Piru Singh Shekhawat was a soldier in the Indian Army who bravely fought the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was posthumously awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), for leading a large group into a strong enemy defensive position and neutralizing the threat. He was killed in action on 18 July 1948 after being shot and wounded while clearing enemy positions.
Wiki/Biography
Piru Singh Shekhawat was born on Monday, 20 May 1918.30 years old at the time of his death in 1948) in village Rampura Beri, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. As a young child he hated school as he felt severely restricted in the strict school environment. When he used to fight with one of his classmates in school as a child, he was reprimanded and scolded by his teacher, which angered young Piru Singh, who dropped out of class and never went to school again. returned. At home, he used to help his parents with farming related works. It is also said that he loved playing a local sport known as hunting and as a child he always wanted to join the army as he came from a family with a rich military history.
family and caste
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was born in a Rajasthani Rajput family.
mother-father
Father
His father, Subedar Bhana Singh Shekhawat, was also in the army and served in the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles of the British Indian Army.
Grandpa
His grandfather Naib Subedar Chhelu Singh Shekhawat was also serving in the army. He was in the 125th Napier Rifles.
Mother
Piru Singh’s mother’s name was Taravati Kanwar who is also known as Jarao Devi.
livelihood
failed initial attempt
After trying twice to join the army, he was unsuccessful as he was not yet old. In his third attempt, he finally succeeded in joining the army on 20 May 1936 at the age of 18.
Beginning of a high flying career
After successfully completing his training in 1937, he was posted to the 10th Battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment, an infantry battalion which proved his mettle in various operations, from where he was once again posted to the 5th Battalion of the 1st Punjab Regiment. transferred to the battalion. Piru Singh passed his promotional examination known as the Indian Army Class Certification of Education and as a result he was promoted to the rank of Lance Naik on 7 August 1940. He was actively involved with his regiment on the North-Western fronts. He was performing his duties so well that he was sent as an instructor to the Punjab Regimental Center in Jhelum, where he was promoted to the rank of a Naik. In 1945, he was promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major (CHM) and sent to the Eastern Front to fight the Japanese as part of a joint effort by Allied forces in the Pacific.
Transition from British Indian Army to Indian Army
In September 1947, after returning from Japan as a part of the British occupation forces, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was transferred from the Punjab Regiment to the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, where he served in India to secure Jammu and Kashmir. gave his full support to the determination of from attackers.
Preparations before the Battle of Tithawali
Piru Singh was a Company Havildar Major of the Delta Company of the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, who was transferred to the village of Tithwal in Kashmir as Pakistani invaders, consisting of regular army personnel, tribal Lashkars and the state force of the uninhabited Jammu and Kashmir. Young people were involved. captured the village. Piru Singh and his company were assigned the task of securing the village. The campaign to take back the village lasted from July 11 to July 15. Even after repeated attempts and attacks by the Indian Army to recapture some of the enemy positions, the situation was still not under Indian control. Two companies, Charlie and Delta, were assigned the task of capturing several important enemy positions to the south of the village.
attack the enemy with a bayonet
Battle of Tithwal where soldiers of 6 Rajputana Rifles can be seen charging at the enemy on a bronze mural being displayed at the National War Memorial.
On 18 July 1948, CHM Piru Singh led his Delta Company to capture enemy positions, but he and his men had to cross narrow ravines, which were overlooked by Pakistani machine gun positions. As the Indian troops advanced, they faced heavy gunfire and bombardment, resulting in the loss of 51 soldiers by the Delta Company. Sensing the danger to himself and his men, Piru Singh crossed the steep slopes and reached the enemy’s MMG bunkers, saying that their fight was “Bolo Raja Ram Chandra Ki Jai”, which means “Victory to Lord Rama.” As he moved towards the bunker, the enemy threw grenades at him and the grenade shrapnel seriously injured Piru Singh, tearing his clothes. Despite his injuries he managed to clear the enemy’s defenses one by one by using his bayonet to fight the enemy as the ammunition of his weapon was exhausted.
Award
CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, which was conferred on him on 26 January 1950. The award was presented by the President to his mother.
Taravati Kanwar, mother of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat, receiving the Param Vir Chakra from the President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on January 26, 1950.
In a letter written by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the mother of CHM Piru Singh, it is said,
He paid for his life for his prodigious bravery, but he left a unique example of unrelenting bravery and resolute courage for the rest of his comrades. The nation is grateful to you for this sacrifice made in the service of the motherland, and it is our prayer that it gives you some peace and comfort.
Respect
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) named one of its crude oil tankers as MT Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, PVC on 12 October 1984.
Record of crude oil tanker CHM Piru Singh.
The Rajasthan government has named a square in his hometown Jhunjhunu as Shaheed Piru Singh Shekhawat Circle to honor the brave soldier.
Bronze statue of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat in his home town Jhunjhunu.
A square, Piru Singh Chowk, is named after him in Yol, Himachal Pradesh.
Death
As Piru Singh advanced with his company under hail of machine gun fire, he realized that his entire company was either killed or the soldiers were seriously injured and now the well fortified bunkers on their shoulders were able to drive out the enemy. Had the responsibility of getting it out. , As he cleared the enemy’s first bunker, he moved towards the second bunker, the enemy in the second bunker threw a grenade, which hit Piru Singh, bursting half of his face leaving him partially blind. Not caring about his personal safety, CHM Piru Singh moved to the second bunker and used his bayonet to neutralize the two enemies as they ran out of ammunition. As he was exiting the other ditch, a bullet hit him in the head. Even though he was seriously injured and was bleeding profusely, CHM Piru Singh managed to hurl a grenade into the third bunker, neutralizing it for good. But by now the wounds inflicted by him had proved fatal and he breathed his last on the edge of the third bunker which was destroyed.
Facts / Trivia
- CHM Piru Singh was the fourth person in the history of independent India and one of the 5 soldiers who were awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–48.
- Piru Singh was also a good sports player. He represented his regiment and played in various inter-regimental and national level championships.
- He was attacked with 3 grenades to silence the enemy’s MMG bunkers.
- CHM Piru Singh brought his first Param Vir Chakra to the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.
- The 6th Battalion of Rajputana Rifles is also known as PVC Battalion.
- Every year on 23 May, the Indian Army celebrates Tithwal Day to commemorate the liberation of the village by army soldiers from Pakistani occupation in 1948.
- To honor the heroic and gallant actions of the martyr at the Regimental Center of Rajputana Rifles, Delhi, a company has been named after him by the Army as Piru Company.
We are the Veer of Rajrif, Kaal’s Kaal too
Ducking is difficult, so the lands are red.I am in Piru Company, Rajputana Rifles Centre. As I stand in front of the red stone barracks, I feel the presence of CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat, the legend of Param Vir Chakra. #Patriot pic.twitter.com/MxaI9v7UkS
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) October 17, 2018
