Mysuru: Rotary Mysore Midtown and Shri Sainik Foundation conferred ‘Rotary Sainik Desh Rathna’ Award posthumously on Captain M.V. Pranjal, who attained martyrdom in an operation against militants at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, in 2023.

The award was received by Pranjal’s parents M. Venkatesh and mother Anuradha, in a ceremony organised at Rotary Hall on JLB Road in city recently.

A video clipping, giving a peek into Pranjal’s lifetime — from childhood till he joined the Army — was shown on the occasion.

Wg. Commander Girish Kumar (retd.) was the chief guest. Rotary District Governor-Elect Rtn. P.K. Ramakrishna, Rotary Midtown President Rtn. S. Kumaraswamy, Secretary Rtn. Elizar Milton, Rotarians Naveen Chandra, Abhilash, Rakesh Babu and K.V. Bhaskar, who has instituted the Award, were present.

Profile: Captain M.V. Pranjal, who was born on July 18, 1995 in Bengaluru, grew up in Mangaluru. He was actively involved in Cubs and Scouts since his student days, with an aim of joining the Indian Army. The only son of M. Venkatesh (retired Managing Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited) and Anuradha, he was a bright student and excelled In his studies. He did his schooling from nursery to class 10 (except for class 6, which he completed in BGS International School, New Delhi Dwaraka), at Delhi Public School, MRPL Township Bala, near Suratkal and PU from Mahesh PU College, Mangaluru, After his Class XII he got a seat at Bengaluru’s RV College of Engineering to pursue chemical engineering, but he decided to pursue a career in the Army.

He got selected to join the Army through TES-30 (Technical Entry Scheme), after having stood 2nd in the overall All  India merit list in the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview. Accordingly, in January 2014, he joined the prestigious Officer Training Academy Gaya and underwent a rigorous year-long military training.

The Defence Ministry has conferred Shaurya Chakra Award posthumously on Pranjal.