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Home , Bana Singh, Dhan Singh Thapa, Gurbachan Singh Salaria, Jadunath Singh, Joginder Singh (soldier), Karam Singh

Inside Team Room.... Page 4 SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2021 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/sunday-magazine Jammu's Daughter ....Page 3 MEDALS MILITARY MEN WEAR

Mahesh Chander Sudan Cavalry Unit and bands of three wings of the Indian CLASSIFICATION OF AWARDS Chakra is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of Military perform. Another important event during the enemy, whether on land or at sea or in the air. As We, the people of , are going to Republic Day festivities is honoring awardees/NOKs of Gallantry awards are classified into two categories i.e regards other three gallantry awards, the following cate- witness Republic Day celebration to Civil and Military Gallantry awards. Gallantry in the Face of Enemy and Gallantry other than gories of persons shall be eligible:- honor the date on which the Constitution Post-Independence, first three gallantry awards in the Face of enemy. The ParamVir Chakra, the a) Officers and men and women of all ranks of the Army, namely the ParamVir Chakra, the MahaVir Chakra and MahaVir Chakra and the fall in the first cate- the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve of India came into effect on 26 Jan 1950 theVir Chakra were instituted by gory and the Ashoka Chakra, the and the Forces, of the , Militia and of any replacing the Government of India Act on 26th January, 1950 with retro respective effect in the second category. As regards the other lawfully constituted forces. as the governing document of India and from15th Aug 1947. Thereafter, other three gallantry eligibility, all officers, men and women of all ranks of the b) Members of the Nursing Services of the Armed awards namely Ashok Chakra I, II and III were institut- Naval, Military and Air Forces, of any of the Reserve Forces. thus turning the nation into a newly ed on 4th January 1952, which were deemed to have Forces, of the Territorial Army, Militia and of any other c) Civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life and formed Republic. effect from 15 Aug 1947. These awards were renamed as lawfully constituted Armed Forces. Matrons, sisters, members of Police Forces including Central - the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Nurses and the staff of the Nursing services and other Military forces and Railway protection Forces. The main celebration is held in at Raj Chakra respectively in January 1967. These gallantry services pertaining to Hospitals and Nursing and The Ashoka Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous path before the in the form of a cere- awards are announced twice a year - first on the occasion bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of val- monious parades performed as a tribute to India; its Civilians of either sex serving regularly or temporarily of Republic Day and then on the occasion of under the orders, directions or supervisions of any of the our or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of enemy. unity in diversity and rich cultural heritage. The parade The Kirti Chakra is awarded for conspicuous gallantry Independence Day. The order of precedence of these above-mentioned Forces. showcases India's Defense capability, cultural and social awards is the ParamVir Chakra, the Ashok Chakra, otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The Shaurya heritage. The parade composed of contingents from the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS Chakra is awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the Army, Navy and Airforce along with paramilitary forces Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra. Gallantry awards face of the enemy. All these gallantry awards may be The ParamVir Chakra is awarded for most conspicu- remains the main attraction of the Republic Day celebra- are conferred to awardees/Next of Kins (NOKs) by the awarded posthumously. We, the people of India, are ous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour tions and this event lasts for three days with Beating President at the Defence Investiture ceremony held indebted to indomitable courage and bravery of these or self-sacrifice, in the presence of enemy, whether on Retreat ceremony to officially denote the end of Republic every yearin the Rashtrapati Bhawan. However, the brave hearts who undertake such gallantry acts even at land, at sea or in the Air. The MahaVirChakra is award- Day festivities. The Beating Retreat function is held at and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred the peril of their lives in most difficult and trying condi- ed for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of Vijay Chowk where the President of Indian Republic by the President to the awardees/NOKs on the occasion tions to safeguard their motherland. enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air. The Vir arrives escorted by the President Body Guards (PBGs), a of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath. The author is WgCdr (Retd) PARAM VIR CHAKRA WINNERS 1. Maj. 2. Naik 3. 2nd Lt Rama Raghoba Rane 4. Company Haviladar 5. Lance Naik HERO OF 6. Captain 7. Major 8. 9. Major 87’ Siachin Standoff 10. Lt. Col. A B Tarapore 11. Company Quartermaster Sunny Dua 's everyday misadventure, one day our 12. Lance Naik Commanding Officer (CO) convened a meeting and 13. Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon "When you conquer enemy post at a height of 21,153 decided to make a strategy to take this post back which 14. Second Lt. feet where high velocity winds blowing at 120 Kms earlier was also with India", he said. 15. Major Hoshiar Singh speed send chill through the spine and temperature went on to add that on May 29, 1987 a 16. Naib Subedar Bana Singh dips to minus 50 degrees, you don't celebrate victory patrol led by Second Lieutenant Rajeev Pande and Naib 17. Major Ramaswamy Parameswaram but put in all efforts to hold on to the post facing Subedar, Hem Raj along with 10 Jawans were 18. Captain retaliation by enemy. The real action begins at that despatched to assess enemy position. Expected fire by 19. Lt. very moment. This is what happened at Siachen enemy and type of ammunition used would have alerted 20. Grenadier Glacier in the summer of 1987" - Capt. Bana Singh. and enabled Indian troops to identify number of enemies 21. Rifleman Early life behind the Pakistan weaponry. Having trekked and CITATION Drive through the paddy fields of R S Pura and ask climbed 90 degrees slope the Indian troops had reached NB SUB BANA SINGH anyone about Bana Singh, the bystanders will guide you Amar Post only to take further orders to 'advance'. 8 JAK LI (JC-155825) to his single story and small yet well maintained home Having sensed the presence of Indian troops, Pakistanis Naib Subedar Bana Singh volunteered to be a located at the end of village Kadyal. Born in village fired on our troops and we suffered major casualties, Sansar Chand team near Qaid post. Sansar Chand, how- member of a task force constituted in June 1987 to Kadyal of R S Pura in Jammu (Jammu and Bana Singh said. ever developed chest congestion and was evacuated from clear an intrusion by an adversary in the Siachen Union Territory) on January 6, 1949, Bana Singh joined Operation Rajiv ground zero" he informed. Glacier area at an altitude of 21,000 feet. The post 8th of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was virtually an impregnable glacier fortress with ice "Revenge" was now the only word striking our brains Conquering of Qaid Post (JAK LI) of on January, 6 1969. His father walls, 1500 feet high, on both sides. Naib Subedar every day and every night. On the same night it was decid- "As directed by the CO, I and two jawans took out our was a farmer. Having undergone special training at the Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult ed that not only we will take revenge but also the Qaid shovels, dug out a ditch and slept in it for three days. An High Altitude Warfare School in and at and hazardous route. He inspired them by his post from Pakistan. After about one month a contingent attack by Pakistan left our one person seriously injured. , Bana Singh was promoted to Naib Subedar indomitable courage and leadership. The brave Naib of soldiers was readied with Major Virender Singh of 8 Reinforcement was sent and a cover fire given to us. from Havildar on 16 October 1985. Subedar and his men crawled and closed in on the JAK LI and Captain Ashok Sharma forming groups to be Finding a suitable time we launched a final offensive Siachen Standoff throwing grenades in the Pakistani bunker. The bunker adversary. Moving from trench to trench, lobbing led by Subdar Harnam Singh, Subedar Sansar Chand and hand grenades and charging with the bayonet, he Way back in 1987 when Bana Singh was posted in Naib Subedar Bana Singh and the operation was named was also locked from outside and we engaged them into fierce gun battle", Bana Singh narrated adding that an cleared the post all intruders. region, Pakistan after infiltration had occupied "Operation Rajiv" in honour of second lieutenant Rajeev Nb Subedar Bana Singh displayed the most con- one strategic post located at a height of 21,153 feet from Pandey. In all two officers, 3 JCOs and 57 soldiers officer of fell deep into the gorge while trying to flee gun fire. spicuous gallantry and leadership under the most where their soldiers used to monitor movement of totalling 62 army men along with ration and tents besides adverse conditions. Indian troops and also target them. While India was busy weaponry were air dropped by helicopters in hundreds of Bana Singh and his team including Riflemen Chuni on her northern border in Tibet, Pakistan had launched sorties at Amar and Sonam posts. Lal, Laxman Das, Om Raj and Kashmir Chand were also never ever a battle has been fought at this height. Now a major offensive dislodging Indians from their pickets Bana Singh recalls, "Having established camp on the engaged in combat with troops of Shaheen Company of that you have shown courage to capture Qaid post, from near located in the eastern Karakoram glacier in minus 50 degrees, jawans spent first night in Pakistan's elite Special Services Group who were bayo- here onwards it will be known as "Bana Top". neted outside the bunker. Bana Singh and is team had range in the Himalaya Mountains at about 35.421226°N pop tents where one Jawan Mohan Lal died of inclement A proud moment 77.109540°E on between India and successfully scaled 457 meters high impregnable glacier weather. It was on May 24 that we trekked towards Qaid "I was 36 when this task of ours was recognised by Pakistan ends and established a post near the Bilafond post but could cover just 150 meters in waist-deep snow. fortress of enemy and destroyed it. Having stayed in snow for three days without food, this was for the first Indian Army", he said. Naib Subedar Bana Singh, On 26 Pass on the Saltoro ridge. Named Quaid-e-Azam post, The weather was so hostile that we were made to return time Bana Singh his fellow soldiers including January 1988 was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan soldiers never to the base camp". This was not so heartening but since had captured Qaid post where they cooked some rice in highest wartime gallantry medal in India for his bravery missed an opportunity to mess with Indian army. 79 morale was high and aim quite clear we decided to stay during Operation Rajiv. He asserted that we are because Mountain Brigade under which 8 JAK LI, 4 Dogras and reclaimed bunker and had their meal while Indian flag put but very next day Bana Singh along with two jawans was unfurling on top of Qaid post. nation is and to defend its borders soldiers always stay 5 Guards were deployed in Siachen Glacier were asked by was made to advance towards Qaid Post. alert. Very humbly Bana Singh told that he just did his Lieutenant General Saklani that India never wants war One of Bana's teammate Om Raj was seriously injured Trained in mountain warfare, rope was tied to scale task like any soldier would do. Now that government had but if roped in to it, we need to be ready for anything. in Pakistan shelling. His had was amputated but suc- 90 degrees steep glacier and soldiers were made to honoured him he feels proud of having served nation and In an exclusive interview, Captain Bana Singh said, cumbed to his injuries. Om Raj was awarded Vir march. Commanding Officer A P Rai who also attended to his call of duty. "irate over Pakistan misadventure on April 13 1987, we Chakra posthumously. Rifleman Chuni Lal and Rifleman Nb Sub Bana Singh was promoted Subedar on were asked to take over charge from 5 Bihar and after arrived at the scene was plain-speaking and ordered, "I Om Raj who were part of final assault were awarded Sena want Qaid post". Subedar Harnam Singh, Subedar December 1, 1992, with promotion to Subedar Major on reinforcement we were deployed on different parts of Medal. Harnam Singh was awarded Mahavir Chakra. 7 October 20, 1996. He was given the honorary rank of Suresh Chand, Major and Naib Subedar Glacier. To assess the facilities, Brigadier Chandan Singh others, including Major Varinder Singh, 2nd Lt. Rajiv Captain at his retirement. Honorary Capt. Bana Singh Naugyal himself visited almost every post and even spent Bana Singh led four different teams to trek the steep gla- Pande were awarded Vir Chakra. Subedar Sansar Singh retired from service on October 31, 2000. The Jammu & one night each at Igloo type accommodations. During his cier which Pakistan believed cannot be scaled because of was awarded Mahavir Chakra MVC. Kashmir Government named a stadium at R S Pura after tour he assesse weaponry, food supplies and clothing of its gradient. Subedar Harman Singh had to return after Six bodies of Pakistani soldiers were found in con- his name which today is in most dilapidated condition. soldiers to ensure that they guard borders well and stay his troops suffered casualty. quered Qaid Post. The moment news was flashed on Despite a meagre pension by erstwhile state government, prepared to meet any eventuality. He added that weather had become so inclement that Radio; Pakistan launched a major offensive targeting the Bana Singh declined Punjab Government's lucrative One day when at the last location known as Sonam one was unable to differentiate between day and night. post with shells from heavy . The shelling offer of Rs 2,500,000, a monthly allowance of Rs 15,000 Post, Pakistan troops exchanged fire both sides suffered Subedar Sansar Chand too had reached quite close to was increased due to which we sent some troops back to and a 25-acre plot on the condition of moving to Punjab. casualties. Qaid Post was located at a much higher alti- enemy but due to snapped communication could not get reinforcement and till then five of us retained the post He however refused the offer and being son of soil tude than Indian post which was at 18,000 feet. This launch an attack. "I, Bana Singh along with two jawans firing indiscriminately on enemy while protecting our- Bana Singh's chose to settle in his home village Kadyal, R gave enemy an advantageous position from where they was rushed to check status of our team with whom we selves from shelling. Next morning, Brigadier Chandan S Pura and is doing his bit to encourage youngsters to dominated an area of almost 80 Kilometres. "Sick of had lost contact. Crawling on the snow slopes I joined Singh Naugyal reached at the post and said, "Bana Singh, join and serve Indian Army.