Lieutenant General Hanut Singh was an officer in the Indian Army who led the 17th Cavalry Regiment (also known as the Poona Horse Regiment) and played a crucial role in the Battle of Basantal during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Wiki/Biography
Hanut Singh was born on Thursday, July 6, 1933 (81 years at the time of his death) in Jasore, Rajasthan. His star sign is Cancer. He completed his schooling from Colonel Brown Cambridge School, Dehradun and joined the Indian Army in December 1952 after completing his training at the Indian Military Academy, Joint Services Wing (JSW).
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 10″
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Gray
Family and caste
Hanut Singh was born into a Rathore Rajput (Kshatriya) family. His father was Lieutenant Colonel Arjun Singh. He served in the Jodhpur Lancers and later commanded the Kachharwa Cavalry.
Military career
On 28 December 1952, Hanut chose to join the Armoured Corps and was commissioned with the 17th Cavalry Regiment (also known as the Pune Cavalry Regiment). In 1958, Hanut was commissioned as a Captain in the unit and was sent to England to attend a course on the Centurion tank. Later, in 1959, he was appointed as an Instructor of Gunnery at the Armoured Corps School. Hanut Singh was appointed as the Brigadier General of the 66th Infantry Brigade and he did not participate in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. In 1966, Hanut joined the Pune Cavalry Regiment and led his unit in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. His regiment crossed the Basantar River and fought against the enemy forces to capture key points on the river bank. In 1983, Hanut was promoted to Major General of the Indian Army. Subsequently, he was commissioned as Lieutenant General of the Indian Army in December 1985. Hanut Singh retired from the Indian Army on July 31, 1991.
Hanut Singh (center) and his comrades address soldiers in Sikkim
Mahavira Chakra
Before the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, Hanut Singh was transferred back to his unit, the “Punamar” Regiment. During the war, he led his troops across the Basantal River, whose riverbed was full of mines. He led his troops to meet the attack of Pakistani soldiers and destroyed their tanks with minimal casualties. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery. The official document commending him is as follows:
Lt. Col. Hanut Singh commanded the 17th Cavalry Regiment in the Shakargarh sector on the Western Front. On 16 December 1971, his regiment was incorporated into the Basantal River bridgehead and took up positions ahead of the infantry. On 16 and 17 December, the enemy launched multiple armoured attacks. Lt. Col. Hanut Singh moved from one threatened area to another despite enemy medium artillery and tank fire with complete disregard for his own safety. His presence and calm courage inspired his men to remain steadfast and perform commendable acts of bravery.
Hanut Singh receives Maha Vir Chakra award from Indian President Vigiri
die
Lt. Gen. Hanut Singh was known as the “holy soldier” because he spent a lot of time reading spiritual books and meditating. He retired in 1991 and moved to Dehradun, where he spent his life meditating and reading. He was a follower of Shiva Bala Yogi’s thought. On April 11, 2015, Hanut Singh entered the “final samadhi” during meditation and died.
Obituary of Lieutenant General Hanut Singh
Facts/Trivia
- Lt. Gen. Hanut Singh was also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva for his service in the Indian Army.
- After the war in 1971, Lieutenant General Hanut Singh’s bravery was appreciated by the Pakistani soldiers. The soldiers awarded him the title of “Fakhr-e-Hind”.
- Hanut Singh had a great influence on his colleagues who started imitating his way of speaking, gestures and even mannerisms. This earned him the nickname “Gurudev” among his colleagues. His other nickname was Henny.
Hanut Singh (centre) with other soldiers of the Poona Horse Regiment
- Hanut Singh remained unmarried throughout his life because he believed that married officers would have to take care of their families and not be able to devote themselves to their profession. He encouraged his colleagues to follow the same philosophy, which is why there are quite a few senior single officers in the Poona Horse Corps.
- In his free time, Hanut Singh often reads spiritual literature, books and biographies of great men. He is an ardent follower of Godman Shiva Bala Yogi.
Hanut Singh and Shiva Bala Yogi
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education