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{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| honorific_prefix = [[Brigadier]] | | honorific_prefix = [[Brigadier]] | ||
| name = Sukhjit Singh | [[Maharaja]] | ||
| name = Maharaja Sukhjit Singh | |||
| honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] | | honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] | ||
| image = Brig. Sukhjit Singh.jpg | | image = Brig. Sukhjit Singh.jpg | ||
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}} | }} | ||
[[Brigadier]] '''Sukhjit Singh''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (born 15 October 1934) is a former [[Indian Army]] officer who served with The [[Scinde Horse]]. He was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and courage in facing the enemy during the [[Battle of Basantar]] in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. | [[Brigadier]] '''Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh-al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (born 15 October 1934) is a former [[Indian Army]] officer who served with The [[Scinde Horse]]. He was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and courage in facing the enemy during the [[Battle of Basantar]] in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Brigadier Sukhjit Singh was born on October 15, 1934, in [[Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India]] to the erstwhile royal family of [[Kapurthala State|Kapurthala]]. He was educated at [[The Doon School]] in [[Dehradun]], and then received military training at the [[Indian Military Academy]].<ref>https://in.ambafrance.org/Release-of-Prince-Patron-and-Patriarch-Maharaja-Jagatjit-Singh-of-Kapurthala</ref> | Brigadier Sukhjit Singh was born on October 15, 1934, in [[Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India]] to the erstwhile royal family of [[Kapurthala State|Kapurthala]]. Only son of Colonel Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh-al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Paramjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala, by his second wife, Tikka Rani Lilavati Devi Sahiba. He was educated at [[The Doon School]] in [[Dehradun]], and then received military training at the [[Indian Military Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://in.ambafrance.org/Release-of-Prince-Patron-and-Patriarch-Maharaja-Jagatjit-Singh-of-Kapurthala|title=Release of Prince, Patron and Patriarch: Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala}}</ref> | ||
Sukhjit Singh was/is a prince himself, from the House of Kapurthala. His fondest memory is of rides with his grandfather, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, “in a zebra-driven chariot in the zoological gardens of the palace”, according to an interview to The Tribune.<ref>https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/brigadier-sawai-bhawani-singh-brigadier-sukhjit-singh-the-maha-virs-291298</ref> | Sukhjit Singh was/is a prince himself, from the House of Kapurthala. His fondest memory is of rides with his grandfather, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, “in a zebra-driven chariot in the zoological gardens of the palace”, according to an interview to The Tribune.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/brigadier-sawai-bhawani-singh-brigadier-sukhjit-singh-the-maha-virs-291298|title=Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, the Maha Virs}}</ref> | ||
==Military career== | ==Military career== | ||
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], Brigadier Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the [[Battle of Basantar]], Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in [[Shakargarh]]. On the night of December 8, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near [[Kot Nainan|Nainan Kot]]. On December 10, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Leading from the front, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh directed his tanks with great skill. His unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at [[Malakpur]]. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers. | During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], Brigadier Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the [[Battle of Basantar]], Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in [[Shakargarh]]. On the night of December 8, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near [[Kot Nainan|Nainan Kot]]. On December 10, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Leading from the front, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh directed his tanks with great skill. His unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at [[Malakpur]]. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers. | ||
Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twdi.in/node/1492|title=Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Bhat|first= Anil|date=21 December 2017|title=India-Pak tank warfare and Pak | Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twdi.in/node/1492|title=Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Bhat|first= Anil|date=21 December 2017|title=India-Pak tank warfare and Pak military's drawbacks|url=https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/211217/india-pak-tank-warfare-and-pak-militarys-drawbacks.html|newspaper=Asian Age}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Singh|first= Lt Gen Harwant|date=13 December 2013|title=Rare case of courage of conviction|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/rare-case-of-courage-of-conviction/story-yqIJxcnjK7hev214I750iL.html|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
With Maharaja Lunch.jpg|Brig. Sukhjit Singh is pictured here with his friend and a former army officer inside his Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala <ref> https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/villa-buona-vista-of-kapurthala-tale-of-loyal-service-to-royalty-227509</ref> | With Maharaja Lunch.jpg|Brig. Sukhjit Singh is pictured here with his friend and a former army officer inside his Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/villa-buona-vista-of-kapurthala-tale-of-loyal-service-to-royalty-227509|title = Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala; tale of loyal service to royalty}}</ref> | ||
Villa_at_KPT.jpg|Kapurthala Royal family's "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala" India | Villa_at_KPT.jpg|Kapurthala Royal family's "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala" India | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Army officers]] | [[Category:Indian Army officers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Sikhs]] | [[Category:Indian Sikhs]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:12, 10 December 2022
Maharaja Sukhjit Singh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 15 October 1934 Kapurthala, Kapurthala State, British India |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service/ | Error creating thumbnail: File missing Indian Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier |
| Unit | Scinde Horse |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Basantar - Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards | Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maha Vir Chakra[1] |
| Alma mater | Indian Military Academy |
Brigadier Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh-al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala, MVC (born 15 October 1934) is a former Indian Army officer who served with The Scinde Horse. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and courage in facing the enemy during the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Early life[edit | edit source]
Brigadier Sukhjit Singh was born on October 15, 1934, in Kapurthala, Punjab, India to the erstwhile royal family of Kapurthala. Only son of Colonel Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh-al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Paramjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala, by his second wife, Tikka Rani Lilavati Devi Sahiba. He was educated at The Doon School in Dehradun, and then received military training at the Indian Military Academy.[2]
Sukhjit Singh was/is a prince himself, from the House of Kapurthala. His fondest memory is of rides with his grandfather, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, “in a zebra-driven chariot in the zoological gardens of the palace”, according to an interview to The Tribune.[3]
Military career[edit | edit source]
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the Battle of Basantar, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in Shakargarh. On the night of December 8, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near Nainan Kot. On December 10, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Leading from the front, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh directed his tanks with great skill. His unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at Malakpur. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers.
Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.[4][5][6] Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier.
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Brig. Sukhjit Singh is pictured here with his friend and a former army officer inside his Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala [7]
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Kapurthala Royal family's "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala" India
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "LT COL SUKHJIT SINGH MAHA VIR CHAKRA". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
- ↑ "Release of Prince, Patron and Patriarch: Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala".
- ↑ "Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, the Maha Virs".
- ↑ "Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC". The War Decorated India & Trust.
- ↑ Bhat, Anil (21 December 2017). "India-Pak tank warfare and Pak military's drawbacks". Asian Age.
- ↑ Singh, Lt Gen Harwant (13 December 2013). "Rare case of courage of conviction". Hindustan Times.
- ↑ "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala; tale of loyal service to royalty".