Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Kargil war hero Subedar Major and honorary Lieutenant Sanjay Kumar has been given the rank of honorary captain for his long, selfless service to the Army. The Param Vir Chakra recipient is among 2,241 JCOs of the Army who have been conferred honorary commissioned ranks on the eve of Republic Day.Kumar is a legendary officer (13 JAK Rifles) who was awarded India’s highest gallantry honour for his heroics in the 1999 Kargil war. On July 4, 1999, he had single-handedly captured Flat Top, Point 4875, by neutralising enemy machine-gun posts despite severe injuries. Kumar’s name resonates far beyond military circles for his courage and bravery during the India-Pakistan war.
At least 437 JCOs have been elevated to honorary captain rank, while 1,804 JCOs have been conferred the rank of honorary lieutenant, recognising their decades of selfless military service, according to an official notification.Honorary ranks in the Army are conferred on JCOs with impeccable service records who have displayed professional excellence and sterling leadership qualities at unit level. While these ranks – honorary lieutenant and honorary captain- do not alter command structures, they carry deep symbolic value within the armed forces.The number of those given the honour this year highlights the oft-neglected contributions of subedars and subedar majors, who form the bedrock of the Army’s functioning. They train young soldiers, preserve regimental traditions, enforce discipline and provide continuity in some of the most challenging operational environments in the world. In addition to the honour and protocol status, these ranks can result in a modest enhancement in pension benefits, depending on applicable rules.
