Father Martyred Before Commanding 10 PARA SF, Son Fulfils His Dream Decades Later

Some stories of courage are written on the battlefield, while others continue through generations. The extraordinary story of Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra, Sena Medal, and his son Colonel Varun Chhabra is one such account of sacrifice, determination and an unbreakable bond between a father, his son and the Indian Army.

On October 14, 1989, Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra made the supreme sacrifice while fighting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan. He was serving as the Second-in-Command of the elite 10 PARA (Special Forces), popularly known as the Desert Scorpions, and was preparing to take over as its Commanding Officer. However, he lost his life in combat before he could fulfil that dream.

What makes his story even more remarkable is what happened decades later. His son Varun, who was just nine years old when his father was killed in action, grew up to join the Indian Army, became an officer in the same elite Special Forces battalion and eventually rose to command 10 PARA (SF), fulfilling the dream his father had left unfinished.

Lieutenant Colonel Chhabra was an experienced Special Forces officer who had participated in demanding military operations. During India's military deployment in Sri Lanka, his unit was involved in operations against the LTTE as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).

On October 14, 1989, Lt Col Chhabra led an operation against a heavily fortified LTTE position. According to published accounts of the engagement, his team surrounded the militant stronghold and engaged the enemy in intense fighting. During the operation, he was struck by retaliatory fire. Despite being wounded, he reportedly continued fighting and killed an LTTE commander before making the supreme sacrifice. His soldiers subsequently secured the position.

His death was a tremendous loss to his family and his battalion. At home, a nine-year-old boy had lost his father. In the Army, 10 PARA (SF) had lost a courageous officer who was on the verge of assuming command.

For young Varun, life would never be the same. At an age when children look to their fathers for guidance and inspiration, he was left with memories of a soldier whose life had been devoted to serving the nation.

But rather than allowing tragedy to define his future, Varun chose a path that would bring him closer to his father's legacy.

As he grew older, he decided to join the Indian Army. More remarkably, he went on to serve in 10 PARA (Special Forces), the very battalion where his father had served and sacrificed his life.

Joining the Special Forces is itself a demanding achievement. The elite formation is known for its rigorous selection, physical endurance, mental resilience and operational responsibilities. For Varun, however, serving in 10 PARA also carried a deeply personal meaning.

His father had dreamed of commanding the battalion. Years later, Varun would accomplish precisely that.

In an interview published by THE WEEK, Colonel Varun Chhabra explained the motivation behind his decision to join the Special Forces and follow his father's path.

"My father cherished a dream of commanding this elite and finest unit one day. I only hope, that he sees his dream come true through his son."

Those words reveal the emotional significance of his journey. It was not merely about becoming an Army officer or achieving a prestigious command appointment. It was about honouring the memory of a father whose military career had been cut short on the battlefield.

Decades after Lt Col Arun Kumar Chhabra had been preparing to lead 10 PARA (SF), his son Colonel Varun Chhabra became its Commanding Officer.

The same battalion. The same uniform. The same spirit of service. But a different generation carrying forward an unfinished dream.

For the soldiers of 10 PARA, the story represents a remarkable connection between two generations of military leadership. For the Chhabra family, it stands as a powerful reminder that the legacy of a fallen soldier can continue long after his sacrifice.

The father never lived to see his son become an officer. He never witnessed his achievements, his promotions or the day he assumed command of the battalion that his father had once been preparing to lead.

Yet the values he represented continued through his son.

There is a profound lesson in this story for every young Indian who dreams of joining the Armed Forces. Military service is not simply about wearing a uniform, earning medals or holding positions of authority. It is about responsibility, character, courage and the willingness to place duty above personal comfort.

Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra demonstrated those values through his actions on the battlefield. Colonel Varun Chhabra honoured his father's legacy by building his own career and eventually commanding the same elite battalion.

Their story also reminds us of the sacrifices made by military families. When a soldier lays down his life, the loss is not confined to the battlefield. It is carried by parents, spouses and children for the rest of their lives.

Behind every name engraved on a war memorial is a family that has paid an immeasurable price.

The story of Lt Col Chhabra and his son is therefore not only about military achievement. It is also about resilience in the face of loss, the strength of family values and the determination to transform personal grief into a life of purpose.

As the nation remembers Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra on his Balidan Diwas, his extraordinary legacy deserves to be remembered by future generations of soldiers and defence aspirants.

He was a brave officer who made the supreme sacrifice in Sri Lanka on October 14, 1989. His son, who was only nine years old at the time, would one day grow up to command the very battalion his father had dreamed of leading.

A father's journey ended on the battlefield, but his dream lived on through his son.

Some dreams remain unfinished. Some sacrifices leave wounds that time cannot erase. But sometimes, the next generation rises to carry forward what the previous generation could not complete.

The story of Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar Chhabra and Colonel Varun Chhabra is a powerful reminder that a soldier's legacy does not end with his last breath.

Freedom is not free. Some families pay its highest price.