Piru Singh - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:40, 1 October 2022
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	{{Short description\|Recipient of Param Vir Chakra}}		{{Short description\|Recipient of Param Vir Chakra}}

	{{Use dmy dates\|date=August ~~2022~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=August ~~2022~~}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=August 2018}}
	{{good article}}		{{good article}}
	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
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	===War of 1947===		===War of 1947===
	{{main article\|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947}}		{{main article\|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947}}
	Following tensions between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan, war broke out over control of the princely state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)\|Jammu and Kashmir]] in October 1947, shortly after Singh returned from Japan. In July 1948, Pakistan launched offensive strikes in the Tithwal sector of Jammu and Kashmir, and captured a [[Boundary (topology)\|ring contour]] on 8 July. This forced the Indian troops stationed in the forward positions across river [[Neelum River\|Kishanganga]] to retreat. In an attempt to reverse the situation, Singh's unit, the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, was moved from [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir\|Uri]] to Tithwal, and was assigned to the 163rd Brigade. The troops took position on the Tithwal bridge.{{Sfn\|Chakravorty\|1995\|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India">{{cite web\|title=Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950\|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=26 October ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Following tensions between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan, war broke out over control of the princely state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)\|Jammu and Kashmir]] in October 1947, shortly after Singh returned from Japan. In July 1948, Pakistan launched offensive strikes in the Tithwal sector of Jammu and Kashmir, and captured a [[Boundary (topology)\|ring contour]] on 8 July. This forced the Indian troops stationed in the forward positions across river [[Neelum River\|Kishanganga]] to retreat. In an attempt to reverse the situation, Singh's unit, the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, was moved from [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir\|Uri]] to Tithwal, and was assigned to the 163rd Brigade. The troops took position on the Tithwal bridge.{{Sfn\|Chakravorty\|1995\|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India">{{cite web\|title=Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950\|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref>

	On 11 July, the Indian troops commenced their attack. These strikes continued for another four days. But reports regarding the situation suggested that the Pakistanis were still in command of a strategically important position and the Indian commanders decided that these had to be captured before the advance could continue. Apart from this position, another position was also to be captured by the Indians. The task of capturing these two positions was assigned to the 6th Rajputana Rifles. Two companies were assigned to the operation, with the battalion's 'C' Company securing the second position after the first was captured by 'D' Company.{{Sfn\|Chakravorty\|1995\|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>		On 11 July, the Indian troops commenced their attack. These strikes continued for another four days. But reports regarding the situation suggested that the Pakistanis were still in command of a strategically important position and the Indian commanders decided that these had to be captured before the advance could continue. Apart from this position, another position was also to be captured by the Indians. The task of capturing these two positions was assigned to the 6th Rajputana Rifles. Two companies were assigned to the operation, with the battalion's 'C' Company securing the second position after the first was captured by 'D' Company.{{Sfn\|Chakravorty\|1995\|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>
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	[[File:Piru Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Piru Singh's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)\|National War Memorial]]]]		[[File:Piru Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|Piru Singh's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)\|National War Memorial]]]]
	[[File:Piru Singh PVC copper statue.jpg\|border\|thumb\|516x516px\|Piru Singh statue at Piru Singh Circle, [[Jhunjhunu]].]]		[[File:Piru Singh PVC copper statue.jpg\|border\|thumb\|516x516px\|Piru Singh statue at Piru Singh Circle, [[Jhunjhunu]].]]
	Singh was never married.{{Sfn\|Cardozo\|2003\|p=41}} In the 1980s, the [[Shipping Corporation of India]] (SCI), a [[Government of India]] enterprise operating under the aegis of [[Ministry of Shipping (India)\|Ministry of Shipping]], named fifteen of her [[crude oil tanker]]s in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The crude oil tanker named MT "Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC" was delivered to SCI on 12 October 1984. Due to [[MARPOL 73/78\|MARPOL Convention]] on single hull tankers, SCI phased out all her fifteen PVC series crude tankers on completion of their economic age of 25 years.<ref name="COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH PVC - IMO 8224145 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker">{{cite web\|title=Company Havildar Major Piru Singh PVC – IMO 8224145 – Ship Photos and Ship Tracker\|url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1257840\|website=Ship Spotting\|access-date=26 October ~~2022~~}}</ref> A road [[roundabout]] called "Shahid Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle" was named after him, in Jhunjhunu, by the [[Government of Rajasthan]].<ref name="Peeru Singh Circle">{{cite web\|title=Peeru Singh Circle\|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Peeru+Singh+Circle/@28.1094819,75.3881003,19.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x391339acb0bb349b:0x9cfa76c5f3b1669!8m2!3d28.1095703!4d75.3885175\|website=Google Maps\|access-date=26 October ~~2022~~}}</ref> An [[intersection]] called "Piru Singh Chowk" has been named after him in Yol, Himachal Pradesh.<ref name="Piru Singh Chowk">{{cite web\|title=Piru Singh Chowk\|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Piru+Singh+Chowk/@32.1790479,76.3766058,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x391b521630f7dab3:0xfba61c75ee7a301f!8m2!3d32.1790479!4d76.3787945?hl=en\|website=Google Maps\|access-date=6 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Singh was never married.{{Sfn\|Cardozo\|2003\|p=41}} In the 1980s, the [[Shipping Corporation of India]] (SCI), a [[Government of India]] enterprise operating under the aegis of [[Ministry of Shipping (India)\|Ministry of Shipping]], named fifteen of her [[crude oil tanker]]s in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The crude oil tanker named MT "Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC" was delivered to SCI on 12 October 1984. Due to [[MARPOL 73/78\|MARPOL Convention]] on single hull tankers, SCI phased out all her fifteen PVC series crude tankers on completion of their economic age of 25 years.<ref name="COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH PVC - IMO 8224145 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker">{{cite web\|title=Company Havildar Major Piru Singh PVC – IMO 8224145 – Ship Photos and Ship Tracker\|url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1257840\|website=Ship Spotting\|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> A road [[roundabout]] called "Shahid Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle" was named after him, in Jhunjhunu, by the [[Government of Rajasthan]].<ref name="Peeru Singh Circle">{{cite web\|title=Peeru Singh Circle\|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Peeru+Singh+Circle/@28.1094819,75.3881003,19.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x391339acb0bb349b:0x9cfa76c5f3b1669!8m2!3d28.1095703!4d75.3885175\|website=Google Maps\|access-date=26 October 2016}}</ref> An [[intersection]] called "Piru Singh Chowk" has been named after him in Yol, Himachal Pradesh.<ref name="Piru Singh Chowk">{{cite web\|title=Piru Singh Chowk\|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Piru+Singh+Chowk/@32.1790479,76.3766058,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x391b521630f7dab3:0xfba61c75ee7a301f!8m2!3d32.1790479!4d76.3787945?hl=en\|website=Google Maps\|access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref>

	==Notes==		==Notes==

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{{Short description|Recipient of Param Vir Chakra}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Company Havildar Major]]
| name = Piru Singh Shekhawat
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]
| image = Piru_Singh_PVC.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|5|20|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1948|7|18|1918|5|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rampura Beri, [[Rajputana]], British India {{small|(present-day [[Jhunjhunu district]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]])}}
| death_place = [[Tithwal]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Territory of Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{Flag|British India}}<br />{{Flag|Republic of India}}
| branch = {{Army|British India}}<br />{{Army|India}}
| serviceyears = 1936–1948
| rank = [[File:Company Havildar Major.gif|24px]] [[Company Havildar Major]]
| servicenumber = 2831592
| unit = [[Rajputana Rifles|6th Battalion, Rajputna Rifles]]
| commands =
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|32px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
}}

[[Havildar|Company Havildar Major]]{{efn|The rank of company havildar major is no longer in use with the [[Indian Army]].}} '''Piru Singh Shekhawat''' (20 May 1918 – 18 July 1948) was an [[Indian Army]] non-commissioned officer, awarded the [[Param Vir Chakra]] (PVC), India's highest military decoration 3245.<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India" />

Singh enrolled in the [[British Indian Army]] on 20 May 1936, and was assigned to the [[1st Punjab Regiment]]. Between 1940 and 1945, he served on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North-West Frontier]] and as an instructor, before deploying to Japan as part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]]. After [[Independence of India|independence]], he took part in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]], serving with the Indian Army's [[Rajputana Rifles|6th Rajputana Rifles]]. During the battle, Singh was part of the leading section of a company that was assigned to capture a Pakistani post at Tithwal, in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. Soon after their attack was launched, the company suffered heavy casualties. In time, Singh successfully occupied a Pakistani medium machine-gun post. But, by that time, the entire company lay dead or wounded. Singh was left alone to achieve the objective. He moved out and lobbed grenades at the next enemy post. Before moving to another trench, he received a mortal bullet wound to the head.

== Early life ==
Piru Singh was born on 20 May 1918, in village Rampura Beri in [[Beri, Rajasthan|Beri]], [[Rajputana]]. He was the son of Lal Singh.{{Sfn|Reddy|2007|p=30}} His family consisted of seven children—three brothers and four sisters—with Singh being the youngest son. As a young boy, Singh always hated school, as he was unable to cope with the restricted environment. One day, after being scolded by his class teacher for quarreling with one of his classmates, Singh ran away, and never returned to school. After that, Singh continued to help his parents in their farm, and grew up to be well-built and handsome youth. [[Shikar (sport)|Shikar]], a local Indian sport, was his favourite game.{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=40}} Though Singh wanted to join the army from his childhood, he was rejected twice, as he was too young, before he was accepted at the age of eighteen.{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=41}}

==Military career==
Piru Singh Shekhawat was enrolled in the 10th Battalion of the [[1st Punjab Regiment]] on 20 May 1936 at [[Jhelum]]. After completion of his training, on 1 May 1937, Singh was posted to the 5th Battalion of the same regiment. Despite his earlier hostility to schooling, Singh took education seriously and passed the Indian Army Class Certificate of Education. After clearing a few other tests, he was promoted to [[lance naik]] ([[lance corporal]]) on 7 August 1940. During his tenure with the 5th Battalion of the 1st Punjab, he saw action on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North-West Frontier]].{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=41}}

In March 1941, he was promoted to [[Naik (military rank)|naik]] ([[corporal]]), and was posted as an instructor to the Punjab Regimental Centre at Jhelum in September. In February 1942, he was promoted to [[havildar]] ([[sergeant]]). Singh was an outstanding sportsman, he represented his regiment in hockey, basketball and cross-country running at inter-regimental and national level championships. In May 1945, he was promoted to company havildar major ([[company sergeant major]]). He served as an instructor until October 1945. After the end of the [[Second World War]], he was sent to [[Japan]] as part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]], where he served until September 1947. Following the [[Partition of India|partition]], Singh was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the [[Rajputana Rifles]].{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=41}}

===War of 1947===
{{main article|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947}}
Following tensions between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan, war broke out over control of the princely state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in October 1947, shortly after Singh returned from Japan. In July 1948, Pakistan launched offensive strikes in the Tithwal sector of Jammu and Kashmir, and captured a [[Boundary (topology)|ring contour]] on 8 July. This forced the Indian troops stationed in the forward positions across river [[Neelum River|Kishanganga]] to retreat. In an attempt to reverse the situation, Singh's unit, the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, was moved from [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir|Uri]] to Tithwal, and was assigned to the 163rd Brigade. The troops took position on the Tithwal bridge.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India">{{cite web|title=Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms|website=The Times of India|access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

On 11 July, the Indian troops commenced their attack. These strikes continued for another four days. But reports regarding the situation suggested that the Pakistanis were still in command of a strategically important position and the Indian commanders decided that these had to be captured before the advance could continue. Apart from this position, another position was also to be captured by the Indians. The task of capturing these two positions was assigned to the 6th Rajputana Rifles. Two companies were assigned to the operation, with the battalion's 'C' Company securing the second position after the first was captured by 'D' Company.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>

On 18 July, the 'D' Company launched it first attack at 01:30. The path to the position held by the Pakistani troops was just {{convert|1|m}} wide, and deep [[ravines]] lay on either side. This narrow path was overlooked by hidden Pakistani bunkers that allowed both observation and clear fields of fire for the defending troops. As they advanced, the Indian company was subjected to heavy shelling from the Pakistanis, and within half an hour the company had recorded fifty-one casualties.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>

During the battle, Singh's section, leading the company, was sheared down to half strength due to heavy casualties. Singh rushed towards a Pakistani medium machine gun post, which was causing most of the casualties, during which he suffered multiple shrapnel wounds across his body as the Pakistani defenders began rolling grenades down from the heights. Undeterred, Singh continued to advance adopting the battle cry, "Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai" ([[English language|English]]: Hail Lord [[Rama]]). Soon he occupied the post killing the men on guard with his [[bayonet]] and [[Sten gun]].{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>

But by the time he captured the position, the rest of his company lay dead or wounded. Singh was left alone to achieve the objective assigned. He advanced towards the second Pakistani medium machine gun post. At this juncture, he was almost blinded by a grenade that blast at his face. His Sten gun ammunition had run out. Singh moved out of the trench and lobbed grenades at the next Pakistani post. Meanwhile, he jumped into another trench, and killed two Pakistani soldiers with his bayonet. Before he was able to move out of the trench, he was hit by a bullet in his head. As he succumbed to his wounds, Singh hurled a grenade into a nearby Pakistani trench.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 - Times of India"/>

===Param Vir Chakra===
On 17 July 1948, Company Havildar Major Singh was posthumously was awarded the India's highest military decoration, the [[Param Vir Chakra]]. The citation reads of follows:
{{Quotation|text=South of Tithwal, 'D' Company, of which No 2831592 Piru Singh, was Havildar Major was detailed to attack and capture an enemy occupied hill feature. The enemy had well dug in positions and had sited his MMGs so as to cover all possible approaches. As the attack advanced, it was met with heavy MMG fire from both flanks. Volleys of grenades were hurled down from enemy bunkers. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was then with the forward most Section of the company. Seeing more than half of the Section killed or wounded, he did not lose courage. With battle cries he encouraged the remaining men and rushed forward with great determination onto the nearest enemy MMG position. Grenade splinters ripping his clothes and wounding him at several places, he continued to advance without the least regard for his safety. He was on top of the MMG position wounding the gun crew with Sten gun fire. With complete disregard to his bleeding wounds he made a mad jump on the MMG crew bayoneting them to death, thus silencing the gun. By then he suddenly realized that he was the sole survivor of the section, the rest of them either dead or wounded. Another grenade thrown at him wounded him in the face. With blood dripping from his face wounds in his eyes, he crawled out of the trench, hurling grenades at the next enemy position.|author=Gazette Notification: 8 Pres./52, 16.1.52|source=<ref name="CHM Piru Singh , PVC @ TWDI">{{cite web|title=CHM Piru Singh, PVC|url=http://twdi.in/node/1069|website=The War Decorated India & Trust|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160501094410/http://twdi.in/node/1069| archive-date =1 May 2016 | url-status =dead}}</ref>
}}

== Legacy ==
[[File:Piru Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|250px|thumb|Piru Singh's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]]]]
[[File:Piru Singh PVC copper statue.jpg|border|thumb|516x516px|Piru Singh statue at Piru Singh Circle, [[Jhunjhunu]].]]
Singh was never married.{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=41}} In the 1980s, the [[Shipping Corporation of India]] (SCI), a [[Government of India]] enterprise operating under the aegis of [[Ministry of Shipping (India)|Ministry of Shipping]], named fifteen of her [[crude oil tanker]]s in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The crude oil tanker named MT "Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC" was delivered to SCI on 12 October 1984. Due to [[MARPOL 73/78|MARPOL Convention]] on single hull tankers, SCI phased out all her fifteen PVC series crude tankers on completion of their economic age of 25 years.<ref name="COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH PVC - IMO 8224145 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker">{{cite web|title=Company Havildar Major Piru Singh PVC – IMO 8224145 – Ship Photos and Ship Tracker|url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1257840|website=Ship Spotting|access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> A road [[roundabout]] called "Shahid Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle" was named after him, in Jhunjhunu, by the [[Government of Rajasthan]].<ref name="Peeru Singh Circle">{{cite web|title=Peeru Singh Circle|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Peeru+Singh+Circle/@28.1094819,75.3881003,19.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x391339acb0bb349b:0x9cfa76c5f3b1669!8m2!3d28.1095703!4d75.3885175|website=Google Maps|access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> An [[intersection]] called "Piru Singh Chowk" has been named after him in Yol, Himachal Pradesh.<ref name="Piru Singh Chowk">{{cite web|title=Piru Singh Chowk|url=https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/Piru+Singh+Chowk/@32.1790479,76.3766058,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x391b521630f7dab3:0xfba61c75ee7a301f!8m2!3d32.1790479!4d76.3787945?hl=en|website=Google Maps|access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref>

==Notes==
;Footnotes
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
;Citations
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|first1=B.C. |last1=Chakravorty|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7023-516-3|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC}}
*{{citation|first1=Kittu |last1=Reddy|title=Bravest of the Brave: Heroes of the Indian Army|year=2007|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-87100-00-3|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MlAi5sWYOe8C}}
*{{citation|first1=Major General Ian (retd.)|last1=Cardozo|title=Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle|year=2003|publisher=Roli Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7436-262-9|language=English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9ymBAAAQBAJ}}
{{refend}}

{{Param Vir Chakra recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Piru}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:People from Churu district]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]]