Bana Singh: Difference between revisions

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| servicenumber = JC−155825<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/bana-singh|title=BANA SINGH &#124; Gallantry Awards|website=Gallantry Awards|accessdate=14 February 2019}}</ref>

'''Bana Singh''' {{Small|[[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]}} (born 6 January 1949) is a [[India|Indian]] soldier and a recipient of the nation's highest gallantry award, the [[Param Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tehelka.com/2014/08/the-hero-of-siachen/?singlepage=1|title=The hero of Siachen|accessdate=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230082927/http://www.tehelka.com/2014/08/the-hero-of-siachen/?singlepage=1|archive-date=30 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-demilitarisation-of-siachen-2179255|title=Demilitarisation of Siachen|date=19 February 2016|website=dna|accessdate=14 February 2019}}</ref> As a [[Junior commissioned officer|Naib Subedar]] in the [[Indian Army]], he led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on the [[Siachen Glacier]] in [[Kashmir]] from [[Pakistan Army|Pakistani forces]] as part of [[Operation Rajiv]]. Following his success, India renamed the peak (previously designated as ''[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah|Quaid]] Post'' by the Pakistanis) to ''Bana Post'' in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/don-t-pull-out-troops-from-siachen-says-1987-hero-bana-singh/story-XqpPeQt2GRJNKcmL3TjDKK.html|title=Don’t pull out troops from Siachen, says 1987 hero Bana Singh|date=11 February 2016|website=hindustantimes/|accessdate=14 February 2019}}</ref>

Singh was born in [[Jammu Division|Kadyal, Jammu]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] on 6 January 1949. His father was a farmer and his uncles were soldiers in the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="Claude">{{cite web|url=http://www.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/InterviewBanaSingh.pdf |title=Interview with Captain Bana Singh |accessdate=27 June 2014 |author=Claude Arpi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204609/http://www.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/InterviewBanaSingh.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015 }}</ref>

He enlisted in the Indian Army on 6 January 1969, and began service with the 8th Battalion of the [[Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry]].<ref name="ToI_2014_Leadership">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Leadership-convention-at-IIT-K/articleshow/28670797.cms?referral=PM |title=Leadership convention at IIT-K |date=11 January 2014 |newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref> He was trained at the [[High Altitude Warfare School]] in [[Gulmarg]] and at another school at [[Sonamarg]].<ref name="Claude"/> He was promoted to the rank of [[Naib subedar|Naib Subedar]] from [[Havildar]] on 16 October 1985, less than two years before he would lead the successful team of [[Operation Rajiv]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=750  |date=10 May 1986|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1986/O-0725-1986-0019-32302.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

{{Quotation|<center>

Naib Subedar Bana Singh volunteered to be a member of a task force constituted in June 1987 to clear an intrusion by an adversary in the Siachen Glacier area at an altitude of 21,000 feet. The post was virtually an impregnable glacier fortress with ice walls, 1500 feet high, on both sides. Naib Subedar Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult and hazardous route. He inspired them by his indomitable courage and leadership. The brave Naib Subedar and his men crawled and closed in on the adversary. Moving from trench to trench, lobbing hand grenades and charging with the bayonet, he cleared the post all intruders.

Nb Sub Bana Singh was promoted Subedar on 1 December 1992,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1429  |date=31 July 1993|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/O-0409-1993-0031-16522.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> with promotion to Subedar Major on 20 October 1996.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=717  |date=10 May 1997|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1997/O-0206-1997-0019-7668.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was given the honorary rank of Captain at his retirement. Hony Capt Bana Singh retired from service on 31 October 2000. The [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]] Government gave him a pension of {{INR}} 166 per month. Bana Singh protested against the low amount, pointing out that the neighbouring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh provided a monthly pension above {{INR}} 10,000 to the Param Vir Chakra awardees. In October 2006, the Punjab Government led by Captain [[Amarinder Singh]] announced a cash award of {{INR}} 1,000,000 for him. The cheque was presented to Bana Singh by Amarinder's successor [[Parkash Singh Badal]] in March 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071202/j&k.htm#1 |title=Bana has reason to be angry |author=Vimal Sumbly |newspaper=The Tribune |date=2 December 2007 }}</ref> The Punjab Government also offered him {{INR}} 2,500,000, a monthly allowance of {{INR}} 15,000 and a 25-acre plot (Worth Crores), if he moved to Punjab. However, he refused the offer, saying that he is a resident of J&K.<ref name="Claude"/><ref name="TSI_Quaid">{{cite news |url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/from-quaid-to-bana/7/47831/ |title= From Quaid to Bana |publisher=The Sunday Indian |date= 30 November 2012 }}</ref> The J&K Government named a stadium in the [[Ranbir Singh Pora]] area of Jammu after him, and sanctioned an amount of Rs 5,000,000 for its development in 2010. However, in 2013, ''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]'' reported that the funds had not been released, and the Bana Singh Memorial Stadium was in a poor shape.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130120/jmtrib.htm#1 |title=Bana Singh Stadium in a shambles |author=Vikas Sharma |newspaper=The Tribune |date=20 January 2013 }}</ref>