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{{Short description|Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra}} | {{Short description|Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January | {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=January | {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel]] | | honorific_prefix = [[Colonel]] | ||
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[[Colonel]] '''Balwan Singh Panghal''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (born 17 October 1973) is a decorated [[Indian Army]] officer who was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] for his courage in leading the successful assault to capture [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War]].<ref name=Balwan>{{cite news|title=Jhajjar's Balwan who hoisted Tricolour atop Tiger Hill|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/weekly-pullouts/haryana-tribune/jhajjar-s-balwan-who-hoisted-tricolour-atop-tiger-hill/606150.html|access-date=24 March 2019|newspaper=The Tribune (Haryana)|date=16 June | [[Colonel]] '''Balwan Singh Panghal''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (born 17 October 1973) is a decorated [[Indian Army]] officer who was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] for his courage in leading the successful assault to capture [[Tiger Hill, Kargil|Tiger Hill]] during the 1999 [[Kargil War]].<ref name=Balwan>{{cite news|title=Jhajjar's Balwan who hoisted Tricolour atop Tiger Hill|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/weekly-pullouts/haryana-tribune/jhajjar-s-balwan-who-hoisted-tricolour-atop-tiger-hill/606150.html|access-date=24 March 2019|newspaper=The Tribune (Haryana)|date=16 June 2018}}</ref> | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
A second-generation soldier, Singh was inspired to join the Indian Army by his father Shobha Chand, a decorated veteran of the 2nd Jat Battalion. After completing his senior secondary education from Sainik School, Karnal, Singh joined University College, Rohtak and following graduation entered the [[Officers Training Academy]] (OTA) Chennai.<ref name=Balwan/> In March 1999, he received a short-service commission in the 18 Grenadiers, with the service number SS-37691.<ref name="gallantry_awards">{{cite web |url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/balwan-singh|title=Lt Balwan Singh|website=Gallantry Awards (MoD, Government of India) |access-date=24 March | A second-generation soldier, Singh was inspired to join the Indian Army by his father Shobha Chand, a decorated veteran of the 2nd Jat Battalion. After completing his senior secondary education from Sainik School, Karnal, Singh joined University College, Rohtak and following graduation entered the [[Officers Training Academy]] (OTA) Chennai.<ref name=Balwan/> In March 1999, he received a short-service commission in the 18 Grenadiers, with the service number SS-37691.<ref name="gallantry_awards">{{cite web |url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/balwan-singh|title=Lt Balwan Singh|website=Gallantry Awards (MoD, Government of India) |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> | ||
==Kargil War and capture of Tiger Hill== | ==Kargil War and capture of Tiger Hill== | ||
With just four months of service when the Kargil War broke out, Singh was tasked to lead his Ghatak platoon in an attempt to capture Tiger Hill during the [[Battle of Tiger Hill|eponymous battle]]. Before leading his troops into action, Singh vowed "Tiger Hill pe [[Tiranga]] fahrake ayenge, chahe kuchh bhi ho jaye." ("We will hoist the [[Flag of India|Tricolour]] atop Tiger Hill, come what may.")<ref name=Balwan/> | With just four months of service when the Kargil War broke out, Singh was tasked to lead his Ghatak platoon in an attempt to capture Tiger Hill during the [[Battle of Tiger Hill|eponymous battle]]. Before leading his troops into action, Singh vowed "Tiger Hill pe [[Tiranga]] fahrake ayenge, chahe kuchh bhi ho jaye." ("We will hoist the [[Flag of India|Tricolour]] atop Tiger Hill, come what may.")<ref name=Balwan/> | ||
For his inspirational leadership and courage in successfully capturing the peak, Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra by President K. R. Narayan on Independence Day 1999.<ref name="war_decorated">{{cite web |url=http://twdi.in/node/1319|title=Balwan Singh MVC|website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=24 March | For his inspirational leadership and courage in successfully capturing the peak, Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra by President K. R. Narayan on Independence Day 1999.<ref name="war_decorated">{{cite web |url=http://twdi.in/node/1319|title=Balwan Singh MVC|website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> The official citation for the decoration reads as follows:<ref name="gallantry_awards"/><ref name="war_decorated"/> | ||
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