Major Hoshiyar Singh Dahiya (later retired as a colonel) was an Indian Army officer who participated in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War in the western district of Shakargarh, Pakistan. Major Hoshiar Singh was awarded the prestigious Param Vir Chakra for displaying exemplary bravery in the face of the enemy, thereby becoming one of the few living soldiers to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
Wiki/Biography
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was born on Wednesday, May 5, 1937, in Sisana village, Sonipat district, Punjab (now Haryana) (died in 1998 at the age of 61 ). After completing his studies, Hoshiar Singh joined Jat College. After completing his first year at university, he decided to join the army. After completing his training, he served in the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Regiment, in June 1963.
family and caste
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was born into a Hindu Jat family in Haryana.
parents
Father
His father’s name is Chaudhry Sheela 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 class seven.
Dhano Devi, wife of late Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya during the wreath laying ceremony
children
He is survived by 3 sons. Two of them joined the army as officers and served in the Grenadier Regiment. One of the two sons joined his father’s unit, the 3rd Grenadier Regiment.
address
He lives at 42, Krishna Colony, Khati Pura Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan -302012, India
Profession
Establish a foothold in the military
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya initially joined the 2nd Battalion of the Jat Regiment as a sepoy before qualifying for the officer examination. After serving for some time as an Indian soldier, he was selected for admission to the Army Cadet College (ACC) for displaying leadership and other officer qualities. The ACC branch of the Indian Military Academy is responsible for training and transforming Indian soldiers into officers. After successfully completing training in June 1963, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Regiment.
Participated in the 1965 India-Pakistan War
Lieutenant Dahiya served in the western region of Rajasthan during the 1965 Indo-Pak war, for which his name was mentioned in several reports. In 1969, Lieutenant Dahiya was promoted to the rank of captain.
Transferred to the Western Front in 1971
Although the 1971 India-Pakistan war was mainly fought in the eastern sector of East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh), Pakistan believed that they could divert India’s attention if they opened another front along India’s western border. By focusing on the western front, the Pakistani armed forces would easily defeat the Indians in the east. But India has taken into account the threat of a two-front war with Pakistan and its armed forces are ready. As a result, Major Dahiya and his 3rd Grenadier Unit were ordered to capture Jaipal in the Shakagarh district.
Get the coveted Param Vir Chakra
Major Dahia was the company commander of Charlie Company of the 3rd Grenadier Corps. On December 15, 1971, his company was ordered to attack and capture Jaipal. The enemy had penetrated deeply into the position and fortified it, waiting for the Indian army to attack. As soon as the attack began, Charlie Company came under heavy and effective firepower, causing heavy casualties to the company. Major Dahiya advanced relentlessly towards the enemy’s machine gun positions, and in a hand-to-hand battle, he successfully overpowered the enemy and forced them to retreat.
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya (later Colonel) after receiving PVC
Pakistan’s counterattack begins
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army, supported by heavy artillery and tanks, launched three counterattacks against Indian positions. However, the attack was repelled by Indian soldiers and caused heavy casualties to the enemy. On December 17, 1971, the Pakistani army launched another massive counterattack against Indian positions with the help of artillery. Major Hoshiar Singh moved from trench to trench without any cover to organize the defense and motivate the troops to hold their positions. During the course of the operation, Major Hoshiar Singh was seriously injured but he refused to evacuate in order to be with his men on the battlefield and therefore he continued to hold his position against the larger enemy.
Rain of Fire
The Indian personnel operating the medium machine gun were injured during heavy Pakistani shelling, rendering the machine gun inoperable. Major Dahiya realized that his men were in harm’s way and despite being seriously injured, he took control of the MMG and provided effective firepower to the Indian troops, forcing the enemy to retreat. By the end of the attack, 85 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in the fighting, including the commander and three other officers.
The army itself recorded his heroic words
The official quote from the Indian Army on Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya says:
Although Major Hoshiar Singh was seriously injured in the enemy shelling, he was once again walking from trench to trench, completely disregarding his own personal safety, walking in the open area, when an enemy missile The shell landed near the MMG post, injuring the crew and disabling them. Major Hoshiar Singh realized the importance of machine gun fire and immediately rushed to the machine gun pit. He was seriously injured but still held the gun, causing heavy casualties to the enemy. Despite being seriously injured, Major Hoshiar Singh refused to evacuate until the ceasefire. Throughout the operation, Major Hoshiar Singh displayed most conspicuous gallantry, indomitable fighting spirit and leadership qualities. ”
post war career
He continued to serve in the army after the war. In 1981, Major Dahiya was sent to the Indian Military Academy as an instructor. Two years later, on 8 April 1983, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while in IMA. Later, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and commanded his unit, the 3rd Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment. In May 1988, he retired from the army.
Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC
Awards
Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was awarded India’s highest gallantry award “Param Vir Chakra” for his gallantry in the line of duty and complete disregard for personal safety.
Major (later Colonel) Hoshiar Singh Dahiya receiving the Param Vir Chakra from the then President VV Giri on Republic Day 1972
In 1972, Major (later Colonel) Hoshiyar Singh and the then Chief of Army Staff, General Sam Manekshaw
Honor
- In memory of the brave soldier, the Indian Military Academy unveiled a bust of him at the gymnasium presided over by his wife.
Mrs. Dhano Devi unveils bust of her husband at Indian Military Academy
- The famous Queen’s Road in Jaipur has been renamed Hoshiar Singh Marg in memory of the brave soldier.
Jaipur holds ceremony to rename Queen’s Road to Hoshiar Singh Marg
die
Major Hoshiyar Singh Dahiya passed away due to cardiac arrest. On December 6, 1998, he passed away.
Facts/Trivia
- After being commissioned as an officer in 1963, Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was posted to the Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA) to keep a close eye on China’s movements.
- He was a good sportsman and was even selected to represent Punjab in volleyball.
- His academic performance was very good and he even ranked first in the school in the college entrance examination.
- When he was a sepoy in the Jat Corps, his teammates on the volleyball team used to call him “Hoshiare.”
- During the Indo-Pak war in 1965, he was deployed with the troops in the Bikaner region. During his patrol, he collected very valuable intelligence about the enemy, thereby disrupting the enemy’s advance.
- As a coach at IMA, his company Sinhgarh Company has retained the overall championship six times in a row. To date, this record has not been broken.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education