Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya (he later retired as a Colonel) was an officer in the Indian Army who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the Western Sector at Shakargarh, Pakistan. Major Hoshiar Singh was awarded the prestigious Param Vir Chakra for displaying exemplary bravery while facing the enemy and thus became one of the few living soldiers to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was born on Wednesday, 5 May 1937 (age 61 years; at the time of his death in 1998) in Sisana village, Sonipat district, Punjab (now in Haryana). After completing his school education, Hoshiar Singh took admission in Jat College. After completing his first year of college he decided to join the army. After completion of training, he was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment in June 1963.
family and caste
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya belonged to a Hindu Jat family of Haryana.
Guardian
Father
His father’s name was Chaudhary Heera Singh.
Mother
His mother’s name was Mathuri Devi.
wife and children
Wife
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya got married to Dhano Devi at a very young age. When he got married he was in 7th class.
Dhano Devi, wife of late Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya during the floral tribute ceremony.
Children
His 3 sons are alive. 2 of whom joined the army as officers and were appointed to the Grenadier Regiment. One of the two sons joined his father’s unit, the 3rd Grenadiers.
Address
He lived at 42, Krishna Colony, Khati Pura Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302012, India
livelihood
establish a foothold in the army
Before passing the officer’s examination, Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya initially joined the 2nd Battalion of the Jat Regiment as a soldier. After serving for some time as a soldier, he was selected for the Army Cadet College (ACC) by demonstrating leadership and other officer-like qualities. The ACC branch of the Indian Military Academy is responsible for training conscripts and transforming them into army officers. After successfully completing his training in June 1963, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment.
Participation in the India-Pakistan war of 1965
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Lieutenant Dahiya was engaged in operations in the western sector of Rajasthan, for which his name was mentioned in several despatches. In 1969, Lieutenant Dahiya was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Went to western front in 1971
Even though the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was being fought primarily in the eastern region of East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh), Pakistan thought that if they could open another front on India’s western border, So they will be able to divert India’s attention. Focusing on the western front would give the Pakistan Armed Forces an easy victory over the Indians in the east. But India had already kept in mind the threat of a 2 front war with Pakistan and the armed forces were ready. As a result Major Dahiya with his unit 3 Grenadiers was assigned the task of capturing Jarpal in Shakargarh sector.
Earning the prestigious Paramvir Chakra
Major Dahiya was the company commander of Charlie Company of the Third Grenadiers. On 15 December 1971, his company was tasked to attack and capture Jarpal. The enemies had penetrated deep and had strengthened their positions as they expected an attack from the Indian Army. As the attack began, Charlie Company came under heavy and effective fire, causing heavy losses to the company. Major Dahiya continuously advanced towards the enemy machine-gun positions and in hand-to-hand combat he successfully killed the enemy, forcing them to retreat.
Major (later Colonel) Hoshiar Singh Dahiya after receiving PVC
Pakistan’s counter attack begins
On 16 December 1971, the Pakistani Army retaliated three times on Indian positions with the help of its heavy artillery and tanks. But Indian soldiers foiled this attack and caused heavy losses to the enemy. On 17 December 1971, another major counter-attack was launched by the Pakistani Army on Indian positions with the help of artillery. Major Hoshiar Singh continued to organize the defense from one trench to another without any cover and kept motivating the soldiers to hold their ground. During the action, Major Hoshiar Singh was seriously wounded, but he refused to leave to remain on the battlefield among his men and so he held his position against a much larger enemy.
it’s raining fire
During heavy Pakistani artillery fire, the Indian crew manning the medium machine gun was injured, rendering the gun inoperable. Sensing the losses his troops were suffering, Major Dahiya, though himself seriously wounded, took control of the MMG and provided effective fire to the Indian troops, forcing the enemy to retreat. By the end of the attack, Pakistan had lost 85 men in the battle, including its commanding officer and 3 other officers.
Words of his bravery, as written by the army itself
The official citation of Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya by the Indian Army states,
Despite being seriously injured by enemy fire, Major Hoshiar Singh again moved from trench to trench, roaming in the open without regard for his personal safety, when an enemy shell fell near the MMG post, Due to which the crew got injured and became disabled. Major Hoshiar Singh realized the importance of machine-gun fire, immediately ran towards the machine gun pit and, although seriously wounded himself, manned the gun, causing heavy losses to the enemy. Despite being seriously injured, Major Hoshiar Singh refused to move out until the ceasefire. Throughout this operation, Major Hoshiar Singh displayed most conspicuous gallantry, indomitable fighting spirit and leadership.
Postwar career
Even after the war he continued to serve in the army. In 1981, Major Dahiya was posted to the Indian Military Academy as an instructor. Two years later on 8 April 1983, while still at IMA, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Later, he was promoted to the rank of colonel, after which he took command of his unit, the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment. He retired from the army in May 1988.
Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC
award
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, for his gallant actions in the line of duty and complete disregard for personal safety.
Major (later Colonel) Hoshiar Singh Dahiya received the Param Vir Chakra by the then President VV Giri on Republic Day, 1972
Major (later Colonel) Hoshiar Singh with the then Army Chief General Sam Manekshaw in 1972
Respect
- The Indian Military Academy honored the brave soldier by unveiling his statue in the gymnasium, which was inaugurated by his wife.
Mrs. Dhano Devi unveiling the statue of her husband at the Indian Military Academy
- Jaipur’s famous Queens Road was renamed as Hoshiar Singh Marg in honor of the brave soldier.
Ceremony to rename Queens Road as Hoshiar Singh Marg in Jaipur
Death
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya died of a heart attack. He breathed his last on 6 December 1998.
Facts/General Knowledge
- After commissioning as an officer in 1963, Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was posted to the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) to monitor Chinese movement.
- He was a good sportsman and was also selected to represent the state of Punjab in volleyball.
- He was very good in studies and even stood first in the entire school during the matriculation examination.
- When he was in the Jat Regiment as a soldier, his volleyball teammates often called him “Hosyaare”.
- During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, he was deployed with his unit in Bikaner sector, where during patrolling he collected very valuable information about the enemy, which destroyed the enemy’s progress.
- As a trainer in IMA, his company Sinhgarh Company remained overall champion for 6 consecutive times. This record has not been broken till date.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn