Bengaluru : After becoming a revered figure for more than fifteen years, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who gave his life on November 26, 2008, during the Mumbai terror attack, is still an inspiration to people in Karnataka.
The hardest battles Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is known for were those he fought in, especially Operation Black Tornado during the Mumbai attacks.
Leading the Special Action Group, battling floor by floor at the Taj Hotel to free the hostages, and eventually facing off against the terrorists by himself until the end after his team was destroyed by extremely hostile gunfire are just a few examples of his valor.
In Yelahanka, Bengaluru, a major arterial road bears Major Unnikrishnan’s name. On Independence Day, Ganesh and Deepavali festivals, posters of Sandeep alongside great freedom fighters like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and others are a common sight throughout Karnataka, Kannada, and patriotic organizations.
In honor of him, the Indian Railways gave the locomotive (TKD WDP4B 40049) a posthumous name of “Sandeep Unnikrishnan.”
Social media is replete with fan pages, and cadets from 2 KAR AIR SQUADRON NCC have organized a bicycle trip from Bengaluru to Mumbai in honor of Major Unnikrishnan. The cadets are Mridhul, Surya, and Syed. On November 26, 2023, they will meet his parents at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai.
Major Akshay Girish Memorial Trust Co-Founder Meghna Girish told IANS, “I was at Captain Pranjal’s last farewell on Friday in Bengaluru. On November 24, he gave the ultimate sacrifice at Rajouri. Many had traveled great distances to pay their respects.”
Girish went on to say: “In the last 10 years, people have become more open in showing their respect for the soldiers and the sacrifices they make in protecting the country.”
“Because 26/11 was a three-day siege in the heart of Mumbai, it garnered significant media coverage. But every day, our soldiers defend this nation without receiving any attention from the media. Girish continued, “This does not imply that any soldier is any less valiant or heroic.
“My son made the supreme sacrifice in 2016 in Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir, in a similar type of hostage situation,” Girish revealed in a personal statement. Terrorists from Jaish-e-Mohammad had broken into two buildings, ensnaring sleeping families. All of the civilians—including women and children—were saved after a protracted battle.
“Four soldiers were slain before they could raise their weapons, and three soldiers—including my son—made the ultimate sacrifice. Freedom is never free; it comes with a heavy price, the lives of valiant soldiers dedicated to serving their country.”
Talking about how people’s attitude towards bravehearts has changed, Girish said: “Because of social media, more and more common people are understanding and paying respect. The motto should be to put your motherland first, ensuring the safety and welfare of the people. It doesn’t matter which field we are working in; if our country is attacked tomorrow, no one is safe.”
She concluded by saying: “There are wars happening in all parts of the world, and our country is always in grave danger due to enemies around us — China, Pakistan, and within our country, terrorist groups trying to destabilise. The message is let’s remain united, let’s put our country first. Freedom is never free; that’s my message.”
