Meet Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari: Who Laid Down His Life to Save a Fellow Soldier Earns Kirti Chakra
Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari (1 Sikkim Scouts, attached from the Army Service Corps) was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for an act of exceptional courage in North Sikkim.
On duty during a high-altitude patrol in May 2025, the 23-year-old officer jumped into a raging mountain stream to rescue a drowning comrade and successfully saved him before being swept away himself. On August 14, 2025, the President of India approved the Kirti Chakra for Lt Tiwari in recognition of his selfless sacrifice.
Early Life, Training & First Posting
Hailing from Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Shashank Tiwari completed NDA training and was commissioned into the Indian Army on December 14, 2024. He soon joined his first field assignment in Sikkim, serving with 1 Sikkim Scouts in high-altitude, fast-changing terrain that demands physical grit and quick decision-making.
The Fateful Day in North Sikkim
In late May 2025, while leading a Route Opening Patrol toward a Tactical Operating Base, a soldier (an Agniveer identified in reports as Stephen Subba) slipped from a bridge and was swept away by a powerful glacial stream. Without hesitation, Lt Tiwari leapt into the torrent, and another soldier followed to assist. The rescued soldier was brought to safety mission accomplished but Lt Tiwari was carried downstream by the current; his body was recovered about 800 metres away roughly 30 minutes later.
Honours & Last Rites
Lt Tiwari’s mortal remains were flown to Ayodhya, where he received state honours amid large public tributes before cremation at Jamthara Ghat on the Saryu’s banks. Senior civil and military officials attended, underscoring the city and the nation’s gratitude.
Kirti Chakra: Official Recognition
On the eve of Independence Day (August 14, 2025), the Government announced four Kirti Chakras among 127 gallantry awards; the list explicitly includes IC-91128W Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, Army Service Corps, 1 Sikkim Scouts. The citation recognizes his conspicuous bravery, presence of mind, and supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Why His Act Matters
- Immediate risk acceptance: He prioritized a comrade’s life over his own textbook leadership under the Chetwode ethos.
- Operational acuity in extreme terrain: High-altitude streams are deceptively lethal; reacting decisively in seconds saved a life.
- Inspiration for young officers: Commissioned just six months earlier, he exemplified courage and responsibility from day one.
Facts & Figures
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rank/Name | Lt Shashank Tiwari |
| Unit | 1 Sikkim Scouts (attached from Army Service Corps) |
| Age | 23 |
| Commissioning | 14 Dec 2024 |
| Operation context | High-altitude Route Opening Patrol, North Sikkim |
| Act of gallantry | Jumped into glacial stream; rescued a drowning soldier |
| Award | Kirti Chakra (Posthumous), approved 14 Aug 2025 |
Legacy
Lt Shashank Tiwari’s story embodies the soldier’s creed: “The safety, honour and welfare of the men you command come first always and every time.” His decisive action, calm under pressure, and ultimate sacrifice will serve as a guiding light for cadets and young officers who will lead patrols in similarly unforgiving conditions. Memorials and public tributes in his hometown further ensure that his legacy endures in the collective memory of the nation.
Conclusion
In a moment that demanded both courage and clarity, Lt Shashank Tiwari chose duty and brotherhood. The Kirti Chakra is a formal recognition; the life he saved is the living testament. His example reminds every uniformed Indian and every citizen what selfless service truly means.
Jai Hind
