Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa is an Indian Army officer who was awarded the Paramvir Medal (PVC) for his strategic actions and contributions north of Pangong Lake during the 1962 Indo-China War.
Wiki/Biography
Dhan Singh Thapa was born on Tuesday, April 10, 1928 (aged 77 at the time of his death) in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Aries. He was born in a Nepalese family in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Yang Dan Singh Thapa
appearance
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
family
parents
His father’s name is PSThapa.
Wife and children
His wife’s name is Shukla Thapa. Thapa has two daughters, Madhulika Thapa and Poornima Thapa. His daughter-in-law is Anushree Thapa. He has two daughters and one son in total.
Dhan Singh Thapa’s wife Ms. Shukla Thapa (far left) and their daughters Poornima Thapa (center) and Madhulika Monga (far right)
military service
He was commissioned as Lieutenant on 29 September 1956 and promoted to Captain on 21 February 1957. He was attached to the 8th Gurkha Rifles (1949). He took part in the Sino-Indian War in 1962. He was given responsibility for Operation Leghorn.
Thapa and his troops
Pangong Lake
Dhan Singh Thapa is known for his bravery and strategic actions against the Chinese Army during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Thapa along with 28 soldiers of D Company was responsible for the defense of Chushul Airfield (Southeastern Ladakh, famous for Pangong Lake). The 1st Battalion guards the Himalayan areas of Sirigap (a small plain in the southern part of Aksai Chin region, controlled by China but claimed by India) and Yula. An outpost of about 48 square kilometers was established to protect the Chushul Airfield. Meanwhile, the Chinese Army set up 3 outposts around the Chushul Airfield.
Dhan Singh Thapa commanding the 1st Battalion of the 8 Gurkha Rifles at Pangong Lake in Ladakh
Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Forward Policy”
When China and India declared war, then Prime Minister Nehru formulated the “Forward Policy”, which included strategic measures against China, including setting up some small outposts on the Chinese border, and Thapa was the head of one of the outposts.
Increased Chinese military activity
The 1st Battalion of the Indian Army set up 3 posts around Sirijap where the Chinese Army intensified its activities in October 1962. On October 19, 1962, China precisely deployed a large infantry force to face the Indian Army and made it clear that an attack on India was imminent. Dhan Singh Thapa anticipated the attack and directed his soldiers to dig fast and deep trenches.
attack
At 4:30 am on October 20, 1962, Chinese troops attacked Indian soldiers with heavy artillery and mortars. Major Dhan Singh Thapa and his soldiers had no artillery and mortar support from the Indian Army, so Major Dhan Singh Thapa and his soldiers could only keep firing. The two sides faced off for at least two and a half hours, and about 600 Chinese armed forces entered the Indian border. The Chinese Army continuously attacked the Indian Army with artillery fire, killing several Indian soldiers. Dhan Singh Thapa and his soldiers fired at the Chinese invaders with light machine guns (LMGs) and rifles. All communications within the post and D Company Battalion were lost, and the Chinese troops were able to get within 50 yards of the Indian post. Indian soldiers could only use small arms and grenades to prevent further damage.
Improve the morale of soldiers
Major Dhan Singh Thapa and his deputy Subedar Min Bahadur Gurung kept moving from place to place and from post to post to balance the positions and morale of the Indian soldiers against the incendiary bombs of the Chinese Army. The Gurkhas attacked with grenades and small rifles to counter the incendiary bombs of the Chinese Army. Subedar Gurung was buried under the bunker when it collapsed; however, he managed to climb out from the ruins of the collapsed bunker and killed several Chinese soldiers until he was finally killed.
Naval assistance
Major Dhan Singh Thapa was struggling with the remaining seven soldiers when the Chinese attacked them with heavy machine guns and bazookas. The Indian Navy sent two assault boats into the scene to understand the situation of Sirijap 1. The two assault boats were sent by the battalion headquarters. These assault boats attacked the Chinese troops; however, in the conflict, one boat sank and the other was severely damaged. All the prisoners on board the sunken boat died, while the other boat piloted by Naik Rabbilal Thapa escaped.
Hand-to-hand combat
Major Dhan Singh Thapa killed several Chinese soldiers in hand-to-hand combat in the deep trenches. Thapa was later arrested by Chinese military officials. The news that no one survived the Sirigap 1 was revealed to Indian officials by Naik Rabbilal Thapa.
Prisoners of War
The Chinese army captured the last three survivors of the Indian battalion as prisoners of war, and Dhan Singh Thapa was one of them. Indian military officials declared all Indian troops victims of the war. It was not until much later that Indian military officials received news that Thapa and his three soldiers were still alive and captured by the Chinese army; this news was also released by Chinese agencies through radio.
Written statement from the Gorkha Rifles on Dhan Singh Thapa
Joyful atmosphere
When Chinese military officials announced the list of prisoners of war over the radio, everyone in India was delighted and surprised to learn that Major Dhan Singh Thapa and his three soldiers were still alive. Thapa was held by the Chinese army because he killed multiple Chinese soldiers and refused to speak out against the Indian government and its army. Thapa was released by the Chinese military at the end of the Sino-Indian War in November 1962.
Param Virat Chakra
On 20 October 1962, Major Dhan Singh Thapa was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, for his heroic actions. The citation for the award is as follows:
Major Dhan Singh Thapa commanded an outpost in Ladakh. On October 20, the post came under heavy attack by Chinese troops after coming under heavy artillery and mortar bombardment. Under his heroic command, the outnumbered post repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders. After coming under heavy artillery and mortar bombardment, the enemy launched another large-scale attack. Under the leadership of Major Thapa, his men repelled this attack, also inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The Chinese troops attacked for the third time, this time with tanks supporting the infantry. The post had already suffered heavy casualties in the first two attacks. Despite being greatly reduced in numbers, it held out to the end. When it was finally overrun by the overwhelming enemy, Major Thapa stepped out of the trench and killed several enemies in hand-to-hand combat before being defeated by the Chinese soldiers. Major Thapa’s calm courage, outstanding fighting qualities and leadership are in keeping with the highest traditions of our Army. “
—Notification in the Gazette of India.
Major Dhan Singh Thapa receives the PVC from President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Bound by military oath
Major Dhan Singh Thapa was committed to duty and patriotism. Once he had to attend an urgent review of his troops. He was unwell and could not even move. But he drove the car himself to complete the review process. In fact, he ordered four soldiers to help him reach the car.
Thapa on inspection day
Dhan Singh Thapa retired from the Indian Army on April 30, 1980. After retirement, Thapa settled in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh, India). Thapa briefly served as a director of Sahara Airways (now Jet Airways (India) Limited, an Indian international airline headquartered in Mumbai, India). After retirement, he happily attended almost every event of the Indian Army. Despite suffering from kidney disease, Thapa participated in the last Republic Day parade.
die
Dan Singh Thapa died on September 5, 2005 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
heritage
- Many roads in Shillong, Assam and Nepal were built in memory of Dhan Singh Thapa and are named after him.
Road named after Dhan Singh Thapa
- In 1984, the Shipping Corporation of India (an Indian government enterprise under the Ministry of Shipping) named a cargo ship (tanker) after Thapa. The cargo ship was decommissioned after 25 years of service.
Indian Shipping Line’s tanker named after Dhan Singh Thapa
- After the death of Major Dhan Singh Thapa, his statue was built at Paramjodastal in Delhi (where busts of all 21 soldiers who have received India’s highest military honor, the ‘Param Vir Chakra’, are carved).
Main Dhan Singh Thapa statue at Param Yodha Sthal in Delhi
trivia
- He enjoys playing football, cards, board games, and watching movies.
A memorial wall at the home of Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education