Major Dinesh Raghu Raman was born on 06 April 1978 to Shri S. K. Murthy and Smt. Mala. He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya, INA Colony, New Delhi, and joined the National Defence Academy in 1996. After completing his training, he was commissioned into the 19th Battalion of the Jat Regiment.
During his service, he held various appointments and served in Drass during Operation Parakram, for which he received a Chief of the Army Staff Commendation Card. On 22 February 2006, he was posted to 34 Rashtriya Rifles (Jat), where he was appointed Company Commander of C Company at Aripanthan. In June 2007, he led Operation Narawar, which resulted in the elimination of three terrorists in his area of responsibility.
On 02 October 2007, his company was deployed in a village in Baramulla district following an encounter with terrorists. When he heard that a fellow officer had been seriously injured, Major Raman moved through heavy enemy fire to reach him and brought him and two other wounded soldiers to safety. He then engaged the terrorists at close quarters, killing two of them.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Major Raman continued directing and motivating his troops and kept the terrorists pinned down until he fell unconscious. He was evacuated by helicopter to the Army Base Hospital in Srinagar, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his exceptional bravery, leadership and selfless conduct.