Colonel

Jojan Thomas

AC
Birth nameJojan Thomas
Born(1965-05-22)May 22, 1965
Kuttoor Village, Thiruvalla District, Kerala
DiedAugust 22, 2008(2008-08-22) (aged 43)
Kupwara district
Buried
Hosur Road Cemetery
AllegianceIndia
Service/branchIndian Army
Years of service1986-2008
RankColonel (India)
Service numberIC-45618
Unit
  • Jat Regiment
  • 45 Rashtriya Rifles
Commands heldCommanding Officer of 45 Rashtriya Rifles
Awards Ashok Chakra
Spouse(s)Beena Jojan Thomas
Children2

Colonel Jojan Thomas, AC (22 May 1965 - 22 August 2008) was an Indian military officer with the Jat Regiment and later the 45 Rashtriya Rifles unit.[1] He was a native of Kuttoor in Thiruvalla, Kerala and lived in Bangalore.[1] He was commissioned from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai in March 1986. On 22 August 2008, he led an operation against terrorists in the forests of Macchal sector in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. In the process, he killed three terrorists, but sustained several gunshot wounds and succumbed to injuries. For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peace time military decoration in India.[1]

Early life

Colonel Jojan Thomas was born on 22 May 1965 in Kuttoor village of Thiruvalla in pathanamthitta District of Kerala. He was the son of an army officer Captain P.A Thomas and Aleyamma Thomas. He was eldest among his four siblings. His two brothers also serving in the Armed Forces. He came from a family with deep military background.[2]

Military career

He was commissioned in 11 Jat Regiment from the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai on a short-service commission as a second lieutenant on 8 March 1986.[3] Promoted lieutenant on 8 March 1988,[4] he received a regular commission as a second lieutenant on 8 March 1991 (seniority for promotion from 6 November 1986) and was promoted lieutenant from the same date (seniority for promotion from 6 November 1988).[5]

He was also a trained pilot and had served with Army Aviation corps for six years. Promoted captain on 6 November 1991,[6] he was selected for the prestigious Staff Course for Officers in the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu.[7] On 6 November 1997, he was promoted to major,[8] followed by promotion to lieutenant-colonel on 16 December 2004.[9] He was sent to 45 Rashtriya Rifles to undertake anti terrorist operations in 2008.[10]

Ashoka Chakra awardee

For his bravery, self sacrifice and leadership in Kupwara Operation in 2008, he was posthumously awarded Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award.[11]

Jojan Thomas's widow receives the Ashok Chakra from president Pratibha Patil on 26 January 2009.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A determined officer's ultimate sacrifice in the service of nation". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Colonel Jojan Thomas". Thank You Indian Army.
  3. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 14 November 1987. p. 1559.
  4. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 5 May 1990. p. 640.
  5. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 15 August 1992. p. 1351.
  6. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 18 September 1993. p. 1660.
  7. ↑ "Col. Jojan Thomas- The Brave Son of India". Humans of Thiruvalla. 23 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 7 March 1998. p. 308.
  9. ↑ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 6 August 2005. p. 1363.
  10. ↑ "Colonel Jojan Thomas AC". Honourpoint.
  11. ↑ "Col Jojan Thomas". Gallantry Awards.


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