View source for Man Bahadur Rai

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain]]
| name          = Man Bahadur Rai
| honorific_suffix = [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]], [[Military Cross|MC]], [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal|IDSM]]
| image         = Captain Man Bahadur Rai.jpg
| image_size    = 250 px
| caption       = Portrait of Captain Man Bahadur Rai
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|df=y|1914|01|10}}<ref name="recipients">{{cite book |last1=Aggarwal |first1=Rashmi |title=Ashoka Chakra Recipients |pages=173 |publisher=Prabhat Books}}</ref>
| birth_place   = [[Darjeeling district]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj]]<br> (present-day [[West Bengal]], India)<ref name="recipients"/>
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=y|2011|02|14|1914|01|10}}
| death_place   = [[Jorhat]], [[Assam]], [[India]]
| serviceyears  = 1930–19??
| nickname      =
| allegiance    = {{flag|British India}}<br> {{flag|India}}
| branch        = {{army|British Raj}}<br>{{army|India}}
| rank          = [[File:Captain of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| servicenumber = 17249IO (British Indian Army Indian Officer)<br>SS-14842 (short-service commission)<ref name="commission"/><br>IC-5261 (regular commission)<ref name="commission"/>
| unit          = [[10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles]]<br>[[11th Gorkha Rifles]]<br>[[Assam Rifles]]
| commands      =
| battles       =
{{tree list}}
* [[World War II]]
** [[Burma campaign]]
* [[Insurgency in Northeast India]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards        = [[File:Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]]<br>[[File:Military cross BAR.svg|30px]] [[Military Cross]]<br>[[File:Indian Distinguished Service Medal Ribbon.gif|30px]] [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]]
}}
[[Captain]] '''Man Bahadur Rai''' [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]], [[Military Cross|MC]], [[Indian Distinguished Service Medal|IDSM]] (10 January 1914 – 14 February 2011) was a highly decorated [[Indian Army]] Gorkha officer and a recipient of the [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]], the highest peacetime Indian gallantry decoration. Only the fourth Ashoka Chakra recipient to be decorated while living, he was the third Indian Army serviceman and the first Indian Army officer to have been honoured while alive.<ref>{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1975 |title=Names, Addresses of and Facilities for Ashok Chakra Winners |journal=Lok Sabha Debates |volume=48 |pages=41 }}</ref>
==Early life==
A member of a [[Rai people|Rai]] family in the Darjeeling district, Rai enlisted in the [[British Indian Army]] on 17 July 1930, joining the 1st Battalion of 10th Gurkha Rifles.<ref name="recipients"/>
==Second World War==
During the Second World War, Rai was promoted to ''[[jemadar]]'' (now ''[[naib subedar]]'') on 1 December 1941.<ref name="Indian_Army_List_45">{{cite book|pages=1818b|title=Indian Army List for October 1945 (Part II)|publisher=Government of India Press|year=1945}}</ref> As an acting subedar (paid), he fought in the Burma Campaign, during which he won the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36382|date=15 February 1944 |page=827|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="IDSM_cite">{{cite web |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7364066|title=Recommendation for Award for Manbahadur Rai |website=The National Archives (UK)|publisher=UK Government |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> The citation (which was not made public), reads as follows:
<blockquote>
10 December 1943
Subedar Manbahadur Rai,  1/10 Gurkha Rifles, 63rd Indian Infantry Brigade, [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Division]]
On the 14th November 1943 this G.O. [Gurkha Officer] was 2nd in command of a company which was ordered to counter-attack at night against strong Japanese forces, estimated to be the major part of a battalion and supported by mortars and infantry guns. During the course of the fighting, which lasted the whole of the next day, and during which quite early in the proceedings his company commander was wounded five times, this Officer displayed the greatest coolness, courage and military skill.
Initially in charge of the mortars and rear [illegible] company H.Q., he kept his Brigade H.Q. fully and continuously in the picture, gauging accurately when extra ammunition was required and organising the evacuation of the wounded. When his company commander was wounded, he ordered him back to Rear H. Q. and took over command. For some hours he kept large numbers of the enemy at bay by his oppositions, ensuring he could not be surrounded, counter-attacking twice, methodically collecting a large quantity of material for identification purposes and finally when ordered to withdraw, pulling out unhurried and with great military precision. All his dead, wounded and material were got away including much enemy material, and the enemy received such a hard blow that he never followed up and indeed has never recovered the position.
Throughout, this Officer’s leadership and military skill was of the highest order.<ref name="IDSM_cite"/>
</blockquote>
Subsequently promoted to war-substantive subedar, Rai was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on 8 October 1944.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37151|date=26 June 1945 |page=3382|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="mc">{{cite web |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7366958|title=Recommendation for Award for Manbahadur Rai |website=The National Archives (UK)|publisher=UK Government |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> He received the decoration for, among other actions, his command of his company during the [[Battle of Imphal]] in the area of [[Bishnupur, Manipur]]. Taking command after his company commander had been killed and while he and his unit were pinned down by Japanese machine-gun fire from several bunkers, Rai conducted a reconnaissance mission and located all of the nearby enemy bunkers. After throwing five grenades at the nearest bunkers, he devised a plan of attack and led his company in an attack which eliminated the first line of bunkers.<ref name="mc"/> In the full citation, which was not published, Rai was commended for:<ref name="mc"/>
<blockquote>
...his dash and courage, combined with high qualities of leadership and initiative shown by this Gurkha Officer on all occasions when his company has been in action.
</blockquote>
==Indian Army service==
After Indian independence, Rai's regiment, the 10th Gurkha Rifles, which primarily recruited soldiers of the Rai ethnicity, was allocated to the United Kingdom and became a British Army regiment. Rai opted to serve in the Indian Army, joining the newly re-raised 11th Gorkha Rifles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bajwa |first=Mandeep Singh |date=22 June 2014 |title=The Kirantis and their beginnings  |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/the-kirantis-and-their-beginnings/story-iITxrkeBt32Ai1xtme6xlJ.html |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=28 July 2019 }}</ref> On 23 August 1948, he received a short-service commission as a second lieutenant in the 11th Gorkhas (seniority from 23 August 1946).<ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |pages=179–180 |date=9 August 1958|page= |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2065-1958-0032-93385.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He received a regular commission as a lieutenant on 7 February 1951 (seniority from 27 August 1948),<ref name="commission"/> and was promoted to captain on 27 August 1954.<ref name="captain">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=81 |date=9 March 1963|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1838-1963-0010-83385.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> On 20 November 1956, he was seconded for service with the 8th Battalion of the [[Assam Rifles]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=115 |date=24 May 1958|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1958/O-2068-1958-0021-93591.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref name="Ashoka_Chakra">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 1: President's Secretariat |page=46 |date=24 January 1962 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was then assigned to the Village Guards (Naga Hills, Tuensang Area) on 1 December 1957.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=325 |date=10 December 1960|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1960/O-1948-1960-0050-87709.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was appointed Officer Commanding Village Guard (Tuensang Wing) on 1 March 1958.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=121 |date=7 March 1959|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1959/O-1990-1959-0010-89878.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
On 3 May 1961, Rai was decorated with the Ashoka Chakra for his heroism while in command of a platoon during the Nagaland Insurgency:<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 1: The Gazette of India - Extraordinary |page=46 |date=24 January 1962 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
<blockquote>
No.   9-Pres/62.—The  President  is  pleased  to  approve  the  award   of  the ASHOKA  CHAKRA,  CLASS  I,  to  the  undermentioned  personnel  for  most conspicuous bravery:
Captain  MAN  BAHADUR  RAI   (IC-5261).  M.C.,  I.D.S.M.,  11th Gorkha  Rifles.(Seconded  to  Assam  Rifles).
''(Effective   date  of  award — 3rd  May 1961)''
In  April–May  1961, Captain  Man  Bahadur  Rai   (IC-5261)  took  part  in  a series  of  actions  against  a  body  of  hostile  Nagas  who  had  entrenched  themselves  in  a  very  difficult,   densely  wooded,  hilly  region  interspersed  with numerous  ravines.   Towards  the  end  of  April  1961, he  led  a  platoon  at  dead of  night  through  two  hostile  positions  into  the  heart  of  their stronghold, fiercely  attacked  them  and  was  successful  in  dislodging  them  from  that position. On the  3rd  May  1961, he  led  a  platoon  against  another  strongly  fortified hostile  position  which  was  situated  on  the  steep  slopes  of  a   ravine.   This position  dominated  the  surrounding  area  and  could  not  be  approached except  frontally. Captain  Rai,  knowing  that  heavy  casualties  would  result if  he  were  to  attack  frontally,  took  half  a  platoon, crawled  through  the thick  undergrowth  and  scaled  up  the  steep  side  while  exposed  to  a  hail of close  range  fire  which  covered  his  advance.  On  locating  the  hostile position,  he  pressed  forward  in  its  direction,  threw  two  hand  grenades  killing a  few  hostiles  and  charged  the  position  firing  as  he  went  and  killing   two more  hostiles.   This  fearless  and  unexpected  assault  spurred  his  men  to action  and  so  demoralised  the  hostiles  that  they  fled  into  the  thick  jungle. The  hostiles  lost  ten  men  in  the  encounter  and  left  behind  two  rifles, one 12 bore  gun  and  one  tommy  gun.   The  attack  dealt  a  crushing  blow  to  the hostiles  and  led  to  the  eventual  destruction  of  their  position. This  action  was  one  of  several  in  which  Captain  Rai  took  part,   first   as an  officer  of  the  8th  Battalion  of  the  Assam  Rifles  and  more  recently  as  an officer   of  the  Village  Guards  Organisation  of  Nagaland.   Throughout  this period,  he  repeatedly  showed  conspicuous  bravery,  unselfishness  and    indomitable  courage  in  very  difficult  and   dangerous  situations.  His  leader-ship  and  unconquerable  will  have  been  a  source  of  inspiration   to  all   his comrades  and  are  in  the  highest  traditions   of  the  Army.
</blockquote>
==Later life and death==
After retiring from the Indian Army, Rai settled at Jorhat in Assam. He died there on 14 February 2011, aged 97, and was accorded full military honours by the Assam Rifles at his funeral. The Assam Rifles named an auditorium at their Shillong HQ in honour of Rai.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 2011 |title=Last rites of India's oldest-surviving Ashok Chakra recipient held|url=https://www.sify.com/news/last-rites-of-indias-oldest-surviving-ashok-chakra-recipient-held-news-national-lcpuEogcbdasi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803160407/https://www.sify.com/news/last-rites-of-indias-oldest-surviving-ashok-chakra-recipient-held-news-national-lcpuEogcbdasi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2019 |work=Sify News|access-date=3 August 2019 }}</ref>
==Awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ashoka Chakra ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India_General_Service_Medal_1947.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND Samanya Seva medal.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Samar_Seva_Star_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|100px]]
|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Military_cross_BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Indian_Distinguished_Service_Medal_Ribbon.gif|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_War_Medal_&_MiD.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_India_Service_Medal.png|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|
|Ashoka Chakra
|[[General Service Medal 1947]]
|
|-
|[[Samanya Seva Medal]]
|Samar Seva Star
|Raksha Medal
|[[Indian Independence Medal]]
|-
|20 Years Long Service Medal
|9 Years Long Service Medal
|[[Military Cross]]
|[[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|[[1939-45 Star]]
|[[Burma Star]]
|[[War Medal 1939-1945]]
|India Service Medal
|-
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Ashoka Chakra award recipients}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Man Bahadur}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Indian Distinguished Service Medal]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military personnel from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)]]
[[Category:Ashoka Chakra]]
[[Category:Rai people]]
[[Category:Indian recipients of the Military Cross]]