Col Ramrao Dhondi Nikam was born on 10 June 1921 to Havaldar Dhondi Patloji Nikam and Saubhagyawati Chandrabai. Havaldar Dhondi Patloji Nikam was in the 103rd MLI now the 1st Maratha LI (Jangi Paltan). He took part in World War I and was wounded in the battle of KUT-AL-AMARAH in 1917.When he got wounded, he was the Battalion Havaldar Major.

Col RD Nikam studied in King George’s Royal Indian Military College (KGRIMC), Ajmer. After his 10th standard, he, decided to join the army and keep the family tradition alive. He joined 1st Maratha LI (Jangi Paltan) in 1938 as a third generation soldier and joined his unit in the North West Frontier region. On commencement of World War II, his unit moved to Africa. He was selected to join the Indian Military Academy in 1942 and was to report at Cairo for onward despatch to India. But he preferred to be with the unit rather than wait at Cairo. However, his unit got sucked into the war, with the launch of the Summer Offensive by the enemy. Thus, he could not move to Cairo due to the war, missed the opportunity of joining the Academy with his fellow soldiers - some of whom were his classmates from KGRIMC.  He thereafter moved with his Unit across the globe in various theatres of war. He served in Africa and Europe in The War and was also posted as part of the Occupation Forces in Japan after Japan surrendered. Whilst in Japan, he got the opportunity to escort the surrendered Japanese Generals who were deported to Australia.

In 1948 Col Ramrao took part in the liberation of Junagadh state now in Gujarat.In 1948, on commissioning, Col Ramrao was posted to 3 Maratha (2 Para) now 2Para SF. He took part in the 1948 Indo Pak war and captured "Khamba Fort” in Naushera Sector on 10th July 1948. On promotion to Capt, he served as ADC to Maj Gen Atma Singh, GOC 26 Div., then known as Jammu Div. He survived a road accident while travelling along with the GOC near Nandini tunnel between Nagrota and Udampur when the jeep in which they were travelling met with a freak accident in which unfortunately the GOC passed

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