Retired Colonel Magod Basappa Ravindranath, who was pivotal in Operation Vijay in the Kargil War, died in Bengaluru on Sunday morning. As tributes poured in, a large section of people demanded that he be given a state funeral, with full honours.
He reportedly suffered a heart attack while he was jogging at a park near his residence in Jayanaga 7th Block.
Following his death, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar paid tribute to the veteran and urged the state government to accord him state funeral with honours.
Dear @siddaramaiah avare - #ColMBRavindranath proud son of #Karnataka n # Davangare deserves a state funeral with honours ! Pls do the right thing @BSYBJP @BJP4Karnataka @FlagsOfHonour https://t.co/BpS2uFNK3P
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) April 9, 2018
Rajeev established Flags of Honour, a foundation that supports families of martyrs and also sanctioned a war memorial in Bengaluru dedicated to military personnel who lost their lives during service.
It was an honour to have #ColMBRavindranath along with Air Cmde Chandrasekhar, Veer Naris Mrs Salma & Mrs Shakuthala sign and release a special postal cover on #KargilVijayDiwas in 2016. He was a supporter of our endeavours and shall be missed by all. #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/9tkjrDHEjQ
— Flags Of Honour (@FlagsOfHonour) April 9, 2018
Colonel Ravindranath joined Sainik School in Bijapur after completing his Class IV and studied there until Pre-University. After school, he joined the National Defence Academy in 1976.
In 1980, he was sent to Khadakwasla for training, where he completed his B.Sc.
His first posting was in Arunachal Pradesh. He also became an instructor at the military training school in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.
His first posting was in Kashmir between 1986-87. He went on to serve in the region three more times – between 1989-90, 1994-96 and then again in 1999.
He then left for Kashmir for the first time in 1986-87 and served in the region in 1989-90, 1994-96 and then again in 1999.
He was the Commanding Officer of the 2 Rajputana Rifles that led the operations to push back Pakistani soldiers who had occupied Indian territory.
During Operation Vijay, he was in charge of the assault to recapture Tololing Point 4590 and the Black Rock area in the Drass Sector, which overlooks the Srinagar-Leh Road.
He received the Vir Chakra in 1999 for his heroics in the war.
Post-retirement, he stayed in Bengaluru and and was a director at Magod Laser, his family-run industrial venture.
“Col. Ravindranath was a brave soldier and a gentleman to the core. He led his team from the front in the army and his valour made all Kannadigas proud. He was a great motivational speaker and a big brother to all of us. His death is shocking,” IAS officer and regional commissioner (Bengaluru) Shivayogi C Kalasad, also an alumnus of Sainik School, Vijayapura, told Times of India.