‘I got an opportunity to fight in Op Sindoor and that’s the biggest award’​

Colonel Koshank Lamba has been awarded the Vir Chakra for his resolute leadership and bravery in Operation Sindoor. In this exclusive interview, the first-generation Army officer recounts his journey from Haryana to the prestigious National Defence Academy in Pune, offers insights into military life, and speaks about his personal aspirations and vision for the nation 

Raised near a cantonment, Colonel Koshank Lamba grew up watching life in uniform at close quarters. The discipline, purpose, and quiet resolve of soldiers left a lasting impression on him, planting early the desire to join the armed forces and serve the nation.

Decades later, that childhood inspiration culminated in his being awarded the Vir Chakra — the country’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal — for his exemplary leadership during Operation Sindoor in May last year.

A first-generation commissioned officer, Col Lamba’s journey stands as a testament to perseverance and professional excellence.

As India celebrates its 77th Republic Day, the young artillery officer recounts his involvement in a top-secret operation, which was part of the larger Operation Sindoor, and how it led to the decimation of multiple terror targets on the Pakistani side.

Edited excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Hello, Jai Hind! If you could please tell our readers about yourself – where are you from, a little bit about your family, school, childhood?

I belong to Haryana and I come from a middle-class family. I have my parents at home and I am happily married, have two children. I have a younger sister who is also married. I come from a tier II city. I have had a middle-class upbringing and that's all about me.

At what stage did you decide that the armed forces was going to be your chosen career?

Watch Col Lamba's reply

How did you prepare to get into the armed forces?

While I was in class X, I realised that the best option for me was to get into the National Defence Academy. And I started my preparations while I was in class XI. While in class XI, I also covered some syllabus for class XII. I appeared for my NDA entrance examination while I was in class XII. After my boards, I went for the Services Selection Board. Once I cleared that, I joined NDA as an Army cadet.

Did you always want to be an Army officer?

Absolutely, yes. Although there is nobody in the Army from my family, I always used to keenly observe the military activities of soldiers, their discipline in the cantonment area [of my hometown] and all this used to motivate me a lot. So, it would not be wrong to say that from an early childhood I was fascinated with the uniform and I always wanted to be an Army officer.

How rigorous is the training and how long does it take to become a commissioned officer?

The training is rigorous. I joined the National Defence Academy and it takes about four years to become an officer. And the training is focused on making you an officer and a gentleman. First it shapes you from a young boy to a war-ready man. And then it inculcates all the necessary qualities which are required to become an officer in the Indian armed forces.

You have been awarded the third highest wartime gallantry medal, the Vir Chakra, for your exemplary leadership role in Op Sindoor. How do you feel about it? Is this your first such medal?

I really feel proud about it. I think the biggest pride for any soldier is to be able to get an opportunity to fight for the country. So, I was given that opportunity… I think that is the biggest award any soldier can get. So yes. Veer Chakra…is a very big honour… And I take pride every day in it.

As a commanding officer, you oversaw the first-ever air mobilisation of a howitzer battery (around six artillery guns) on short notice to deliver immediate fire support. Your unit destroyed multiple terror camps and killed a large number of terrorists. Could you tell us more about the operation?

Watch Col Lamba's reply

Could you describe the overall mood in your unit when you were assigned that specific mission?

So, the mood was very, very full of josh. All personnel were geared to go. We had trained for this moment throughout our lives. We were ready to perform. Although those were stressful moments, all those stresses were very well overcome by our trust in our training and confidence.

We all had realised we were about to become a part of a very important and very exciting operation. We were ready to make our country proud. And there was also a feeling that we were given an opportunity, for which we had been waiting for our entire life.

And the outcome, obviously, was very great. After we saw the outcome, the mood, in fact, was ecstatic. We were told that the targets we were assigned were hit with 100% accuracy. All the stated aims have been achieved. It was, overall, a very, very satisfying experience.

Please share some highlights from other missions you have undertaken?

I have put in about 19 years of service and. And I have had a number of field exposures and participated in a number of operations. However, no operation was as glorious or as big or as breathtaking as Operation Sindoor was. There was an operation wherein I stayed in high altitude areas. I performed the duties of an observation officer. I remained in the snowbound areas for protracted durations. But I would still say that my participation in Operation Sindoor is the most memorable one.

The armed forces is the only job where dying in the line of duty is a professional ask. How do you see it?

I see it as a very, very onerous responsibility and something which is very, very motivating. Watch the video for Col Lamba's full answer​

I am sure you have friends who are doctors, engineers or hold corporate jobs. In that group you probably command a different level of respect and adoration.

I have friends who pursue various professions in the corporate world and most of them are presently earning much more than I do. Despite that, the level of adoration and respect which I receive from them is incomparable and very difficult to express in words. In addition, the respect an Army officer gets in civilian areas, from his relatives and other walks of life is simply incomparable to any other profession. The feeling is very rewarding and keeps any Army personnel continuously motivated to keep serving the nation under all circumstances.

Operation Sindoor offered a glimpse into the future high-tech warfare. There was successful integration of indigenous, cutting-edge military technology, drones and electronic warfare systems.

It has rightly been described as the decade of transformation for the armed forces. We are seeing a lot of new generation equipment, which is being inducted into the armed forces, including surveillance drones, loitering munitions, kamikaze drones, satellite capabilities, electronic warfare capabilities, logistic drones, etc. All these capabilities combined are transforming the armed forces into a force which can not only keep an eye on the enemy, but also engage at will in areas which are very, very deep into enemy territory without ever crossing the border.

India boasts the 4th most powerful military of the world, according to the 2025 Global Firepower Index. How prepared are we to counter a two-front war threat?

I’ll answer this question at a tactical level. See, at all levels the Indian Army remains prepared throughout. Our only job at any point of time is to prepare and train for an upcoming war; be that a two-front war or two-and-a-half-front war. Our job is always to remain prepared. And I say [this] with a lot of confidence that the Indian Army is always prepared.

A career in the military is essentially a 24/7 commitment. How do you unwind? Do you get to spend quality time with your family?

It's not [just] a career, it's a way of life. It's a 24x7 commitment. I mean we seldom get holidays and even on holidays you are doing something [or the other]. But we have an attitude of finding happiness in small things. We always look for small opportunities, small chances to enjoy and unwind.

As far as spending time with family is concerned, we do have our peace postings, but, but then again, we do have our field postings where we have to live away from our families for very long durations. During peace stations our job is to train and train well.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do when you are not working?

I have two major hobbies. One is exercising – running and gyming, and the second is reading. My day does not end without a 5 km run and a good read -- 20-30 pages of a book.

What kind of books do you read?

I like to do research-based reading. I pick up a topic and then try to read a number of books on the same topic from different perspectives.

What is your career advice to our youngsters, who tend to opt for professions other than the armed forces?

Watch Col Lamba's reply

What is your dream for yourself? And what is your dream for India?

When I joined the Army, I only had one dream – to become an officer and to be able to command my regiment. And I can say with a great amount of pride that I am living that dream. My dream for the nation is to see India as a developed nation, prosperous nation, a superpower before I grow old.