Fearless Tales: The grenade that took a life and saved a platoon

Born in 1916 in the small, hilly village of Bhtipral in Bilaspur, Kirpa Ram was the only son of poor farmers, Mussadi Ram and Kauri Devi. His family’s legacy of service ran deep — Mussadi Ram and his three brothers had all served in the First World War under the British Indian Army.

But hardship ruled the family’s life. As a young boy of barely 12, Kirpa Ram was sent away to work as a household servant — first in Amritsar, then in Shimla — to help his family survive. Yet, destiny had different plans for him. On January 9, 1935, at the age of 17, he joined the British Indian Army, a decision that would one day make his name immortal.

Duty beyond borders

As part of the 13th Frontier Force Rifles, Kirpa Ram served with distinction during the Second World War, fighting in the rugged terrains of Waziristan, Burma and other Southeast Asian fronts. His bravery in the field earned him several medals and the respect of his superiors.

By 1945, when the guns of war had finally fallen silent, Kirpa Ram, now a Naik (corporal), and his battalion, the 8th Battalion of the Frontier Force Rifles, were returning home from Burma. Their journey brought them to a rest camp at Thondebhavi, near Bangalore, where fate had one final test in store for him.

Day courage took human form

On September 12, 1945, Naik Kirpa Ram was commanding J Section during a field firing exercise. A sepoy under his command was firing grenades using a discharger-cup when tragedy struck — the third grenade misfired and landed barely eight yards ahead of the section’s position.

In that split second, Kirpa Ram realised what would happen if it exploded — half his section would be wiped out. Without hesitation, he shouted a warning: “Get back and take cover!”

Then, defying instinct and ignoring certain death, he leapt forward, sprinted toward the live grenade and picked it up with his bare hands in an attempt to throw it away. It exploded before he could hurl it to safety.

The blast tore through his body. He absorbed the full force of the explosion and in doing so, saved every man under his command. Only two of his section were slightly wounded. Naik Kirpa Ram succumbed to his injuries soon after. He was 28 years old.

The nation & Empire remember

The London Gazette, on March 15, 1946, published the royal citation of his posthumous George Cross, the highest British gallantry award for non-combat heroism. It read:

“Knowing fully well the possible consequences, he risked his life in order to save those of the men under his command. His fine spirit of sacrifice and devotion to duty will ever be remembered in his regiment and will be a constant source of inspiration to all ranks.”

At a ceremony held at the Viceroy’s House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) in Delhi, Lord Wavell, the then Viceroy of India, presented the medal to Brahmi Devi, Kirpa Ram’s young widow. His parents and relatives attended the ceremony, along with Raja Anand Chand of Bilaspur, who later granted ten acres of land to Mussadi Ram in recognition of his son’s heroism.

A widow’s lonely journey

For Brahmi Devi, the honour was bittersweet. She had been married to Kirpa Ram for only a short while before he returned to duty never to come back. She lived for 93 long years, childless and often lonely, dedicating her life to serving her husband’s aging parents with quiet dignity and love.

In 2002, tragedy revisited her when thieves stole the George Cross medal, her only tangible memory of the husband she lost. The theft shattered her emotionally. Years later, in 2015, the medal resurfaced in a London auction house. Thanks to joint efforts by Indian and British authorities, it was recovered and ceremoniously returned to her village by officers from the British High Commission.

Legacy of an eternal hero

Before her death, Brahmi Devi wrote a will, entrusting the medal and her estate to her nephew, Advocate Surender Thakur, who had cared for her in her final years. Today, Thakur keeps the George Cross “with utmost care”, he says, “because it is not just a medal — it is an identity unforgettable.”

Naik Kirpa Ram’s act of valour did not take place on a battlefield but in a quiet training ground, yet it remains one of the purest examples of courage, sacrifice and leadership. His story still echoes through the hills of Bilaspur, reminding generations that true soldiers never die. They live forever in the hearts of those they save.

From a humble village in Bilaspur to eternal glory, Naik Kirpa Ram’s tale is one of selfless devotion and unflinching duty.