Major Deependra Singh Sengar
Major Deependra Singh Sengar was born in Sheikpur, a village located in Jalaun district, Uttar Pradesh. He hails from the Sengar Rajput community, a prominent warrior clan in northern India. Not much is publicly documented about his early education, but he later graduated from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and joined the elite Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) of the Indian Army.
He later married the daughter of Fateh Singh Rathore, India's foremost tiger conservationist, linking him to another legacy of national service.
Military Career
Service in Northeast India
Sengar joined the Indian Army in the 1990s and quickly earned a reputation as a committed and dynamic officer. He was affectionately called “Rocket” by his peers for his energy and physical prowess. He earned the prestigious “Dagger” in the Commando course, awarded to the best-performing trainee.
During his tenure in the northeast of India, he served in high-risk counter-insurgency operations. In February 1998, while returning to active duty, he received intelligence about insurgent activity and took a decisive action with his escort team. Despite limited manpower, he launched a quick assault, neutralizing two militants. However, he sustained serious gunshot wounds to his abdomen in the encounter.
Despite being critically injured, he survived a grueling evacuation and underwent multiple surgeries. Doctors predicted he would take 18–24 months to recover—if at all.
Remarkable Recovery
Contrary to medical prognosis, Sengar was out of bed within 45 days. He adopted a proactive recovery strategy, focusing on psychological and physical rehabilitation. Within 60 days, he even traveled to attend a fellow officer's wedding in Dehradun, despite still carrying external medical apparatus like colostomy and urinary bags.
By May 1998, Sengar returned to his unit, unofficially back in action. He convinced doctors to upgrade his medical category to SHAPE1 (fully fit for combat). He participated in an Eastern sector training exercise just before the Kargil War began.
Kargil War and Second Injury
During the 1999 Kargil War, Sengar led a team to capture Neelam Post, the highest enemy position seized during the war. His leadership was praised across the unit, and the post marked a significant tactical gain for India.
In September 1999, he was seriously wounded again in a firefight with militants. A burst from an AK-47 shattered his upper thigh and hip. A fellow paratrooper pilot, breaking protocol, airlifted him to safety—an act that saved his life. This time, doctors declared that he would never walk again.
Transition to Civilian Life
Refusing to accept a desk-bound military role, Sengar chose to retire from the Army. He began preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT), aiming to enter India’s top business schools. Despite mobility challenges, he rigorously studied mathematics and business fundamentals.
In December 2000, he cracked the CAT and received admission offers from 15 of the 16 top business schools, including the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). Just days after leaving the Army, he got married and joined IIM-A, attending classes on crutches and graduating with distinction.
Corporate Career
After IIM-A, Sengar transitioned into the corporate world, eventually joining Microsoft in Singapore in a senior leadership role. He built a successful second career, leveraging both his military discipline and management acumen.
Later Life and Legacy
A decade after his injuries, Sengar pushed himself once again—this time to abandon his crutches. Through intense rehabilitation, he regained partial mobility. In 2013, he returned to India and completed the Battle Physical Efficiency Test (BPET) with his old unit, carrying a full backpack and weapon.
His life is often cited as an example of resilience, courage, and transformation. He has become a role model for wounded veterans, students, and young professionals across India.
Personal Life
Major Sengar is married and has two children. He resides in Singapore. He remains connected to both the Army fraternity and the world of wildlife conservation through his family ties to Fateh Singh Rathore.