Subedar Tika Bahadur Thapa was born on 29 November 1925 in Thapla village of Gulmi, Nepal. He joined the Indian Army on 29 November 1942 and was enrolled into 4/8 Gorkha Rifles of the 8 Gorkha Rifles. Over more than two decades of military service, he rose through the ranks and eventually became a Subedar, taking on important responsibilities as a junior commissioned officer.
During the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, 4/8 Gorkha Rifles was deployed in the Jammu & Kashmir sector. Following the ceasefire, Pakistani troops established several positions on Indian territory. The task of removing these positions was assigned to Thapa's company. He was serving as the company's second-in-command when the operation began.
On 30 September 1965, the company captured its first objective and continued towards the next position. During the advance, the company commander was wounded, and Subedar Thapa immediately assumed command. He led the attack personally and succeeded in capturing the second objective after heavy fighting. The enemy subsequently attempted to retake the positions through repeated counter-attacks supported by artillery.
During one of these engagements, communication with the artillery supporting the Indian troops was lost. To keep the required fire support going, Thapa brought a mortar from another position and operated it himself. He was seriously wounded while performing this task, but continued directing fire against the attacking enemy despite his injuries. His leadership helped prevent the enemy from regaining the positions that had been captured.
Subedar Tika Bahadur Thapa later succumbed to his wounds on 30 September 1965. He made the supreme sacrifice after leading his men through a difficult and heavily contested operation. In recognition of his exceptional courage, leadership and determination, he was posthumously awarded the **Maha Vir Chakra**, India's second-highest wartime gallantry award.