Kargil war hero? was big motivator

On April 8, Col Magod Basappa Ravindranath (59) was jogging near his house in Jayanagar when he suffered a heart attack and died. The Kargil war hero was an inspiration, people who knew him told Metrolife.

"He used to say it doesn't matter who we are and what we do, but it is important we take care of ourselves and others around us. His sense of social duty was high and that was what we were taught too," his daughter Prerna Magod says. She is the elder of his two daughters.

Ravindranath was one of the two commanding officers of 2 Rajputana Rifles during the 1999 Kargil war.

He was responsible for taking back Tololing Top from the Pakistanis. He was later awarded the Vir Chakra for his bravery in battle.

Prerna recalls, "We had a happy childhood, and he was always there whenever we needed him. He was a friend and mentor."

She describes him as "a pillar of strength who brought the entire house together."

Prerna does not remember much about the Kargil war days.

"I remember everything after my father came back home. He never spoke about wars especially when we kids were around," she says.

Ravindranath is survived by his wife Anitha and two daughters, Prerna and Prarthana. "My father used to visit the Army War College, Mhow, to give lectures for the Junior Command (JC) course. One of his very dear topics was about the youth and their responsibility towards the country," recalls Prerna.

He felt he was making a difference. Prerna remembers him often saying, 'Influence and influence rightly.'

"Lead by example was his principle in life," she says.