On the occasion of Republic Day, author Rachna Bisht recalls for City
Express, memories of her meetings with the three surviving winners of
Param Veer Chakra who will be marching on Rajpath today, their medals
proudly pinned on their chests. On republic day, three soldiers in the Indian Army will wear the Param
Veer Chakra; a gallantry award that the President also gets up to
salute.
And he will do it this Republic Day too when Subedar Major (Honorary
Captain) Bana Singh, PVC; Subedar Sanjay Kumar, PVC; and Subedar
Yogender Yadav, PVC, lead the parade down Rajpath to the sound of
marching bands, stomping boots, fluttering paper flags and cheering
citizens of the world’s largest democracy.
Today also happens
to be the day when Shoorveer- Param Veer Chakra Vijetaon Ki Kahaniyan,
the Hindi translation of my book The Brave- hits the stands.
In
all the wars it has fought since independence; right from the marauding
Lashkars of 1947 to the tragic unprepared event of 1962 to the glorious
victory of 1965 to the heroics of the young officers of Kargil who
walked up treacherous mountains with Insas rifles, unflinching in the
face of flying enemy bullets; India has recognised 21 Param Veers - the
bravest of the brave.
Most of these heroes did not come back alive
from the battlefield but we still have with us three who did. Which
makes their presence at the parade even more special and the fact that
we know who they are and what they did even more important.
The bravest of the brave
Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Bana Singh, fought a battle at 21,153
feet in Siachen, where men find it difficult even to breathe, and pushed
back Pakistani intruders.
Subedar Yogender Yadav, defeated
death and crawled his way back to warn his battalion of Pakistani
presence, with 15 bullets lodged in his body, his mangled arm twisted
and tucked into his belt and Subedar Sanjay Kumar pulled out blazing
enemy machine guns with his bare hands so that his men could stage an
attack. And yet each time I expressed respect for their acts of bravery
all three told me the same thing: “It was our job; any soldier in our
place would have done the same.”
What I’d like to say about the 21
PVCs whose stories I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to
write, is that they were brave men; just as every soldier is who goes to
the battlefield knowing that he might not come back.
The danger seeker
But
if you ask me to pick one who came closest to my heart, it will have to
be Capt Manoj Pande, PVC, who died at 24 years of age outside the last
bunker of Khalubar with his khukhri still in his hand.
Manoj came
from a poor family. When I interviewed his mother, she told me (breaking
into tears so many times) how he would not ask for new copies till he
had used up every bit of space on his notebooks; how he would darn his
clothes and never demand new ones since he knew his father was poor; how
he begged her to buy him a flute at a fair when he was three and which
he played tunes on till the time he left for Kargil never to return. Yet
he always wanted to be a soldier. During his stint at Siachen, he asked
to be sent to the toughest post; during the Kargil war he performed one
act of bravery after another.
He was amongst the first troops to reach there and would often climb up icy mountains using socks as gloves. He
put his life at risk to retrieve the bodies of fellow soldiers. He
performed these unparalleled acts of bravery one after the other, not
because he was looking for a reward but because he was born brave.
His
story convinced me that heroes don’t become heroes on the battlefield;
they are heroes since childhood; the battlefield just becomes a place
where this is proved in the eyes of the world.
Children need to be
exposed to the stories of these brave soldiers so they can find role
models for sacrifice in a generation increasingly turning materialistic.
DCC Gurbachan Singh Salaria (10th NDA ‘B’ Squadron) was commissioned into 3/1 Gorkha Rifles in December 1956. In 1961, the battalion formed part of UN troops stationed in Congo.
The UN Headquarters in Elizabethville was in imminent danger of encirclement and attack by the local gendarmerie.
A tactical roadblock had been established by the enemy. The task of clearing this roadblock was assigned to his battalion.
In the ensuing battle, Capt Salaria with two sections of Gorkhas and two Swedish APCs, led the assault against a well entrenched numerically superior enemy, supported by two armoured cars.
The final charge with bayonet and khukris completely unnerved the enemy who ran away leaving forty dead.
Hit by a burst of automatic fire in his neck and bleeding profusely, Capt Salaria continued leading the charge till he collapsed.
For this valiant act, the country’s highest war honour, the Param Vir Chakra, was bestowed upon him.
ARUN KHETARPAL
SCC Arun Khetarpal (38th NDA ‘F’ Squadron) was commissioned into 17 Horse in June 1971. In December 1971, the regiment was in the Western sector where Indian and Pakistani troops were in battle array.
On December 16, 17 Horse joined battle with the enemy’s 8 Armoured Brigade. During the course of battle, 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal, leading his troops overran the enemy, reorganised and launched a second attack with an armoured squardron.
Ten enemy tanks were destroyed in the fierce tank battle which followed, four of them by the determined young Lieutenant.
His tank then receive a direct hit and burst into flames. Though severely wounded, he refused to abandon his tank.
With grim resolve he set about the task of destroying the remaining enemy tanks. The last one he shot was barely a hundred metres away.
The Lieutenant and his tank erupted in a final blaze of glory after a second direct hit on the turret. Thus ended the glorious saga of a brave young warrior.
A grateful nation conferred upon him the nation’s supreme honour for gallantry and heroism beyond the call of duty.
MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY
Cdt Manoj Kumar Pandey (90th NDA ‘M’ Squadron) was commissioned into 1/11 Gorkha Rifles. On 2/3 July 1999, the battalion was involved in the Battle of Khalubar in the Kargil sector.
Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey led his men in exemplary fashion and displayed extraordinary valour and courage in recapturing the Juber Top from the enemy.
He accomplished the assigned task with a display of astute leadership and raw courage. He led his men from the front and surged ahead despite the hail of bullets and accurate enemy fire from a commanding position.
The assault culminated in a hand-to-hand combat wherein he was grievously injured. With utter disregard for personal safety, he led his men by example and recaptured the post before succumbing to his injuries sustained during the operation.
He was awarded the nation’s highest martial honour for upholding cherished ideals and displaying raw courage under fire.
Born : 14 Oct 1950, Pune, Maharashtra
Family settled : New Delhi
Father : Brig ML Khetarpal (Retd)
Commission : 13 June 1971
Award date : 16 Dec1971
Religion: Hindu
Studied : Lawrence School, Sanawar; NDA, Khadakvasla
PARAM VIR CHAKRA
He was born in Pune,Maharashtra, was an officer of the Indian Army and a posthumous recipient of the Param Vir Chakra from Delhi. India's highest military decoration for valour in face of the enemy.
On 16 December 1971 when our position at Jarpal in the Shakargarh Sector was subjected to an attack by a Pakistani armoured regiment and our troops were heavily outnumbered by enemy forces, the squadron commander asked for reinforcements.
2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal, on hearing this transmission over the radio, answered the call and moved with his troop to meet the enemy attack. On the way, his troop came under fire from enemy strong points and recoillless gun nests that were still holding out in the bridgehead established across the Basantar river by our troops. Realising that a critical situation was developing and prompt action was to be taken, 2nd Lt Khetarpal assaulted the enemy strong points, physically overrunning them and capturing the enemy's infantry and weapon crews at pistol point.
In the course of this action, the commander of one of the tanks in his troops was killed but, 2nd Lt Khetarpal continued to attack relentlessly till all opposition was overcome and he broke through towards the location of our squadron. When enemy tanks started pulling back after their initial probing attacks, he chased them and destroyed one of them. When the enemy launched another attack with an armoured squadron, against the sector held by three of our tanks, one of which was manned by 2nd Lt Khetarpal, a fierce battle ensued and 10 enemy tanks were hit and destroyed of which 2nd Lt Khetarpal personally destroyed four.
In the fight 2nd Lt Khetarpal's tank was hit and it burst into flames and he was severely wounded. 2nd Lt Khetarpal was ordered to abandon his tank but realising that the enemy was still pressing the attack in this sector and that if he abandoned his tank, the enemy would break through, he continued engaging the enemy despite the grievous wounds and his own tank burning. He destroyed one more enemy tank before his tank was hit a second time, killing him. But the enemy had been denied the breakthrough he was seeking so desperately.
In this action 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal displayed the most conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacity of purpose.
Param Vir Chakra is an Indian serial portraying the real life of Param Vir Chakra gallantry award winners, India's highest military honour. The serial was directed by Chetan Anand and aired on Doordarshan channel in 1980's.
Major Somnath Sharma of the 4th Battalion, the Kumaon regiment, was the first soldier of Indian armed forces to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Though his left arm was in plaster he led his men to battle against
Pakistani raiders to secure Srinagar airfield on 3rd November1947.His
last message was:"The enemy is only 50 yards away from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under
devastating fire. I will fight to the last man and the last round."He was killed in an explosion shortly after sending the message, but his
soldiers fought like men possessed and held on till reinforcements
arrived, after which the enemy was beaten back. Major Sharma was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthomously in 1950, the year the award was instituted.
Param Vir Chakra TV serial Episode
Naik Jadunath Singh
Naik Jadunath Singh was in command of a forward post in Kashmir during the 1947-48 operation there. The enemy attacked early one Feb morning. Jadunath and his men beat back the attack but four of them were wounded. The second attack came shortly afterwards. The nine men in the picket were heavily outnumbered and soon all of them were bleeding from variuos wounds but Jadunath spurred them on with words of encouragement. When his gunner was hit he took over the gun himself and the accuracy of his fire power and his daring forced the enemy to withdraw. Jadunath Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. When the third attack came, Jadunath rushed out firing from his sten gun. The enemy was taken back in surprise and fled in disorder. However two bullets hit Jadunath, one in the head and other in the chest. He died of his wounds but he had saved his picket from being overrun by the enemy.
Param Vir Chakra TV serial Episode
Lt RAMA RAGHOBA RANE
In April 1948 at the height of the Jammu and Kashmir Operations, the Indian advance towards Rajauri was held up by several enemy road blocks and mine fields. But over a period of two days, by the 10th of April, 2nd Lt. Ramaa Raghoba Rane and his men of the corps of Engineers had cleared the area of mine fields despite losing two sappers in the operation. Despite the injuries sustained by Rane and five others, they worked through all the night of 8-9th April preparing a safe lane for the armour advance. Next morning braving incessant enemy machine gun fire they cleared a huge road block surrounded by mines within two hours.When the Indian progress was held up by another roadblock 13 kms ahead, an unfazed Rane drove up to it in a tank and blasted the obstructions away. A day later he again worked for seventeen hours to open up the road to Chingas and beyond. Without the Herculean efforts, the Indian advances to Rajuari might never have happened. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his ' grim determination and tireless diligence.
Lance Naik Karam Singh was in command of a forward post in the Tithwal sector during the Jammu & Kashmir operations in 1948. The enemy attacked the outpost again and again, eight times in all but
despite being heavily outnumbered Karam Singh and his men beat back
every attack. Though wounded Karam Singh crawled from place to place encouraging his
men to fight on. He refused to be evacuated even when wounded a second
time. At one stage whe it looked as if the enemy would break through, he
drove him back with hand grenades. During one attack two enemy soldiers almost reached the trenches. If
Karam Singh had fired he might have hit his own men so he leaped out of
the trench and
bayoneted the two men. Awed by his fury the other enemy soldiers turned
and fled
abandoning all the ideas of capturing the post. Lance Naik Karam Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his heroic defence of his post.
Param Vir Chakra TV serial Episode
Company Havildar Major Piru Singh
During an Indian offensive in the Tithwal sector in July 1948, a Company of 6 Rajputana Rifles came under heavy fire while traversing a mountainous path. Seeing his comrades mowed down by machine guns, Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was filled with rage. Shouting his battle cry"Raja Ramchandra ki Jai" he charged the enemy by post. Grenade splinters pierced several parts of his body but that could not stop him. He bayoneted the crew of the machine gun and occupied the post. Bleeding profusely he crawled to the next enemy gun post and on reaching it, leaped into the enemy trench and then fell down dead. On the night of 14/15 April ,1948, he marched his men 13 kms to launch a drawn attack on the enemy at Kopra which was defended by two companies with more in reserve. The surprise attack however evened the odds in favour of the outnumbered Indians. The enemy was routed. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for the extraordinary courage he had shown while confronting the enemy.
Param Vir Chakra TV serial Episode
CAPTAIN GURBACHAN SINGH SALARIA
Captain Salaria was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his inspiring leadership and courage. In 1961,Captain Gurubachan Singh Salaria was part of a 3000-strong Indian Contingent, Deployed by the UN in Congo to end the Civil war. On 5 th December, a company of the Gorkha Rifles established a road block at a strategic roundabout. Captain Salaria leading a platoon that sought to establish a link up with the company, encountered heavy firing from well-entrenched rebel forces. The Captain and his men charged at the enemy with bayonets, Khukris and hand grenades. In the sharp and swift operation, 40 enemy soldiers were killed and two of their armored cars destroyed. The demoralized enemy fled from the scene of the battle. Captain Salaria, who was wounded in the neck a burst of enemy automatic fire, continued to fight till the very end. He succumbed to his injuries soon after but his gallant action had prevented the enemy from encircling the UN positions.
Icy wings chilled the soldiers to their bone but they could not relax their guard. The enemy was coming. Then just before the dawn the Chinese attacked. Platoons 7 and 8 of C company of a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, led by Major Shaitan Singh took the brunt of the attack.7 Platoon was encircled and wiped out. 8 Platoon too fought to the last man. The company Commander, Major Singh, unmindful of his personal safety moved from platoon to platoon to encourage his men even after he was hit by bullets.Two soldiers tried to move him to a safer place but when he sensed danger to them to leave him. They kept him behind a boulder on the slope of a hill. His body was found there after the war. Major Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his courage and leadership.
During the 1965 Indo -Pak conflict the 4 Grenadiers occupied the vital position near China on the Khem Karan Bhikhiwind road. Its two-fold plan was to capture Pak, territory east of Icchogil Canal and repulse a possible enemy attack on Kasur-Khem Karan area. On the night of September 8 Pakistan repeatedly attacked the grenadiers position but was repelled. On September 10 an enemy regiment of Patton tanks attacked preceded by intense artillery shelling. Soon the Indian forward company positions had been penetrated. Seeing the precarious condition they were in Havildar Abdul Hamid moved out to a flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Braving intense shelling he knocked out the leading enemy tank. Changing his position he knocked out another. Though spotted by the enemy who trained their guns on him, he kept up relentless firing. As he hit yet another enemy tank, he was mortally wounded by an exploding shell. His action inspired his comrades who fought hard and repelled the attack. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his defiant valour.
Deployed on India's western front in December 1965, the 3 Grenadiers led the advance into Shakargarh. Their task was to establish a bridgehead on the Basantar river. Commandeered by Major Hoshiar Singh, the Grenadiers attacked Jarpal, an enemy stronghold across the river. The Grenadiers came under intense artillery fire but the enemy was finally dislodged from jarpal after a fierce hand to hand struggle. The Pakistani retaliated with a strong armored attack. As the battle raged , Major Singh moved among his men , within the trenches, putting his life into risk.In second enemy Attack that followed the next day, Major singh was wounded as he moved in the trenches. When his crew manning the machine-gun fire, Major Singh took over the gun and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Though In deep pain, Major Singh refused to be evacuated and held on till the cease-fire was declared. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his gallantry
2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, son of Brigadier M L Khetarpal, was born on October 14, 1950, in Pune, Maharashtra. He was commissioned in the 17 Poona Horse on June 13, 1971. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the 47 Infantry Brigade, with the 17 Poona Horse under command, was ordered to establish a bridge-head across the Basantar River in Shakargarh sector. Khetarpal fiercely attacked the enemy strong points and captured many enemy soldiers and recoilless guns at gunpoint. He destroyed several enemy tanks. In the thick of the battle, Khetarpal's tank also received a shot and burst into flames. But realising the useful role of his tank in preventing a breakthrough, he set about destroying the remaining enemy tanks. At this stage his tank received a second hit. The brave Officer met his death denying the enemy the intended breakthrough. For his conspicuous gallantry, Khetarpal was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, the Param Vir Chakra, posthumously.
Major Dhan Singh Thapa , 1/8 Gorkha Rifles
Major Dhan Singh Thapa Major Dhan Singh Thapa, born on April 10, 1928 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, was commissioned in the 8 Gorkha Rifles on August 28, 1949. The Sirijap valley, north of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, was considered vital for the defence of Chushul airfield. The 1/8 Gorkha Rifles had outposts there to thwart any enemy encroachment in the area. One of these outposts named Sirijap-1 was held by a platoon of 'D' Company under the command of Major Dhan Singh Thapa when the Chinese attack came on October 21, 1962. Major Thapa repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. For his gallant act, Major Dhan Singh Thapa was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra.
We will add Remaining Episodes of Param Vir Chakra As soon As Possible ...
Param Vir Chakra is the highest gallantry award of India for officers and other
enlisted personnel of all military branches for the highest
degree of valour in the presence of the enemy. Param vir Chakra is the post-Independence
equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
The Param vir Chakra was established on 26 January , 1950, by the President Rajendra Prasad ,
with effect from India's Independence Day - August 15, 1947, and presently it is the second highest
award of India after Bharat Ratna.
PARAM VIR CHAKRA
List of Paramvir Chakra Winners
IC-- 521 Major Som Nath Sharma, 4 Kumaon Regiment, November 3, 1947,
Badgam Kashmir (posthumous)
IC-22356 Lance Naik Karham Singh M M, 1 Sikh Regiment, October 13,
1948, Tithwal Kashmir
SS-14246 Second Lt Rama Raghobe Rane, Corps of Engineers, April 8,
1948, Naushera, Kashmir
