Karam Singh - Revision history

Chief Editor at 06:45, 13 January 2026

2026-01-13T06:45:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:45, 13 January 2026
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	{{Heading1\|title=सूबेदार और मानद कैप्टन ~~श्री~~ करम सिंह, पीवीसी (बलिदानोपरांत)}}Subedar and Honorary Captain '''Karam Singh''', PVC, MM (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993) was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest award for gallantry.		{{Heading1\|title=सूबेदार और मानद कैप्टन करम सिंह, पीवीसी (बलिदानोपरांत)}}Subedar and Honorary Captain '''Karam Singh''', PVC, MM (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993) was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest award for gallantry.
	{{Template1\|image=karam-singh-photo.jpg\|name=Lance Naik ~~Shri~~ Karam Singh\|title1=HONY CAPTAIN {{!}} PVC (Posthumous)\|title2=Punjab, Bharatvarsh\|Service No=22356\|Date of Birth=15 September 1915\|Place of birth=Sehna, Barnala, Punjab, Bharatvarsh\|Service=Indian Army\|image2=Indian Army.png\|Last Rank=Subedar {{!}} Honorary Captain\|Unit=1st Battalion (1 Sikh)\|Martyrdom=20 January 1993 (aged 77) {{!}} Sehna, Barnala, Punjab, India}}		{{Template1\|image=karam-singh-photo.jpg\|name=Lance Naik Karam Singh\|title1=HONY CAPTAIN {{!}} PVC (Posthumous)\|title2=Punjab, Bharatvarsh\|Service No=22356\|Date of Birth=15 September 1915\|Place of birth=Sehna, Barnala, Punjab, Bharatvarsh\|Service=Indian Army\|image2=Indian Army.png\|Last Rank=Subedar {{!}} Honorary Captain\|Unit=1st Battalion (1 Sikh)\|Martyrdom=20 January 1993 (aged 77) {{!}} Sehna, Barnala, Punjab, India}}
	[[File:Param Vir Chakra.png\|left\|frameless\|233x233px]]		[[File:Param Vir Chakra.png\|left\|frameless\|233x233px]]
	Singh joined the army in 1941, and took part in the Burma Campaign of World War II, receiving the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of the Admin Box in 1944. He also fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, and was awarded the PVC for his role in saving a forward post at Richhmar Gali, south of Tithwal. He was also one of the five soldiers chosen to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947. Singh later rose to the rank of subedar, and was conferred the rank of honorary captain before his retirement in September 1969.		Singh joined the army in 1941, and took part in the Burma Campaign of World War II, receiving the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of the Admin Box in 1944. He also fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, and was awarded the PVC for his role in saving a forward post at Richhmar Gali, south of Tithwal. He was also one of the five soldiers chosen to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947. Singh later rose to the rank of subedar, and was conferred the rank of honorary captain before his retirement in September 1969.
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	[[Category:Indian Army]]		[[Category:Indian Army]]
	[[Category:Param Vir Chakra]]		[[Category:Param Vir Chakra]]
			[[Category:1 Sikh]]
			[[Category:Punjab]]

Chief Editor at 16:22, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T16:22:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:22, 29 December 2025
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	राष्ट्रीय युद्ध स्मारक सहित विभिन्न सैन्य स्मृति स्थलों पर उनका सम्मान आने वाली पीढ़ियों को राष्ट्रसेवा के लिए प्रेरित करता रहेगा।		राष्ट्रीय युद्ध स्मारक सहित विभिन्न सैन्य स्मृति स्थलों पर उनका सम्मान आने वाली पीढ़ियों को राष्ट्रसेवा के लिए प्रेरित करता रहेगा।
			[[Category:Indian Army]]
			[[Category:Param Vir Chakra]]

Chief Editor at 08:25, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T08:25:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 29 December 2025
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	On 23 May 1948, the Indian Army captured Tithwal from Pakistan troops, but the Pakistanis quickly launched a counter-attack to recapture the area. The Indian troops, unable to withstand the attack, withdrew from their positions to the Tithwal ridge, preparing to regain their positions at the right moment.		On 23 May 1948, the Indian Army captured Tithwal from Pakistan troops, but the Pakistanis quickly launched a counter-attack to recapture the area. The Indian troops, unable to withstand the attack, withdrew from their positions to the Tithwal ridge, preparing to regain their positions at the right moment.
			[[File:Karam Singh 2000 stamp of India.jpg\|thumb\|Singh 2000 on a stamp of Bharat]]
	As the battle at Tithwal continued for months, the Pakistanis grew desperate and launched a massive attack on 13 October, hoping to drive the Indians from their positions. Their primary objective was to capture the Richhmar Gali, located south of Tithwal, and the Nastachur Pass, east of Tithwal. During the fierce battle on the night of 13 October at Richhmar Gali, Lance Naik Singh was commanding a 1 SIKH forward post.		As the battle at Tithwal continued for months, the Pakistanis grew desperate and launched a massive attack on 13 October, hoping to drive the Indians from their positions. Their primary objective was to capture the Richhmar Gali, located south of Tithwal, and the Nastachur Pass, east of Tithwal. During the fierce battle on the night of 13 October at Richhmar Gali, Lance Naik Singh was commanding a 1 SIKH forward post.

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	=== Other honours ===		=== Other honours ===
	In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honour of the PVC recipients. The tanker MT ''Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC'' was delivered to SCI on 30 July 1984, and served for 25 years before being phased out. The government also built a memorial in his honour at the District Administrative Complex in Sangrur.		In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honour of the PVC recipients. The tanker MT ''Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC'' was delivered to SCI on 30 July 1984, and served for 25 years before being phased out. The government also built a memorial in his honour at the District Administrative Complex in Sangrur.
			[[File:162497331738LNk-Karam-Singh.jpg\|center\|thumb\|950x950px\|Singh's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', National War Memorial, New Delhi]]

	== '''श्री करम सिंह''', PVC ==		== '''श्री करम सिंह''', PVC ==

Chief Editor at 08:24, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T08:24:50Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Heading1|title=सूबेदार और मानद कैप्टन श्री करम सिंह, पीवीसी (बलिदानोपरांत)}}
+{{Heading1|title=सूबेदार और मानद कैप्टन श्री करम सिंह, पीवीसी (बलिदानोपरांत)}}Subedar and Honorary Captain '''Karam Singh''', PVC, MM (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993) was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest award for gallantry.
-Subedar and Honorary Captain '''Karam Singh''', PVC, MM (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993) was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest award for gallantry. Singh joined the army in 1941, and took part in the Burma Campaign of World War II, receiving the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of the Admin Box in 1944. He also fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, and was awarded the PVC for his role in saving a forward post at Richhmar Gali, south of Tithwal. He was also one of the five soldiers chosen to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947. Singh later rose to the rank of subedar, and was conferred the rank of honorary captain before his retirement in September 1969.
+=== Early life ===
 Karam Singh was born on 15 September 1915 in the village of Sehna, Barnala district, in Punjab, British India in a Jatt Sikh family. His father, Uttam Singh, was a farmer. Singh also intended to become a farmer, but he decided to join the army after being inspired by the stories of First World War veterans from his village. After completing his primary schooling in his village, in 1941, he joined the Army.
-== Military career ==
+=== Military career ===
 On 15 September 1941, he enrolled in the 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment. For his conduct and courage in the Battle of the Admin Box during the Burma Campaign of World War II, he was awarded the Military Medal. As a young, war-decorated sepoy, he earned respect from fellow soldiers in his battalion. He was one of the five soldiers selected by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947.
@@ Line 25: / Line 26: @@
 On 10 January 1957, now a ''havildar'' (sergeant), Singh was promoted to the junior commissioned officer (JCO) rank of ''jemadar'' (later redesignated ''naib subedar'') with the service number of JC-6415. He was promoted to ''subedar'' on 1 March 1964, and was later promoted to ''subedar-major''. On 26 January 1969, he received an honorary commission in the rank of captain. Singh retired in September 1969. He was one of the five soldiers selected by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947.
-== Later life ==
+=== Later life ===
 Singh died on 20 January 1993 in his village, and was survived by his wife, Gurdial Kaur, and children.
-== Other honours ==
+=== Other honours ===
 In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honour of the PVC recipients. The tanker MT ''Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC'' was delivered to SCI on 30 July 1984, and served for 25 years before being phased out. The government also built a memorial in his honour at the District Administrative Complex in Sangrur.

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{{Heading1|title=सूबेदार और मानद कैप्टन श्री करम सिंह, पीवीसी (बलिदानोपरांत)}}

Subedar and Honorary Captain '''Karam Singh''', PVC, MM (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993) was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest award for gallantry. Singh joined the army in 1941, and took part in the Burma Campaign of World War II, receiving the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of the Admin Box in 1944. He also fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, and was awarded the PVC for his role in saving a forward post at Richhmar Gali, south of Tithwal. He was also one of the five soldiers chosen to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947. Singh later rose to the rank of subedar, and was conferred the rank of honorary captain before his retirement in September 1969.

== Early life ==
Karam Singh was born on 15 September 1915 in the village of Sehna, Barnala district, in Punjab, British India in a Jatt Sikh family. His father, Uttam Singh, was a farmer. Singh also intended to become a farmer, but he decided to join the army after being inspired by the stories of First World War veterans from his village. After completing his primary schooling in his village, in 1941, he joined the Army.

== Military career ==
On 15 September 1941, he enrolled in the 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment. For his conduct and courage in the Battle of the Admin Box during the Burma Campaign of World War II, he was awarded the Military Medal. As a young, war-decorated sepoy, he earned respect from fellow soldiers in his battalion. He was one of the five soldiers selected by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947.

=== War of 1947 ===
In the aftermath of the independence of India in 1947, India and Pakistan fought over the princely state of Kashmir for a brief period. During the initial stages of the conflict, Pakistan's Pashtun tribal militias crossed the border of the state, occupying several villages, including Tithwal. That village, being on the Line of Control in the Kupwara Sector, was a strategically important point for India.

On 23 May 1948, the Indian Army captured Tithwal from Pakistan troops, but the Pakistanis quickly launched a counter-attack to recapture the area. The Indian troops, unable to withstand the attack, withdrew from their positions to the Tithwal ridge, preparing to regain their positions at the right moment.

As the battle at Tithwal continued for months, the Pakistanis grew desperate and launched a massive attack on 13 October, hoping to drive the Indians from their positions. Their primary objective was to capture the Richhmar Gali, located south of Tithwal, and the Nastachur Pass, east of Tithwal. During the fierce battle on the night of 13 October at Richhmar Gali, Lance Naik Singh was commanding a 1 SIKH forward post.

Although outnumbered ten-to-one by the Pakistani troops, the Sikhs repelled their attacks multiple times. With their ammunition running out, Singh ordered his men to join the main company, knowing that reinforcement was impossible under Pakistani shelling. With the help of another soldier, he brought two injured men along, though he himself was wounded. Under the heavy Pakistani fire, Singh moved from position to position, boosting the morale of his men and intermittently throwing grenades. Despite being wounded twice on both the hands, he refused evacuation and continued to hold the first line of trenches.

During the fifth wave of attacks, two Pakistani soldiers closed on Singh's position; Singh jumped out of his trench and killed them with his bayonet. Singh and his men then successfully repelled three more enemy attacks before the Pakistani troops finally retreated, unable to capture their position.

=== Param Vir Chakra ===
On 21 June 1950, Singh's award of the Param Vir Chakra was gazetted. The citation read:<blockquote>Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was captured on 23 May 1948. After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal. On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Eid al-Adha, the enemy decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali. The enemy commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars. The fire was so accurate that not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed. Communication trenches caved in. Bravely, Lance Naik Karam Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urging the men to fight. The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day. In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality. Immediately, Lance Naik Karam Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter which accounted for many enemy dead, having been dispatched by the bayonet. Lance Naik Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis. Nothing could subdue him and no amount of fire or hardship could break his spirit.</blockquote>— Gazette Notification: 2 Pres/50, 21.6.50,

On 10 January 1957, now a ''havildar'' (sergeant), Singh was promoted to the junior commissioned officer (JCO) rank of ''jemadar'' (later redesignated ''naib subedar'') with the service number of JC-6415. He was promoted to ''subedar'' on 1 March 1964, and was later promoted to ''subedar-major''. On 26 January 1969, he received an honorary commission in the rank of captain. Singh retired in September 1969. He was one of the five soldiers selected by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to raise the Indian flag for the first time after independence in 1947.

== Later life ==
Singh died on 20 January 1993 in his village, and was survived by his wife, Gurdial Kaur, and children.

== Other honours ==
In the 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honour of the PVC recipients. The tanker MT ''Lance Naik Karam Singh, PVC'' was delivered to SCI on 30 July 1984, and served for 25 years before being phased out. The government also built a memorial in his honour at the District Administrative Complex in Sangrur.