Piru Singh Shekhawat was an Indian Army soldier who fought heroically in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir during the 1947 Indo-Pak war. CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest gallantry award, for single-handedly overcoming a large group of enemy fortified positions and neutralizing the threat. On July 18, 1948, he was shot and wounded while clearing enemy positions and was killed in action.
Wiki/Biography
Piru Singh Shekhawat was born on Monday, May 20, 1918, in Rampura Beri village, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan (30 years old at the time of death). Piru Singh hated school because he felt severely restricted in its strict environment. Once, he had an argument with a classmate at school and was reprimanded and scolded by the teacher. This angered the young Piru Singh and he stomped out of the classroom and never returned to school. At home, he often helped his parents with farm work. He is also said to enjoy participating in a local sport called Shikar. He has wanted to join the military since he was a child, as he comes from a family with a rich military history.
family and caste
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat belongs to a Rajasthani Rajput family.
Parents and siblings
His father, Subedar Bhana Singh Shekhawat, was also in the army and served with the 4th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles, British Indian Army. Piru Singh’s mother’s name was Talavati Kanwar Talavati Kanwar, who was also known as Jarrav Devi. His grandfather Naib Subedar Chhelu Singh Shekhawat also served in the army. He served with the 125th Napier Rifles.
Profession
early failed attempts
Piru Singh’s two attempts to join the army ended in failure. Finally, on his third try, he successfully joined the army on May 20, 1936, at the age of 18.
early career
After completing his training in 1937, he was posted to the 10th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment, an infantry battalion that had proven its capabilities in different campaigns, from where he was again transferred to the 5th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment. Piru Singh passed the promotion examination known as the Indian Army Grade Education Certification before being promoted to the rank of Lance Naik on August 7, 1940. He took an active part in regimental activities on the North-Western Front. He performed his duties so well that he was posted as an instructor at the Punjab Regimental Center in Jhelum, where he was promoted to the rank of Naik. In 1945, he was promoted to the rank of Major Havildar (CHM) and was sent to the Eastern Front to fight with the Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II against the Japanese.
Transition from British Indian Army to Indian Army
In September 1947, after returning from Japan as part of the British Occupation Force, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was transferred from the Punjab Regiment to the 6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles, where he He fully supported India’s determination to defend Jammu and Kashmir from the aggressors.
Preparations before the Battle of Tiswar
Piru Singh was Major Havedar of the Delta Company of the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, which was moved to the village of Tishwar in Kashmir with the arrival of the Pakistani invaders and was manned by the regular army personnel, tribal militants and fleeing Jammu and Kashmir National Forces personnel, captured the village. Piru Singh and his company were tasked with defending the village. The battle to retake the village from the Pakistani invaders began on July 11, 1948 and lasted until July 15, 1948. Even though the Indian Army has made repeated attempts and strikes to recapture certain enemy positions, these positions are still not under India’s control. Two companies, Charlie Company and Delta Company, were tasked with capturing several important enemy positions south of the village.
Charge the enemy with a bayonet
The Battle of Tishwar on the bronze mural on display at the National War Memorial, where soldiers with 6 Rajputana Rifles can be seen charging the enemy
CHM Piru Singh led his Delta Company to capture the enemy position on July 18, 1948, but Piru Singh and his men had to cross a narrow mountain pass , and the passage was ignored by Pakistani machine gun emplacements. The Indian troops encountered heavy fire and bombing during their advance, resulting in the loss of 51 soldiers of Delta Company. Realizing the danger, Piru Singh climbed up the steep slope to reach the enemy’s MMG bunker while shouting the battle cry of “Bolo Raja Ram Chandra Ki Jai” (meaning “Long Live Lord Rama”). As he advanced towards the bunker, the enemy threw a grenade at him. The shrapnel from the grenade seriously injured Piru Singh and tore off his clothes. Although he was wounded, with his weapon and ammunition exhausted, he used his bayonet to clear the enemy’s defenses one by one in close combat.
Award – Param Vir Chakra
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, on January 26, 1950. The award was presented to his mother by the President.
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat’s mother Tarawati Kanwar received the PVC from the President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad on January 26, 1950
A small part of the letter written by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the mother of CHM Piru Singh reads as follows:
He paid the price with his life for his unique act of bravery, but he left to his fellow comrades a unique example of single-handed bravery and determined cold courage. The entire nation is grateful for the sacrifices made in service to our country, and we pray that this brings you some peace and comfort. ”
Honor/Legacy
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) named one of its crude oil tankers MT Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC, after Piru Singh on 12 October 1984.
CHM Piru Singh Crude Oil Tanker Records
The Rajasthan government has named a roundabout in his hometown Jhunjhunu as Shahid Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle in memory of the brave soldier.
Bronze statue of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat in his hometown Jhunjhunu
In Yol, Himachal Pradesh, a crossroad is named after CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat.
die
During the Battle of Tiswar, as Piru Singh led his company forward under machine gun fire, he realized that his entire company was either killed or his troops were seriously wounded, and now the responsibility fell on him. on the shoulders. Clear enemies from fortified cover. As he cleared the first enemy bunker, he moved towards the second bunker; however, a grenade from the second bunker hit Piru Singh, blowing off half of his face and causing He is partially blind. Regardless of his injuries, Piru Singh moved to the second bunker and killed two enemies with his bayonet when his ammunition was exhausted. As he emerged from the second trench, a bullet struck him in the head. Although Piru Singh was seriously injured and bleeding profusely, he managed to throw a grenade into the third bunker, permanently destroying it; however, by this time, Piru Singh was already seriously injured and Died of his injuries while trying to destroy the third bunker.
Facts/Trivia
- Piru Singh is good at sports. He represented his regiment in various inter-regional and national level tournaments.
- CHM Piru Singh gave the Rajputana Rifles their first Param Vir Chakra.
- Tithwal Day is celebrated every year on May 23 by the Indian Army to commemorate the liberation of the village from Pakistani occupation in 1948 by army soldiers.
- At the Rajputana Rifles Center in Delhi, the Indian Army named a company “Piru Company” after him to commemorate the heroic deeds of this martyr.
References
I am in Piru Company at Rajputana Rifle Centre. As I stood in front of the Red Stone Army Camp, I felt the presence of the legend of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat (PVC). #patriot pic.twitter.com/MxaI9v7UkS
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) October 17, 2018
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education