Jintu Gogoi

{{Short description|Indian army officer, Vir Chakra recipient (1970–1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] | name = Jintu Gogoi | honorific_suffix = [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] | native_name = জিন্টু গগৈ | native_name_lang = অসমীয়া | image = Jintu-Gogoi-VrC-Indian-Army-fairuse.jpg | image_size = 250 | caption = | birth_date = 21 November 1970 | birth_place = [[Khumtai]], [[ASSAM]], [[India]] | death_place = [[Kargil district|Kargil]], India | death_date = {{death date and age|1999|6|30|1970|11|21|df=y}} | branch = {{army|IND}} | service_years = 1995 – 1999 | service_number = SS-36261 | rank = [[File:Captain of the Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] | awards = [[File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|32px]] [[Vir Chakra]] | unit = 17 [[Garhwal Rifles]] | allegiance = {{IND}} | alma_mater = Gandhi Memorial National College [[Ambala]]<br> [[Indian Military Academy]] | battles = [[Kargil War]]{{KIA}} }}

'''Jintu Gogoi''' (21 November 1970 – 30 June 1999), [[Vir Chakra|<small>VrC</small>]] was an [[Indian Army]] officer of 17 [[Garhwal Rifles]]. He was posthumously awarded the [[Vir Chakra]], India's third highest wartime military decoration, for his courage and bravery in combat during operations in the [[Kargil War]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Capt.Jintu Gogoi VrC|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2668|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630130909/https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2668|archive-date=30 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Borgohain|first=Tripti Madhuri|date=22 August 2021|title='The Kargil hero' of Assam|work=[[The Times of India]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/itsborgohain/the-kargil-hero-of-assam-36685/|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dutt|first=Sanjay|title=War and Peace in Kargil Sector|publisher=A.P.H.|year=2000|isbn=9788176481519|pages=339|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mahanta|first=Nani Gopal|title=Confronting the State: ULFA's Quest for Sovereignty|publisher=[[SAGE Publications]]|year=2013|isbn=9788132113270|pages=186}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh (Retd) |first=Group Captain Ranbir |title=Major Defence Operations Since 1947 |publisher=Ocean Books |year=2005 |isbn=9788188322671 |pages=163 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Surana |first=Deepak |title=The Kargil Folklore: Tales of Valour and Sacrifice from the Summer of 1999 |date=2020-01-21 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64760-857-6 |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and military career== Captain Jintu Gogoi is the son of Duluprabha Gogoi and [[Flying officer]] Thogiram Gogoi, an [[Indian Air Force]] Veteran. Jintu Gogoi's father Thogiram Gogoi stated that his son Jintu always wanted to join the Indian Army.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hasnat|first=Karishma|date=27 Jul 2020|title='Always Wanted to Join Army,' Says Father About Martyred Son as Assam Honours Kargil War Heroes Amid Covid-19|work=News 18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/always-wanted-to-join-army-says-father-about-martyred-son-as-assam-honours-kargil-war-heroes-amid-covid-19-2735597.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220030003/https://www.news18.com/news/india/always-wanted-to-join-army-says-father-about-martyred-son-as-assam-honours-kargil-war-heroes-amid-covid-19-2735597.html|archive-date=2020-12-20}}</ref>

After graduation from Gandhi Memorial National College,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Prominent Alumni|url=https://www.gmncollegeambala.ac.in/alumniprominent.html|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref> Jintu Gogoi joined [[Officers Training Academy]], [[Chennai]] on 9 May 1994, and was commissioned into the 17th Battalion of the [[Garhwal Rifles]] on 11 March 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 Mar 2020|title=Late Capt Jintu Gogoi: an unsung braveheart who died protecting nation|work=[[ETV BHARAT]]|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/english/national/bharat/bharat-news/late-capt-jintu-gogoi-an-unsung-braveheart-who-died-protecting-nation/na20200311120903796}}</ref>

Before joining Kargil war, Gogoi took Mhow, YO, Winter Warfare, and Commando trainings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Das |first=Rahul |date=4 November 2000 |title=Martyr's father recalls son's deeds |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001105/haryana.htm#12}}</ref>

==Kargil War and death== Just after his marriage engagement, Gogoi had to rush to [[Kargil War|Kargil]] as the war declared and was deployed in the [[Batalik]] Sector of [[Kargil]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desk |first1=Sentinel Digital |title='We are Proud of Our Son', Says Captain Jintu Gogoi's Mother on Kargil Vijay Diwas - Sentinelassam |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/we-are-proud-of-our-son-says-captain-jintu-gogois-mother-on-kargil-vijay-diwas-548228 |access-date=6 April 2022 |publisher=[[The Sentinel (Guwahati)]] |date=26 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

On 29 June 1999, Captain Jintu Gogoi took charge of the mission to evict the enemy from the northern heights of the western flanks on Jubar Ridge, an area overlooking Jubar top, astride the National Highway ([[National Highway 1 (India)|NH 1]]) in the [[Batalik]] Sector. All the companies, except the platoon led by Captain Gogoi, exposed to enemy during the daytime, thus he decided to move at night<ref>{{Cite book |last=Malik |first=V. P. |title=Kargil from surprise to victory |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2006 |isbn=9788172236359 |location=New Delhi |pages=201 |language=en}}</ref> which also entailed an arduous climb of nearly 1 km. Captain Gogoi led his troops to the top of the ridge, however, they were spotted by the enemy and were subsequently surrounded. Gogoi launched an immediate attack on the enemy, killing two intruders in hand-to-hand combat, being mortally wounded in the process. He received a full burst from a machine gun in his [[solar plexus]] but he continued firing till he collapsed. He soon succumbed to injuries and his body was found barely 150 yards from the picket on Jubar Top.

Though Gogoi's platoon, under command, evicted the enemy, but he had to pay for the victory with his supreme sacrifice.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hasnat |first=Karishma |date=26 July 2020 |title=Kargil Vijay Diwas: In Assam, a father remembers the story of a hero |work=[[CNBC TV18]] |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/kargil-vijay-diwas-in-assam-a-father-remembers-the-story-of-a-hero-6448831.htm}}</ref> Captain Jintu Gogoi got recognised for his bravery with a gallantry award, “[[Vir Chakra]]” posthumously. The battalion was awarded [[Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army|Battle Honour]] ‘'''''Batalik'''''’ for its exploits in [[Operation Vijay (1999)|Operation Vijay]]. The 17th Garhwal Battalion was also awarded [[Battle and theatre honours of the Indian Army|Theatre Honour]] ‘'''''Kargil'''''’. Back in Gogoi’s native town, there was an emotional funeral of Captain Gogoi,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hazarika |first1=Sanjoy |title=Conflicts in the Northeast: internal and external effects |last2=Raghavan |first2=V. R |last3=Centre for Security Analysis (Chennai |first3=India) |date=2011 |publisher=Vij Books India |isbn=978-93-82573-48-7 |pages=97 |language=English |author-link2=V. R. Raghavan}}</ref> as the major insurgent outfit [[ULFA]] called Army officers and personnel in the Indian Army to avoid the [[Kargil War]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=(New Delhi, India) |first=Institute for Conflict Management |date=1999 |title=Faultlines. |journal=Faultlines |language=English |publisher=[[University of Michigan]] |volume=12-13 |oclc=41507311 |issn=0972-1290}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Northeast India: Administrative Reforms and Economic Development |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |year=2008 |isbn=9788124114117 |editor-last=Ray |editor-first=Jayanta Kumar |location=New Delhi |pages=120 |language=English |editor-last2=Bhattacharya |editor-first2=Rakhee |editor-last3=(Kolkata, India) |editor-first3=Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=Satish |last2=Vikas Publishing House (New Delhi |first2=India) |last3=India Research Press |date=2001 |title=India's national security: annual review. |journal=India's National Security: Annual Review. |language=English |publisher=[[University of Michigan]] |pages=425}}</ref>

== Vir Chakra == As described in Gogoi's [[Vir Chakra]] award citation:

{{blockquote|On the night of 29–30 June 99 during [[Operation Vijay (1999)|Operation Vijay]], Captain Jintu Gogoi was tasked to evict the enemy from Ridge Line Kala Pathar near Line of Control in general area of Juber Hill complex in Batalik Sub-Sector.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bammi |first1=Y. M |title=Kargil 1999, impregnable conquered |date=2002 |publisher=[[University of Michigan]] |isbn=978-81-7525-352-0 |pages=324 |oclc=52040930 |language=English}}</ref>{{pb}} With utter disregard to his personal safety, he led the troops in the face of heavy volume of fire and reached the top by night. However, he was immediently surrounded by the enemy. Captain Jintu Gogoi was asked to surrender by the enemy, as he had no chance to protect himself. Keeping utmost his loyalty to the unit, he chose the honourable way of fighting with valour and dignity. Captain Jintu Gogoi opened fire on the enemy killing two enemy soldiers before making his supreme sacrifice for the Nation. Before this action, he made sure that his group had taken cover for safety.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jintu Gogoi {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2668|website=gallantryawards.gov.in}} (see the tab "Citation")</ref>}}

==Garhwal Rifle on Jintu Gogoi== The Wiki page of [[Garhwal Rifles]] (See Kargil War Section) cited a note with disappointment about supreme sacrifice of Capt Jintu Gogoi with and others of [[Garhwal Rifles]] for their Heroism in [[Kargil War]], with the [[Garhwal Rifles|citation]]: {{blockquote | The 17th Battalion was in the Batalik sub-sector and was tasked with assaulting Area Bump and Kalapathar in the Jubar Heights, a ridgeline overlooking Jubar top, astride the National Highway. The climb was arduous and all companies were ‘daylighted’ except for Capt Jintu Gogoi's platoon. The gallant ‘Bhullas’ took Kalapathar in the face of heavy enemy fire, and then came face to face with an enemy UMG emplacement. To the enemy's total surprise, Capt Gogoi launched an immediate attack on the UMG sangar, killing two intruders in hand-to-hand combat, being mortally wounded in the process. Capt Jintu Gogoi was awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously for his bravery in utter disregard for his own safety, but sadly his name is not much known between the people like [[Vikram Batra|Captain Vikram Batra]], who was also a Kargil martyr. The battalion launched fresh attacks in the subsequent days and took Bump and Kalapathar. This paved the way for further successes – the battalion proceeded to take another dominating feature in the Muntho Dhalo complex, finally taking Point 5285 despite heavy snowfall and effective enemy fire including artillery fire due to the proximity of this feature to the LOC. The battalion was awarded Battle Honour ‘Batalik’ for its exploits in Op Vijay. Gallantry Awards received by the battalion were one Vir Chakra and one Mentioned-in-Despatches. In addition, was also awarded GOC-in-C Northern Command Unit Appreciation to the unit for their splendid work}}

==Honours== * Assam government posthumously awarded the state’s highest bravery award Bir Chilarai Award in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Assam honour for Kargil martyr - Jintu Gogoi posthumously conferred state's highest bravery award |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/assam-honour-for-kargil-martyr-jintu-gogoi-posthumously-conferred-state-s-highest-bravery-award/cid/565064 |access-date=19 April 2022 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=18 July 2008}}</ref> * In honour of Martyr Jintu Gogoi, JOYA GOGOI COLLEGE of Golaghat, from where Gogoi studied his pre-university, named the library as a mark of respect to the Kargil Martyr Capt. Jintu Gogoi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joya Gogoi College|url=http://www.joyagogoicollege.org/library.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020081309/http://www.joyagogoicollege.org/library.html|archive-date=20 October 2021|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref> *The Indian Army organizes Captain Jintu Gogoi, VrC Memorial Football Tournament every year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 16th edition of Captain Jintu Gogoi, VrC Memorial Football Tournament org by IndianArmy|url=https://twitter.com/easterncomd/status/1236955075441983488?lang=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309100812/https://twitter.com/easterncomd/status/1236955075441983488|archive-date=9 March 2020|access-date=20 October 2021|website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Avik |title=Veer Chakra Memorial Football Tournament kicks off |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/veer-chakra-memorial-football-tournament-kicks-off/cid/1747972 |access-date=7 April 2022 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (India)]] |date=23 February 2020}}</ref> *Jintu Gogoi is the first Assamese in Indian Army who sacrificed supreme in Kargil War.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dutt |first=Sanjay |title=War and peace in Kargil sector |date=2000 |publisher=A.P.H.Publ |isbn=978-81-7648-151-9 |location=New Delhi |pages=339 |language=English}}</ref> *2020 Tokyo Olympics Indian boxer [[Lovlina Borgohain]] uses to pay her salute before she attempts any International game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympic medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain visits National War Memorial |url=https://theprint.in/sport/olympic-medallist-boxer-lovlina-borgohain-visits-national-war-memorial/878266/ |access-date=18 April 2022 |work=ThePrint |publisher=[[ThePrint]] |date=17 March 2022}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Kargil War]] *[[Vikram Batra]] *[[Manoj Kumar Pandey]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gogoi, Jintu}} [[Category:Indian Army officers]] [[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]] [[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]] [[Category:People of the Kargil War]] [[Category:1970 births]] [[Category:1999 deaths]] [[Category:People from Golaghat]] [[Category:Military personnel from Assam]] [[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]