Hats off to you Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

"Woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...and miles to go before I sleep..."

‘Brave heart of Mumbai’, a comic book with an iPhone application(one of its kind in India), that chronicles a real life hero, Major Sandeep Unni Krishnan is one among many attempts by the people of this country to keep Major Sandeep alive amongst us. He laid down his life for each one of us fighting terrorists in Mumbai’s 26/11 attack and we must not forget that it has been two years since then and Ajmal Kasab, the main accused is still alive. Mumbaikars can never forget that deadly November when the city was held to ransom by terrorists who created havoc and took as many as 173 lives and injured 308 people. The attacks began on November 26, 2008 and lasted till November 29, 2008. This was one of the ghastliest episodes of terrorism that India had ever seen. This is a tribute to the brave son of the soil, Major Sandeep Unni Krishnan.

Major Sandeep was born on March 15, 1977 in a place called Cerruvannur, a small village in Kozhikode District of Kerela , India. He was the only son of Mr. Unnikrishnan, a retired officer of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Mrs. Dhanalakshmi. It has been two years since his son’s martyrdom. Mr. K. Unnikrishnan, the proud father of Major Sandeep was on a month long cycle- rally commencing from Gateway of India on November 26, 2010, across the country reminding people of the sacrifice that Sandeep and the other soldiers had made for the country in that horrifying terror attack.
Sandeep did his schooling at Frank Anthony Public School (FAPS), Bangalore. He was not only an outstanding student but also a remarkable sports person. He dreamt to join the Army and he fulfilled this dream of his. After graduation, he joined the Nationl Defence Academy (NDA) and passed out with flying colors. He was commissioned as Lieutenant on 12/07/1999 in the 7th Battalion of Bihar Regiment of Infantry services. In the regiment he served in various locations like Jammu Kashmir and Rajasthan. He is described as an energetic, jovial and a very jolly person by the officers of his regiment. Needless to mention, he was popular with his juniors too.
The Ghatak course is one of the most difficult courses of the Commando wing of the Infantry. Sandeep topped this course and was graded as Instructor in the Commando wing. His performance and competency in the regiment was identified by his superiors and his name was recommended to the National Security Guards (NSG), the elite commandos of the nation. After the strenuous training he was assigned to the Special Action Group (SAG) of NSG.

November 26, 2008 was a black day in the annals of Indian history. The terrorists were armed to teeth, had weaponry and stamina enhancing doses to last for four days. The terrorists were trained to work in pairs. Two of them reached Chatrapati Shivaji Terminal (CST) and open fired at the passengers waiting to board trains. Atleast 52 people were killed and 109 others were injured in this awful mass butchery. The Leopold Café in South Mumbai was among the first sites to be attacked after CST. Again, two attackers open fired and killed 10 people. It was a well coordinated ‘shooting-bombing’ exercise by the perpetrators of violence. There were explosions at Mazagaon and a taxi stand at Vile Parle. Two hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and the Oberoi Trident, were amongst the four locations targeted. Six explosions were reported at the Taj hotel and one at the Oberoi Trident. At the Taj Mahal, firefighters rescued 200 hostages from windows using ladders during the first night. Meanwhile, 32 hostages were killed in the Oberoi. The NSG were flown to Mumbai to bring this situation under control. Hence, started the Operation Black Tornado. Major Sandeep was the team commander and led the 51 SAG deployed at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. He engaged the terrorists in fierce gun battle and died when a terrorist shot him from behind, while Sandeep was rescuing Commando Sunil Yadav who was hit in the leg by a bullet.

Sandeep stood by his friend and his countrymen when they needed him. He is an epitome of courage and a role model for the youth today. This is our pay-back time to the martyrs. We, as a nation cannot afford to be fragile anymore. Breeding insects like Ajmal Kasab will bring us nothing but guilt of denying justice to people like Major Sandeep, Vijay Salaskar, Hemant Karkare and hundreds of others who lost their lives for no fault of theirs. Security personnel in India are n times less equipped when compared to the terrorists who have the latest technology to bring a nation to its knees. Complacency and inertia has made us hollow from within. May be someday this will change. Maybe someday people like Sandeep will live heroic lives than die heroic deaths. Amen.