The Winners of Battles, Win this Earth, Those who sacrifice their Lives, Conquer Heavens.
Lt Gen Hardev Singh Lidder, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM, Retd
Subharti University remains firmly committed to honoring the bravehearts of India, under the visionary leadership of its founder, Dr. Atul Krishna, and the Director of Defence Academy, Col. Rajesh Tyagi, Sena Medal (Retd), along with Col. Aseem Kukreja (Retd), who are considered the pillars of the university. The university leadership has extended an open, unconditional offer of free education, free medical treatment, and other services within their capacity to all serving personnel and veterans of the Indian Armed Forces. This is not a symbolic promise; it is a mission rooted in gratitude and national responsibility.
In accordance with this mission, Subharti University hosted a solemn and significant commemorative event on October 11, 2025, at its Meerut campus. The event commenced with a wreath-laying ceremony at the University War Memorial, where floral tributes were paid by veterans, their families, and Veer Naris to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation PAWAN. This occasion was more than just a gathering; it was a moment of national reflection, recognition, and a restoration of honor.
The Forgotten War: OP PAWAN
Operation PAWAN remains one of the Indian Army’s most misunderstood and underappreciated missions. Launched under the framework of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on 29 July 1987, it aimed to bring peace to Sri Lanka and protect the Tamil civilian population caught in a violent insurgency. On 30 July 1987, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) landed in Sri Lanka to enforce peace and restore order.
However, peacekeeping quickly turned into combat as the LTTE, one of the most sophisticated guerrilla organizations of its time, chose to challenge the IPKF. India found itself involved in a full-scale military operation on foreign soil, confronting a determined, deeply embedded enemy.
13 SIKH LI: The Last Stand at Jaffna
One of the most intense episodes of OP PAWAN was shared during the commemorative evening by veterans of 13 Sikh Light Infantry and 10 PARA SF. It’s a story that should be etched in national memory.
On the intervening night of 12/13 October 1987, 30 soldiers from 13 SIKH LI, led by Major Birendra Singh, Vir Chakra (Posthumous), were heli-dropped into Jaffna University, believed to be the LTTE’s tactical headquarters.
The mission: to neutralise the top leadership of the LTTE in a swift, surgical strike.
But the LTTE had intercepted Indian radio transmissions. The moment the Khalsa warriors touched down, they walked into a carefully laid ambush. The university was a fortress. Within minutes, their radio operator was killed. Contact with HQ was lost. Reinforcements couldn’t land. Thirty men were left stranded, surrounded, and under intense fire.
Throughout the night, Major Birendra Singh and Subedar Sampuran Singh motivated their men to fight back wave after wave of LTTE attacks. Outnumbered and outgunned, they held their ground. When ammunition ran out, they fixed bayonets and charged. Not one man surrendered. By morning, only three remained. Only one, Sepoy Gora Singh (now Naik), survived to tell the story of that final stand.
This was not just a battle. It was a statement. Of courage. Of loyalty. Of sacrifice.
The Link-Up Operation: Courage Under Fire
While the Khalsas fought their last stand, a desperate link-up operation was in progress. The 10 PARA SF column under Col Dalvir Singh, supported by Maj Anil Kaul of 65 Armoured Regiment, moved along the railway line toward Jaffna University.
As they advanced, an RPG-7 hit Maj Anil Kaul’s tank at point-blank range. The high-explosive round detonated on impact, causing severe injuries—he lost an eye and part of his hand. Yet Maj Kaul survived, becoming a symbol of sheer will and bravery. The delay in the link-up operation was costly, but the grit and determination of the force remained unshaken.
The mechanised forces played a critical, yet often under-recognised, role in OP PAWAN. The Cavalry and Mechanised Infantry led advances, broke LTTE strongholds, and enabled strategic mobility in urban and jungle warfare. Their contribution, frequently overlooked in popular narratives, was vital to operational success.
The valour of Task Force Bhinder and Task Force Kohli has been lost in the “fog of war,” as victory has many who claim it, the reality is known to those who survived and, in hushed tones, acknowledge the tenacity of the “Men in Black.”
The Combat Command of one Armoured Regiment and two Mechanised Infantry Battalions was tasked not with fighting in an urban hybrid insurgency but with containing the ambitions of the Sri Lankans, should they decide to change horses midstream, while the IPKF was consolidating its hold in the given area of responsibility.
In the Air: Flying Blind into Hell
Air Commodore Viswanath Prakash, VrC (Retd), recounted the story from the skies—navigating pitch-black conditions and inserting 10 PARA SF and 13 SIKH LI units into battle zones with minimal navigation aids and zero margin for error.
Flying into unknown, hostile territory without night vision or advanced targeting systems, these Air Warriors risked everything. Their missions were the lifeline of OP PAWAN—without them, ground operations would not have been possible.
The Indian Navy played a crucial role in blocking the sea lines of communication of the LTTE, providing a marine bridge for logistics and turning around infantry units and leave parties. The MARCOS did a stellar job and were awarded the MVC, amongst other gallantry awards.
This was a war fought across domains—on land, in the air, and in the shadows.
Behind Enemy Lines and Beyond the Headlines
Lt Gen Hardev Singh Lidder, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM (Retd), delivered a sobering keynote. He debunked the persistent myth that OP PAWAN was a failure, a lie spread by ignorance and political misdirection.
He revealed that militants captured by 9 PARA SF disclosed a chilling truth: the LTTE had received arms and funding from foreign intelligence agencies, including the CIA, and had tacit support from Pakistan, Israel, and South Africa. Each of these players had strategic interests in keeping Sri Lanka unstable at India’s expense.
Before India’s intervention, the LTTE had complete control over Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) confined to bases, hiding behind minefields. The IPKF changed the course. Cities were recaptured, insurgents were forced into the jungles of Wanni, and order was restored at a great cost.
Betrayal and the Cost of Peace
On 2 October 1987, the Sri Lankan Navy captured 18 Sea Tigers LTTE naval operatives and detained them at Palalai Airfield. Believing they would be handed over to the SLA with IPKF’s approval, all 18 took cyanide and committed suicide. This triggered an immediate breakdown of trust and opened the floodgates to conflict.
The IPKF, once a peacekeeping force, was now in the crosshairs. Tragically, the SLA and LTTE, once bitter enemies, joined hands to act against Indian interests. It was a betrayal few expected. It forced the IPKF to operate in a hostile environment with no real allies.
This was not just a military battle—it was a political, strategic, and moral crucible.
The Importance of Remembrance
The event at Subharti University was not just a tribute but also a correction of the historical narrative. Veterans from 65 Armoured Regiment, 15 Mech Inf, 10 PARA SF, 9 PARA SF, 4 JAT, and 13 SIKH LI attended alongside Veer Naris and the next of kin of fallen soldiers.
This gathering, held in the heart of a university campus, served as a reminder that national memory must be defended as fiercely as national borders. Wreaths were laid. Flowers were offered. Tears were shared. Stories were told. And history was reclaimed.
Conclusion: Honour Demands Action
Operation PAWAN was not a failure. It was a chapter of military excellence, geopolitical complexity, and raw sacrifice. The men who fought there weren’t chasing glory—they were upholding duty. They bled not for victory parades, but for Naam, Namak, and Nishaan.
Subharti University has set an example for institutions across India. Through action, not slogans, it demonstrates the spirit of service. By providing free education, healthcare, and all necessary support to Serving and Retired Armed Forces personnel, it shows gratitude through deeds, not just words.
Let us not wait for anniversaries to honor our heroes. Let us honor them by remembering their truths, supporting their families, and ensuring history never forgets their names.
They fought. They fell. Last man. Last bullet. For Naam, Namak, Nishaan.