Hoshiar Singh Dahiya

2021-08-23T17:22:18Z

2402:8100:2241:8029:CCD7:D21C:86:713B:

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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel]]<ref>{{cite tweet|title=Col. Hoshiar Singh Dahiya | Param Vir Chakra | Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 #RememberAndNeverForget #SaluteToSoldier #IndianArmy|user=KSBSectt|number=993719740928528385|date=2018-05-07}}</ref>
| name = Hoshiar Singh
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Hoshiar_Singh_PVC.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|5|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms |access-date=11 April 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=25 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411012041/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms |archive-date=11 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1998|12|6|1937|5|5}}
| birth_place = [[Sisana]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Bravery award winners honoured|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100518/harplus.htm#21|access-date=11 April 2016|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]|date=18 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001420/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100518/harplus.htm#21|archive-date=11 April 2016}}</ref> [[Rohtak District]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in [[Sonipat District]], [[Haryana]], [[India]])
| death_place = [[Jaipur]], [[Rajasthan]], India
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| nickname =
| birth_name = Hoshiar Singh Dahiya
| allegiance = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| branch = [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1963-1988<ref name="dauntless"/>
| rank = [[File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Colonel]]
| servicenumber = 
| unit = [[The Grenadiers]]
| commands = 3 Grenadiers
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistan war of 1965]] [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]] [[Battle of Basantar]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]
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}}
Colonel '''Hoshiar Singh Dahiya''', [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]] (5 May 1930 – 6 December 1998) was an officer of the [[Indian Army]] who was awarded India's highest military honour, the [[Param Vir Chakra]] during [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]].

==Early life==
He was born in [[Sisana]] village, [[Sonipat]] district, [[Haryana]] to Choudhary Hira Singh. After his schooling and one year's study at the Jat College, [[Rohtak]], he joined the Army.<ref name=PVC/> He was married to Dhano Devi, who is still alive as of March 2019.<ref name=jathosh1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/a-date-with-war-heroes/743725.html A date with war heroes], The Tribune, 15 Mar 2019.</ref> He was commissioned in [[The Grenadiers]] [[Regiment]] of the [[Indian Army]] on 30 June 1963,<ref name=PVC/><ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=655 |date=11 December 1965 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was promoted lieutenant on 30 June 1965.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=330 |date=4 June 1966 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

His first posting was in [[North-East Frontier Agency|NEFA]].{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} In the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, he saw some action in the Rajasthan sector,<ref name="indiatimes">{{Cite news|url=https://m.indiatimes.com/news/here-are-12-untold-stories-of-martyrs-who-sacrificed-their-lives-in-1971-indo-pak-war-267549.html|title=Here Are 12 Untold Stories Of Martyrs Who Sacrificed Their Lives In 1971 Indo-Pak War|date=2016-12-16|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en}}</ref> for which he was [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 1|page=733 |date=5 November 1966 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was promoted to captain on 30 June 1969.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1219 |date=13 December 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

==Honoured with Param Vir Chakra==
During the [[Indian war of 1971]], the 3rd Grenadiers was given the task of establishing a bridgehead across the Basantar River in the [[Shakargarh]] Sector from 15–17 December 1971. The river was covered with deep minefields on both sides and protected by well-fortified defence by the Pakistani army. Major Hoshiar Singh, commander 'C' Company, was ordered to capture the Pakistani locality of Jarpal. The [[Pakistan]]i Army reacted and put in sharp counterattacks. Major Hoshiar Singh went from trench to trench, motivating his command and encouraging his men to stand fast and fight as a result his company repulsed all the attacks inflicting heavy casualties on the Pakistani army.{{cn|date=August 2021}} Though seriously wounded by enemy shelling, Major Hoshiar Singh again went from trench to trench moving about in the open with utter disregard to his personal safety when an enemy shell landed near the medium machine gun post injuring the crew and rendering it inoperative. Major Hoshiar Singh, realizing the importance of machine-gun fire, immediately rushed to the machine-gun pit and though seriously wounded himself, manned the gun inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The attack was successfully repulsed and the enemy retreated leaving behind 85 dead including their Commanding Officer and three other officers.He refused to be evacuated till ceasefire. Throughout this operation, Major Hoshiar Singh displayed most conspicuous gallantry, indomitable fighting spirit and leadership in the highest traditions of the Army. He was awarded the [[Param Vir Chakra]] for his bravery and leadership. He was also Mentioned-in-Despatches.<ref name=PVC/>{{deadlink|date=August 2021}}

==Param Vir Chakra Citation==
The [[Param Vir Chakra]] citation on the Official [[Indian Army]] Website reads as follows:
{{Quotation|<center>'''CITATION''' 
'''MAJOR HOSHIAR SINGH''' 
'''3 GRENADIERS (IC-14608)''' </center>

On 15 December 1971 a battalion of the Grenadiers was given the task of establishing a bridgehead across the Basantar river in the Shakargarh Sector. Major Hoshiar Singh was commanding the left forward company and he was ordered to capture the enemy locality of Jarpal. This was a well-fortified position and was held in strength by the enemy. During the assault, his company came under intense shelling and effective crossfire from enemy medium machine guns. Undeterred, he led the charge and captured the objective after a fierce hand-to hand fight. The enemy reacted and put in three counter attacks on 16 December 1971, two of them supported by armour, Major Hoshiar Singh unmindful of the heavy shelling and tank fire went from trench to trench, motivating his command and encouraging his men to stand fast and fight. Inspired by his courage and dauntless leadership, his company repulsed all the attacks inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Again, on 17 December 1971 the enemy made another attack with a battalion supported by heavy artillery fire. Though seriously wounded by enemy shelling, Major Hoshiar Singh again went from trench to trench moving about in the open with utter disregard to his personal safety when an enemy shell landed near the medium machine gun post injuring the crew and rendering it inoperative. Major Hoshiar Singh, realizing the importance of machine-gun fire, immediately rushed to the machine-gun pit and though seriously wounded himself, manned the gun inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The attack was successfully repulsed and the enemy retreated leaving behind 85 dead including their Commanding Officer and three other officers. Though seriously wounded, Major Hoshiar Singh refused to be evacuated till the ceasefire.

Throughout this operation, Major Hoshiar Singh displayed most conspicuous gallantry, indomitable fighting spirit and leadership in the highest traditions of the Army.<ref name=PVC>{{citation|url=http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=NCvnix4zLfQhf90l3OuEBw%3d%3d&ParentID=1tHir3NYQjroCJ9AgypEwg%3d%3d|access-date=28 August 2014|title=The Param Vir Chakra Winners (PVC) |publisher=Official Website of the Indian Army}} "Profile" and "Citation" tabs.</ref>}}

==Later career==
Singh was promoted to substantive major on 30 June 1976,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=39 |date=8 January 1977 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> subsequently serving for two years as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 8 April 1983,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=148 |date=2 February 1985 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he eventually rose to command of his battalion. He retired in May 1988 with the rank of colonel and settled in Jaipur, but frequently visited his village of Sisana and successfully encouraged many local residents to join the armed forces.<ref name="dauntless">{{cite news|title=Dauntless leadership in the face of enemy|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/weekly-pullouts/haryana-tribune/dauntless-leadership-in-the-face-of-enemy/587903.html|access-date=30 June 2019|newspaper=The Tribune (Haryana)|date=12 May 2018}}</ref> He succumbed to a [[cardiac arrest]] on 6 December 1998, aged 61, and was cremated with full military honours at Jaipur. He was survived by three sons, two of whom followed their father into the army as commissioned officers in the Grenadiers, with one joining the 3rd Grenadiers.<ref name="dauntless"/>

== In popular culture ==
[[File:Major Hoshiar Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|250px|thumb|Dahiya's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], New Delhi]]
[[Mohanlal]] reprised Major Hoshiar Singh's character as Major Sahadevan in the 2017 [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film]], [[1971: Beyond Borders]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/1971-beyond-borders/articleshow/57985042.cms|title=1971: Beyond Borders}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Battle of Basantar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/PVC/photo_12.htm |publisher=Indian Army |title=Major Hoshiar Singh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401161801/http://indianarmy.nic.in/PVC/photo_12.htm |archive-date=2008-04-01}}

{{Param Vir Chakra recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Hoshiar}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:People from Sonipat district]]
[[Category:People of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:People from Rohtak]]

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Hoshiar Singh Dahiya