Armed Forces Heroes

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the members of the Indian Armed Forces who died in the 1962 war with China. The complete list of the Indian Army personnel who died in the 1962 war is available here (under creation).

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs.There is no pre-set format. Could include photos, scan, poems, whatever, all Indian languages OK. There will be a separate page for each person. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for Gulab Bhojwani

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Name: Gulab Chimandas Bhojwani
Service: Indian Army
Unit/Corps: Army Ordnance Corps
Rank: 2/Lt
Service No: 13813
Born: dd Month 19yy
Commissioned: dd Month 19yy
Recorded date of death: 21 November 1962

Contributions from family

Air Marshal Subhash Bhojwani - IAF (Retd) writes

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the crew members of the INS Khukri. On 9 December 1971, the INS Khukri sank after it was torpedoed by a Pakistani submarine. The names of the 176 sailors and 18 officers who died are vailable here The Martyrs of INS Khukhri 1971\; there were 67 survivors.

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs. There will be a separate page for each person of the 194 INS Khukri martyrs. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for Gur Iqbal Singh Sidhu.

Adult photo(s)

awaited

Name: Gur Iqbal Singh Sidhu
Service: Indian Navy
Unit/Corps:
Rank:  Sub Lieutenant
Service No: 
Born: dd Month 19yy 
Commissioned: dd Month 19yy
Recorded date of death: 09 December 1971

Contributions from family

Awaited

Contributions from friends and colleagues

Awaited

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the crew members of the INS Khukri, a submarine. On 9 December 1971, the INS Khukri sank after it was torpedoed by a Pakistani submarine. The names of the 176 sailors and 18 officers who died are vailable here The Martyrs of INS Khukri 1971\; there were 67 survivors.

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs. There will be a separate page for each person of the 194 INS Khukri martyrs. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for G P Singh

G P Singh 19xx

Name: G P Singh
Service: Indian Navy
Unit/Corps:
Rank: ERA IV
Service No: 052876
Born: dd Month 19yy
Commissioned: dd Month 19yy
Recorded date of death: 09 December 1971

Contributions from family

Awaited

Contributions from friends and colleagues

Awaited

Editor's note: Colonel Rajawat, who lives in Jaipur, is one of the strong and silent men of the Indian Army. This story has been compiled by Subhash Mathur, who lives in Jaipur. We welcome additional materials about Colonel Rajawat - pre-Army, in-Army, and post-Army times - from relatives, friends, colleagues and other people who know him. We also welcome similar materials - for separate stories - about other heroes and martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces, provided the time of the event was at least 30 years ago. Our contact is indiaofthepast@gmail.com

Name: Nawal Singh Rajawat
Service: Indian Army Infantry
Unit/Corps: Rajput Regiment
Final Rank: Colonel
Date of Award: 05 December 1971
Born: 07 November 1946

Nawal Singh Rajawat was commissioned in 1967 from Indian Military Academy into 17th battalion, the Rajput Regiment. While at the Academy he was awarded the Rajputana Rifles Gold Medal for tactical ability leadership and initiative

After commissioning, Nawal saw his first operational service in the Mizo hills in encounters against the insurgents.

Naval Singh Rajawat is a true warrior in the highest traditions and spirits of a "RAJPUT" soldier. He exhibited extreme bravery in leading the  men of his  Commando Company during the capture of 7r in Dera Baba Nanak [Punjab] enclave on 5 December 1971 during the Indo-Pak war.

Editor's note: The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

We welcome additional materials about Major Sharma - pre-Army, in-Army - from relatives, friends, colleagues and other people who have relevant materials.

We also welcome similar materials - for separate stories - about other heroes and martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces, provided the time of the event was at least 30 years ago. Our contact is indiaofthepast@gmail.com

This section is adapted mainly from the official Indian Army account and the Better India "India's largest positive news platform"(with permission). It also uses a limited amount of information, on a fair-use basis, from Claude Arpi's blog (no response from him)

ajor Somnath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 at Dadh in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.  His father, Amar Nath Sharma, was a Major General in the Indian Army who later became the first director general of India's Armed Medical Services.

As a young boy, he spent time with his maternal grandfather Pandit Daulat Ram in Srinagar. His favourite pastime was listening to his grandfather's on the Bhagavad Gita. This influence of Krishna's teachings to Arjun were to remain with him forever.

Editor's note: The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

We welcome additional materials about Naik Jadunath Singh - pre-Army, in-Army - from relatives, friends, colleagues and other people who have relevant materials.

We also welcome similar materials - for separate stories - about other heroes and martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces, provided the time of the event was at least 30 years ago. Our contact is indiaofthepast@gmail.com.

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Naik Jadunath Singh

In the 1980s, Doordarshan commissioned Chetan Anand, a well-known film director, to produce TV episodes (in Hindi) on Param Vir Chakra awardees. The episode on Naik Jadunath Singh is available here.

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This section is adapted from the official Indian Army account and Wikipedia.

Naik Jadunath Singh, a Rathore Rajput, was born on 21 November 1916 in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Birbal Singh Rathore, a farmer, and Jamuna Kanwar. He was the third of eight children.

The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy.

We welcome additional materials about Major Rama Raghoba Rane - pre-Army, in-Army, post-Army - from relatives, friends, colleagues and other people who have relevant materials./p&gt\;

In the 1980s, Doordarshan commissioned Chetan Anand, a well-known film director, to produce TV episodes (in Hindi) on Param Vir Chakra awardees. The episode on Major Rane is available here.

We also welcome similar materials - for separate stories - about other heroes and martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces, provided the time of the event was at least 30 years ago. Our contact is indiaofthepast@gmail.com

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This section is adapted mainly from the official Indian Army account,  Bhavin Dabhi's blog, Wikipedia, and Rachna Bisht Rawat's blog

Major Rama Raghoba Rane

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the crew members of the INS Khukri. On 9 December 1971, the INS Khukri sank after it was torpedoed by a Pakistani submarine. The names of the 176 sailors and 18 officers who died are recorded below\; there were 67 survivors.

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs. There will be a separate page for each person of the 194 INS Khukri martyrs. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for Rameshwar Dayal.

So far, we have not received any information about him.

Editor's note: This is an effort to remember the crew members of the INS Khukri. On 9 December 1971, the INS Khukri sank after it was torpedoed by a Pakistani submarine. 176 sailors and 18 officers died\; there were 67 survivors.

We invite their family members, friends, colleagues and others who knew them to send us their recollections about the martyrs. There will be a separate page for each person of the 194 INS Khukri martyrs. Please send all materials to indiaofthepast@gmail.com. This is an ongoing effort, and information will be added as it becomes available to us.

This page is for S B Shinde

So far, we have not received any information about him.