Rajput War Heroes 1971 War

Pakistan had the traditional support of western countries, particularly the US, and had fostered a friendship with China. But internally Pakistan was falling apart. The military dictatorship killed millions in Bangladesh, sending hordes of refugees into India, which had just signed a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union to stave of the US-China-Pak alliance. The 1971 Indo-Pak War was fought on two fronts, with Indian troops liberating Bangladesh and capturing 90,000 Pakistani POWs.

Naik Sugan Singh

A Rathore Rajput from Nagaur in Rajasthan, Sugan Singh was with the 7th Rajputana Rifles on the eastern front of Bangladesh, in Tripura. On 9/10 December the battalion was involved in a ferocious battle for Mynamati ridge. Naik Sugan Singh boldly charged an enemy MMG post and destroyed it. Despite his wounds, the brave Rajpoot continued fighting and destroyed a second MMG post. The Naik was awarded the MVC for this gallant action while the 7 Rajputana Rifles earned two Vir Chakras and battle honours Mynamati.

Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh

A Rathore Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, Drig Pal Singh was on the western front of Punjab with the 15 Rajput Regiment, when the battle of Fazilka was on. With two men, Lance Naik Drig Pal Singh destroyed enemy bunkers, despite heavy MMG fire. The Indians won a great victory but the Rajpoot war hero paid with his life, and was awarded the MVC posthumously.

Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh Rathore

A Rathore Rajput from Jasol, Rajasthan, Hanut Singh commanded the 17 Horse armoured regiment in the Shakargarh Sector of the Western Front. In the Battle of Basantar, Hanut Singh's men in their tanks, defeated a Pakistani attack destroying 48 of their tanks. Lt. Col. Hanut Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership was awarded Mahavir Chakra

Colonel Udai Singh

A Rathore Rajput from Rajasthan, Col Udai Singh commanded men of the Gorkha Rifles the mountains of Kargil, far in the north. Fighting at altitudes of 5,500 metres, and bereft of artillery support, Udai Singh and his men captured important enemy posts and large caches of ammunition. For his skilled leadership and command Colonel Udai Singh was decorated with Mahavir Chakra.

Major Anup Singh

A Gahlaut Rajput from Delhi, Major Anup Singh commanded Dogra troops on the eastern front deep inside enemy territory. The Pakistanis, refusing to surrender, engaged the Indian troops in a bitter battle. Major Gahlaut led one platoon from the front, but was surprised by an unexpected enemy attack from the rear. There was a fierce hand to hand fight. The major sustained grievous wounds but refused to give in. Though bleeding profusely, he fought on, and the Pakistanis were finally beaten back. The exhausted Major collapsed on the battlefield, and died shortly thereafter. For displaying exemplary leadership Major Gahlaut was awarded Mahavir Chakra, posthumously.

Lt Colonel Rajkumar Singh

A Rajpoot from Uttar Pradesh, Lt Colonel Rajkumar Singh, commanded Punjabi troops holding a defensive position on the eastern front in the early days of the 1971 war. The enemy attacked the area with two infantry battalions and a squadron of tanks. Lt Col Rajkumar Singh directed his troops with great courage and confidence, disregaring for his personal safety. The defeated Pakistanis left 350 dead behind. Indian army lost 90 men. The Rajput war hero was awarded the MVC for displaying conspicuous courage, exemplary leadership and professional skill.

Major Basdev Singh Mankotia

A Mankotia Rajput from Himachal Pradesh, Major Basdev Singh commanded Punjabi troops on the western front, beating back three enemy attacks on his position. On the third attack, the major led a fierce counter-attack to repulse the Pakistanis, but sustained severe injuries. Refusing evacuation he persisted till the enemy had been driven back. For this heroic defence, the Rajpoot war hero was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

Major Jaivir Singh

A Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, Major Jaivir Singh, commanded Sikh troops in Chhamb on the western front during the 1971 War. SUffering heavy casualties, but led by the determined Rajpoot, the Sikh troops not only repulsed the enemy advance but recaptured an earlier lost post. Major Jaivir singh was awarded the Mahavir Chakra for his exemplary leadership and courage.

Group Captain Chandan Singh

A Champawat Rajput from Jodhpur, Group Captain Chandan Singh, commanded an air force station on the eastern front. They led 18 strike and recce missions deep into the enemy territory. Group Captain Chandan Singh also led operations for airlifting commando troops to forward areas, the most staggering of which involved 3000 troops and 40 tons of army equipment in a single day. Group Captain Singh was decorated with the Mahavir Chakra for his exceptional drive, determination, courage and inspiring leadership.

Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh

The head of all Kachhwaha Rajputs, and the last Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Bhawani Singh led a commando unit striking deep blows into Pakistan from an unexpected front. Prior to the 1971 War, Lt Col Bhawani Singh was training Mukti Bahini fighters in Bangladesh, and also helping in raising India's new Special Forces battalion, the 10 Para Commandos. The Rajpoot officer led his unit into Sindh, destroying enemy bases at Chachro, Virawah, Islamkot, and Nagarparkar, capturing immense territory and munitions. The unit received the unique theatre honour Sindh 1971, battle honours Chachro, and 10 gallantry awards. Sawai Bhawani Singh received the MVC for exceptional leadership and gallantry.

Rajput War Heroes 1965 War

India had still not recovered from the effect of the 1962 War, when Pakistan invaded the country from the west, armed with modern American weaponry. This war was fought mainly in the plains of the Punjab and the hills of J&K. All the Pakistani aims for the war were crushed by Indian doggedness. The modern American weapons, like the Patton tanks, were of no use when the people manning them were poorly trained.

Captain Chander Narain Singh

A Garhwali Rajput, the captain led a patrol of men in the hills of Poonch, J&K, against a fortified Pakistani position. Fighting through the day against heavy MMG fire, Chander Narain Singh silenced two of the Pakistani guns. He commenced his final attack at night leading his small band of men to charge up the hill and destroy the post, capturing large quantities of arms and ammunition. Captain Singh fell to a burst of machine gun fire and was awarded the Mahavir Chakra posthumously.

Lieutenant Colonel Raghubir Singh

A Kachhwaha Rajput from Jaipur, Lt Col Raghubir Singh and his infantry battalion of the Rajputana Rifles during the tank battle of Asal Uttar in Punjab. Their positions were overrun by enemy tanks, but the brave Rajpoot hero boldly left his own HQ, charged through the dust and established contact with his men in forward positions. Inspired by the courage and boldness of their CO, the Rajputana Rifles battalion destroyed 20 enemy tanks, and Raghubir Singh was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

Major Jaivir Singh

A Rajpoot from Uttar Pradesh, Jaivir Singh commanded Sikh troops in the plains of Chhamb, J&K, during the 1965 war. Beating back several Pakistani attacks, Major Jaivir singh was awarded the MVC for his exemplary leadership and courage.

India boldly takes on China

During their 1965 War with Pakistan, the Indians also had to keep an eye on the mountainous frontier with China. Tensions flared up again in 1967 with Chinese incursions. A Rajpoot officer from Jammu, Lieutenant Colonel Mahatam Singh led a battalion of JAK Rifles to the Cho La area, which had been occupied by the Chinese. Mahatam Singh led his troops in an arduous march and restored the situation almost instantaneously, pushing the Chinese out. Throughout, the Rajput war hero displayed exemplary courage, leadership and devotion to duty, and was awarded the MVC.

Rajput War Heroes 1962 War

The 1962 War was fought between India and China along the length of the Himalayan border between India and Tibet. The Indian armed forces lacked proper equipment, machinery, and infrastructure for penetrating the Himalayan barrier and mostly fought defensive actions against the Chinese invaders.

Major Shaitan Singh

A Bhati Rajput from Rajasthan, Major Shaitan Singh commanded a company of Kumaoni troops in the isolated Chushul area of Ladakh sector. Holding fast on a ridge at a height of 5000 metres, the brave Rajpoot and his troops held out against waves of Chinese attacks, running short on ammunition. The Chinese deployed mortars and heavy machine guns, slowly encircling the different platoons under Shaitan Singh. Each platoon fought down to the last man. The wounded major at last ordered the last survivors to leave him alone to die fighting the enemy.

After the war was over, the body of the Rajput hero was found and cremated with full military honours at Jodhpur. Major Shaitan Singh Bhati was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest wartime gallantry medal, for his exemplary leadership and courage in the battle of Rezang La.

Second Lieutenant Bhagwan Dutt Dogra

Belonging to Jammu, Second Lieutenant Dogra commanded Gorkha troops in the Tsangdhar area of NEFA sector in the eastern Himalayas during the 1962 War. The Chinese subjected his position to heavy shelling covering their infantry attacks. When his gunner was hit the Rajpoot hero took over the light machine gun and cut down the enemy until the ammunition ran out and 2nd Lt Dogra was captured. His daring act and inspiring leadership won him the Mahavir Chakra.

Major Sher Pratap Singh Shrikent

A Bihari Rajput, the Major fought a desperate action to save his battalion headquarters in the NEFA sector during the 1962 War. Sher Pratap Singh Shrikent snatched a sten gun from an orderly, rallied the few survivors of the battalion headquarters, gallantly charged the enemy with complete disregard for his personal safety and inflicted heavy losses on the advancing Chinese. The Rajpoot war hero was awarded the Mahavir Chakra.

Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat

A Garhwali Rajput from Uttarakhand, Jaswant Singh Rawat fought one of the rare counter-attacks in the NEFA sector during the Battle of Nuranang. When the Garhwalis were surrounded by Chinese troops and subject to mortar and heavy machine gun fire, Jaswant Singh volunteered to destroy the machine gun. With Lance Naik Trilok Singh Negi and Rifleman Gopal Singh Gusain, Rawat attacked the Chinese with grenades and rushed on to the MMG position. They killed the Chinese and captured the gun but fell to their wounds while returning victorious. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat was awarded the Mahavir Chakra and his two colleagues the Vir Chakra.

The Rajpoot war hero lives on. The site of the battle has been renamed Jaswantgarh, and a bust of the Garhwali soldier has been installed. Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat has been raised to status of a deity, and every soldier and officer pays obeisance at his shrine before moving ahead.

UN operations in Congo

One year before this momentous war, Indian troops were fighting in the Congo under the United Nations flag. A Salaria Rajput from Punjab, Captain Gurbachan Singh, commanded Gorkha soldiers in an action where they killed 40 enemy troops and two armoured cars. Captain Salaria died fighting in this battle but prevented the Katangese rebels from encircling the UN Headquarters in Elisabethville. His leadership, courage, unflinching devotion to duty and disregard for personal safety got the Rajpoot war hero the PVC posthumously.

Rajput War Heroes 1947-48 War

Rajput war heroes from modern times. The 1947-48 War was fought between India and Pakistan in the Jammu and Kashmir State. The main fighting was in the hills of Jammu, along the Jhelum river as it pours into Pakistan, some in the valley and mountains of Kashmir, and important battles were fought in the plateau of Ladakh.

1947-48 Indo-Pak war

Brigadier Rajinder Singh

The Brigadier was a Jamwal Rajput from Jammu who rose to command the State Forces of J&K. His heroic ancestor General Baj Singh had sacrificed his life in the defence of Chitral. Brigadier Rajinder Singh was the first Indian to be decorated with the second highest gallantry award the Mahavir Chakra posthumously. In 1947 war hero Rajinder Singh held back a huge army of 6000 Pakistani invaders with a handfull of men, medium machine guns, a detachment of 3 inch mortars and three Rajpoot officers Capt. Prithi Singh, Capt. Khazan Singh and Lt. Nasib Singh.

Lieutenant Kishan Singh

A Rathore Rajput from Bikaner, Rajasthan, Kishan Singh was avarded the MVC for defeating the pakistanis with a bayonet charge, disregarding the heavy enemy fire.

Brigadier Yadunath Singh

A Bhati Rajput, Brigadier Yadunath Singh commanded the 19 Infantry Brigade in the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war. War hero Yadunath liberated Jhangar and Rajauri and was awarded the MVC for his bravery and leadership skills.

Havaldar Piru Singh

A Shekhawat Rajput from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Havaldar Piru Singh received the highest gallantry award the Paramvir Chakra (PVC). Showing exceptional bravery, the havaldar destroyed a Pakistani medium machine gun post, but lost his entire section in the attack and was badly wounded. Undeterred the brave Rajpoot, shouting the battle cry "Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai", single-handedly destroyed the second Pakistani post with grenades. Fatally wounded by grenades and bullets, Piru Singh Shekhawat, killed even more Pakistanis in a third bunker before bleeding to death.

Naik Jadunath Singh

A Rathore Rajput from Uttar Pradesh, Naik Jadunath Singh, commanded a picket of nine men at Naushera and defended it for a whole night against thousands of Pakistanis. The enemy made wave after wave of attacks but retreated in defeat each time. Even when all his men were killed, the wounded Jadunath Singh, saved the post for a third time by charging out and firing his sten gun on the bewildered enemy. Victory was India's but Naik Jadunath Singh paid with his life and was awarded the highest gallantry award, the Paramvir Chakra, posthumously.

Sepoy Dewan Singh

A Kumaoni Rajput from Uttarakhand, Sepoy Dewan Singh was awarded the MVC posthumously, for battling the Pakistanis alone and enabling his platoon to regroup and find a more secure post.

Captain Khushal Chand and Major Prithi Chand

Rajputs from Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, the two officers were cousins who formed a force of Lahaulis to reinforce the Indian troops in Ladakh during the 1948 war. In the height of winter they crossed the Zojila Pass and helped in the defence of Leh against a 1000 strong Pakistani force. Using guerrila tactics they bled and exhausted the pakistanis; Prithi Chand destroyed an enemy howitzer. Both Captain Khushal Chand (above photo) and Major Prithi Chand were awarded the MVC.

Rifleman Dhonkal Singh

The rifleman was awarded the MVC posthumously for helping capture a strategic enemy post, sacrificing his life in the valiant attempt.

Naik Nar Singh

War hero Naik Nar Singh led only a section of men to capture a Pakistani hill feature, killing 20 of the enemy and wounding the rest. The Kumaoni Rajput was found dead on a heap of pakistani bodies, still holding on to an enemy bren gun, and was awarded the MVC for exceptional bravery.

Lt. Colonel Anant Singh Pathania

A Pathania Rajput from Reh in Himachal Pradesh, Anant Singh led his Gorkha troops in the Ladakh sector, defeating the Pakistani invaders and inflicting heavy casualties. It was one of the hardest battles of the Ladakh sector and Anant Singh Pathania was awarded the MVC for exceptional gallantry and leadership, rising later to the rank of Major-General.

Lt. Colonel Kaman Singh Pathania

A Pathania Rajput from Nurpur in Himachal Pradesh, the Colonel led his Garhwali troops to capture a strategic ridge at Tithwal in northern Kashmir. They killed 20 Pakistanis and sent the others fleeing from what was discovered to be the enemy battalion headquarters! The Pakistanis sent waves of attackers to recapture the feature but were defeated each time. Kaman Singh was awarded the MVC for his leadership and personal example of courage and determination. As a mark of respect to the brave Rajpoot hero, the last Indian post on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road was named Kaman Post.

Rajpoots and the right to bear arms

As a community of Hindu warriors, Rajpoots cherish their weapons and worship them (Shastra Puja) on Dussehra. In former times, when a Rajput boy became fit to bear arms, the ceremony of kharg bandai, or sword binding, was performed to mark his attainment of manhood.

A description of weapons worship from Mewar, the premier ancient Rajpoot state in Rajasthan: At the start of the Dussehra festival, after fasting, ablution, and prayer on the part of the Maharana of Mewar, the double-edged khanda is delivered to the temple. On the Dussehra day itself, nine days later, the Maharana advances and receives the sword with due homage from the hands of the Raj Jogi....The elephants and horses again receive homage, and the sword, the shield, and spear are worshipped within the palace.

Another occasion of weapons worship was during the installation of a new ruler. An example from Marwar: Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and other deities are propitiated in the presence of the prince. Afterwards weapons of war: swords, shields, and guns, also the royal insignia, umbrella, sceptre, and standard, and the war horse and elephants, are worshipped. This ceremony is termed Bajesar. The Maharaja arrayed in his State dress, takes his seat on the gadi, which is placed on a raised marble platform known as Singhdar Chauki. The thakur of Bagri then comes forward and binds on the sword of State....Meanwhile the priest places the tilak (or mark of inauguration) on the forehead of the Maharaja.

Surajmalji Chauhan and the right to bear arms

Moving away from the big kingdoms of Rajasthan an example of the Rajpoot devotion to his ancestral right to bear arms from a little principality in Gujarat. Quote from India Today:

Surajmalji, a 19th century Thakur of Mudeti, had risen in revolt when the British passed an order disallowing people from keeping weapons. At that time Mudeti was a tiny princely state of 24 villages. But regardless of the size of his turf, the brave Rajpoot questioned the British order, “How can Rajputs, whose duty is to fight, be asked to live without weapons?” When the British did not respond, he led an armed struggle which coincided with the revolt of 1857.

The British were forced to withdraw the order after a decade when the small but fierce rebellion could not be quelled. During the decade-long struggle, Surajmalji defeated the British forces twice in the Aravalli ranges. His name became a household name and served to inspire the locals as well as the Rajput land lords, many of whom sacrificed their lives in the battle. The Thakur was also a philanthropist who was generous to the poor and had helped build a number of temples and wells. His popularity grew after the rebellion, and he was made a subject of many poems, which are now an important part of Rajasthani literature and are taught in several colleges. In Mudeti, he has turned from a ruler to its ruling deity.

It is imperative for a marriage procession that passes through Mudeti in north Gujarat to stop by at the statue of Surajmalji Chauhan and hear a 10-minute recital of poems extolling his bravery. This is how the town of Mudeti has been paying tribute to the bravery of one of its former rulers—for the past 125 years.

Rajpoots

They love their guns and their drinks. Sometimes too much. They fight each other for land, but at the same time are devoted to the Hindu religion, and they take immense pride in their ancestry. Such are the Rajput (pronounced Rajpoot) community of Hindu warriors in India and Nepal. The Rajputs are mostly found in the armed services, a tradition that continues from thousands of years of history.

A Rajput warrior in a 19th century painting depicted with Hindu paint marks on the forehead. The Rajpoot is armed with a sword, gun, and bow and arrows. His appearance is distinguished from other communities, in that his moustache and beard are full flowing and twirled up with pride, and his turbans are colorful.