Piru Singh Shekhawat was a soldier of the Indian Army who fought bravely in the India-Pakistan War of 1947 in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was posthumously awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), for single-handedly capturing a large group of strong enemy defensive positions and neutralizing the threat. He died after being shot and wounded on 18 July 1948 while clearing enemy positions.
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Wiki/Biography
Piru Singh Shekhawat was born on Monday, 20 May 1918 (age 30 years at the time of death) in Rampura Beri village, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Piru Singh hated school because he felt severely restricted in the strict school environment. Once in school he had a fight with one of his classmates after which his teacher scolded and scolded him, this made young Piru Singh angry, and he walked out of the class stomping his feet and never returned to school. At home, he used to help his parents in farming related work. It is said that he also liked playing the local game called Shikar. As a child, he always wanted to join the army as he came from a family with a rich military history.
family and caste
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat belonged to a Rajasthani Rajput family.
parents and siblings
His father Subedar Bhana Singh Shekhawat was also in the army, serving in the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles of the British Indian Army. Piru Singh’s mother’s name was Taravati Kanwar, she was also known as Jarav Devi. His grandfather Naib Subedar Chhelu Singh Shekhawat also served in the army. He was in the 125th Napier Rifles.
livelihood
initial unsuccessful attempt
Piru Singh failed twice to join the army as a soldier. Ultimately in his third attempt he was successful in joining the army on 20 May 1936 at the age of 18.
early career
After completing his training in 1937, he was posted to the 10th Battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment, an infantry battalion that had proven its capability in various operations, from where he was once again transferred to the 5th Battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment. given. Piru Singh passed his promotional examination, known as the Indian Army Class Certification of Education, after which he was promoted to the rank of Lance Naik on 7 August 1940. He was actively involved with his regiment on the north-western fronts. He was performing his duties so well that he was sent as an instructor to the Punjab Regimental Center at Jhelum, where he was promoted to the rank of Naik. In 1945, he was promoted to the rank of Company Havildar Major (CHM) and sent to the Eastern Front to fight the Japanese as part of a joint effort by Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II.
Transition from British Indian Army to Indian Army
In September 1947, after returning from Japan as a part of the British occupation forces, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was transferred from the Punjab Regiment to the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, where he served in India to secure Jammu and Kashmir. Gave full support to the determination of. From the invaders.
Preparations before the battle of Tithwal
Piru Singh was the Company Havildar Major of Delta Company of the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, which was taken to Tithwal village in Kashmir as Pakistani invaders, including regular army personnel, tribal Lashkar and Jammu and Kashmir Desert State Force personnel, Were included. , had captured the village. Piru Singh and his company were assigned the task of securing the village. The operation to recapture the village from the Pakistani invaders was launched on 11 July 1948, and it continued till 15 July 1948. Even after repeated attempts and attacks by the Indian Army to recapture some of the enemy positions, the positions were still not under Indian control. , Two companies, Charlie and Delta, were tasked with capturing several key enemy positions south of the village.
attack the enemy with a bayonet
The bronze mural of the Battle of Tithwal is being displayed at the National War Memorial, where soldiers of 6 Rajputana Rifles can be seen attacking the enemy
On 18 July 1948, CHM Piru Singh led his Delta Company to capture enemy positions, but Piru Singh and his men had to cross a narrow ravine which was overlooked by Pakistani machine gun positions . As the Indian troops advanced they were subjected to heavy firing and bombardment resulting in the loss of 51 soldiers to Delta Company. Sensing the danger, Piru Singh crossed the steep slopes and reached the enemy MMG bunkers shouting his war cry “Bolo Raja Ram Chandra Ki Jai”, meaning “Glory to Lord Ram”. As he moved towards the bunker, the enemy threw hand grenades at him and the grenade shrapnel seriously injured Piru Singh, tearing his clothes. Despite his injuries, he managed to eliminate the enemy defenses one by one in close combat using his bayonet to fight the enemy as his weapon ran out of ammunition.
Award – Paramveer Chakra
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, on 26 January 1950. The award was presented by the President to his mother.
Taravati Kanwar, mother of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat, receiving PVC from the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 26 January 1950
An excerpt from the letter written by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to CHM Piru Singh’s mother read,
He paid the price for his uniquely brave act with his life, but left behind a unique example of single-handed bravery and determined courage for the rest of his comrades. The nation is grateful for this sacrifice made in the service of the motherland, and we pray that this brings you some peace and solace.”
Honor/Legacy
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) named one of its crude oil tankers after Piru Singh, MT Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC, on 12 October 1984.
Records of crude oil tanker CHM Piru Singh
The Rajasthan government has named an intersection in his hometown Jhunjhunu as Shaheed Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle to honor the brave soldier.
Bronze statue of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat in his home town Jhunjhunu.
An intersection in Yol, Himachal Pradesh has been named after CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat.
Death
During the Battle of Tithwal, as Piru Singh advanced with his company under machine-gun fire, he realized that his entire company had either been killed or the soldiers were seriously injured, and now, The responsibility was on their shoulders to flush out the enemy from well-fortified bunkers. As soon as he cleared the first enemy bunker, he moved towards the second; However, a grenade from another bunker hit Piru Singh, blowing off half his face and partially blinding him. Ignoring his injuries, Piru Singh moved to another bunker and used his bayonet to neutralize two enemies as he had run out of ammunition. As he was coming out of the second trench, a bullet hit him in the head. Even though he was seriously injured and bleeding profusely, Piru Singh managed to throw a grenade into the third bunker, disabling it forever; However, by this time, Piru Singh was seriously injured, and succumbed to his injuries while trying to destroy the third bunker.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Piru Singh was good in sports. He represented his regiment and played in various inter-regimental and national level championships.
- CHM Piru Singh awarded the Rajputana Rifles Regiment its first Param Vir Chakra.
- The Indian Army celebrates Tithwal Day every year on 23 May to commemorate the liberation of the village from Pakistani occupation by Army soldiers in 1948.
- To honor the martyr’s bravery and gallant actions, a company has been named Piru Company after him by the Indian Army, at the Regimental Centre, Rajputana Rifles, Delhi.
We, the heroes of Raj Rif, jump even from death to death in the war, while doing so the land is red.
I am in Piru Company at Rajputana Rifles Centre. As I stand in front of the red stone barracks, I feel the presence of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat, the legend of PVC. #Patriot pic.twitter.com/MxaI9v7UkS
– Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@magorgauravarya) 17 October 2018
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn