New Delhi: Col Navjot Singh Bal, a Shaurya Chakra awardee and former commanding officer of the 2 Para, passed away in Bengaluru Thursday. He was 39.
Col Bal had been battling cancer for the last two years.
Hailing from a military family, Col Bal was posted at the Northern Command’s Operation section when the 2016 surgical strikes were carried out.
His death is being mourned in the Army, especially by personnel of the special forces community for whom he was a living icon.
“Col Bal was involved in multiple anti-terror operations and was a living icon in uniform,” said a Para officer, who did not wish to be identified.
Bal was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for an operation in the upper ranges of Kashmir’s Lolab Valley where he and his buddy chased a group of terrorists and shot dead two of them in close combat.
He had also been part of a United Nations mission in Congo.
Col Bal is survived by his wife and two sons aged 8 and 4 years.
Having done his initial schooling from Army Public School in Delhi’s Dhaula Kuan, Col Bal joined the National Defence Academy in 1998 and was commissioned into 2 Para in 2002.
‘Didn’t let cancer deter him’
Col Bal took over as the Commanding Officer of the Bangalore-based 2 Para on 20 March 2018.
A lump in his right arm was first spotted in May 2018 and subsequent tests revealed a very rare form of cancer.
He was put on chemotherapy but continued to do his work as the CO, sources said.
Known as an absolute fitness freak, the officer did not let his cancer come in way of his life.
Despite being sick, he continued with his fitness regime that involved 50 pull-ups with one hand.
“Such was his fitness that he even ran a 21-km half-marathon in spite of cancer hampering his normal breathing,” another officer said told ThePrint.
In January 2019, his right arm had to be amputated but he continued to serve as the CO as it was felt that the cancer had been taken care of.
Another officer, his senior, said the first thing that Col Bal did after he came back after his surgery in January was to modify his cycle.
“He did not see losing an arm as a setback. Such was his positivity and zest for life that he modified his bike on his own and made sure both brakes were on his left,” he said.
He even learnt to fire from his left hand with the same ease as the right.
It was only in April that it was realised that the cancer had spread to other parts of the body.
It was then that he handed over charge and sought full-fledged treatment.
He continued to stay at the para centre in Bengaluru.
(This report has been updated to incorporate details about Col Bal’s early life and family.)
Also read: 5 Special Forces men, 5 terrorists: How a deadly hand-to-hand fight at the LoC unfolded
??????????come back pls???
Great salute to brave officer nd parents family
Brave heart
….. Nation should be remember such type of real hero of battle field…. Rip
RIP Col Bal. This is irreparable lose to the family and country.
A great salute to this great soldier,
Whio didn’t allow cancer to crack down his courage/fitness.
RIP
They ought to had amputated his arm at first instance. Putting him on chemotherapy , without amputation is a silly mistake. He would have been alive today.
Col NS Bal, SC, real life hero has left us.
Heart sacking news.
Rest In Peace Col Saheb .
A great soldier. Rest in peace
RIP sir
Hats off to his fighting spirit! Saddened by the tragic end of such a brave and spirited person. Rest in peace.
We shall always remain indebted for your service to the Nation. Rest in peace and salute to u.
I pray to God to help you attain the highest sir. ?
RIP Sit!! You are motivation for us !!!??
salute to the officer
Extremely unusual to hear a commanding officer being allowed to serve in an elite unit without the use of both of his hands. Wish that he had got help from the ayush fraternity which is unrepresented in the army medical corps. It is a huge loss for 2 Para, the army and the nation but a bigger loss if the army medical corps continues to be an allopath only institution. Perhaps it is high time that nutrition, naturopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy and yoga also become mainstream in the life of the armed forces personnel and the AFMC, Pune.
Any thing wrong with you,we are talking about a soldiers untimely demise,and you are promoting a alternative medicine.
Rip.
Im feeling very sad for him and his struggle against cancer….
God bless his family and give them the courage for this huge loss.
RIP.
RIP Sir. Jai Hind.
RIP Col Bal. Jai Hind
Great loss for us all.
Proud of your bravery and your zest Colonel!
RIP brave soldier. God bless.
Sad to know this.He was my son’s buddy in school.RIP son.
Rest in peace.