapons killed one junior commissioned officer and 13 jawans on the spot. Col Nair, who was seriously injured, did not lose his courage. mindful of his serious injury, he organised his jawans in an assault line and charged at the insurgents when they broke ranks and fled. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1994.^[2][12]

Major decorations

• Ashoka Chakra
• Kirti Chakra

See also

• Kappazhom Raman Pillai

References

1. Reddy, Kittu (2007). "Chapter 6: Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Bravest of the Brave (Heroes of Indian Army). Ocean book Publisher. pp. 102–105. ISBN 978-81-87100-00-3.
2. Staff Reporter (18 February 2007). "Souvenir on war hero released". The Hindu. Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
3. Superhero Comic book on NC Nair http://www.indianexpress.com/news/remembering-super-men/499540/0
4. "As a reminder of his courage. Col N.J Nair". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
5. "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
6. National Defence Academy, NDA Pune | NDA Martyrs Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
7. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 September 1972. p. 1272.
8. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 September 1973. p. 1078.
9. "Insurgency will be dealt with an iron fist, says Army Chief". The Hindu. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
10. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 October 1984. p. 1767.
11. "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 2 October 1993. p. 1818.
12. "Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair". Archived from the original on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2010.