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{{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.
{{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}}
[[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.


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 ===
 
== 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.
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.
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.


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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.
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.
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.
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.
== '''श्री करम सिंह''', PVC ==
'''(तत्कालीन लांस नायक, बाद में सूबेदार एवं मानद कप्तान)'''
'''1 सिख रेजिमेंट | भारतीय सेना'''
लांस नायक '''श्री करम सिंह''' भारतीय सेना के उन अमर वीरों में से हैं, जिनकी वीरता ने 1947–48 के भारत–पाक युद्ध में जम्मू–कश्मीर की रक्षा को नई दृढ़ता प्रदान की। '''23 मई 1948''' को तिथवाल सेक्टर में शत्रु के भीषण हमलों के सामने अडिग रहकर उन्होंने जिस अद्वितीय साहस, सूझबूझ और नेतृत्व का परिचय दिया, उसके लिए उन्हें '''परमवीर चक्र''' से सम्मानित किया गया। यह सम्मान भारतीय पैदल सेना और सिख रेजिमेंट की शौर्य परंपरा का उज्ज्वल प्रतीक है।
=== प्रारंभिक जीवन ===
करम सिंह का जन्म पंजाब के '''संगरूर ज़िले के भालियावाला गाँव''' में हुआ। वे श्री '''उत्तम सिंह''' के पुत्र थे। ग्रामीण परिवेश में पले-बढ़े करम सिंह के व्यक्तित्व में अनुशासन, साहस और देशसेवा की भावना बचपन से ही रची-बसी थी।
=== सैन्य जीवन की शुरुआत ===
उन्होंने '''15 सितंबर 1941''' को भारतीय सेना में भर्ती होकर '''1 सिख रेजिमेंट''' को जॉइन किया। प्रशिक्षण और प्रारंभिक सेवा के दौरान वे अनुशासनप्रिय, साहसी और कर्मठ सैनिक के रूप में पहचाने गए। द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध और तत्पश्चात स्वतंत्र भारत की आरंभिक चुनौतियों के दौर में उनकी सेवा-निष्ठा निरंतर परिलक्षित होती रही।
=== 1947–48 का भारत–पाक युद्ध: तिथवाल सेक्टर की वीरगाथा ===
भारत–पाक युद्ध के दौरान, जम्मू–कश्मीर के '''तिथवाल सेक्टर''' में शत्रु ने ऊँची पहाड़ियों पर सुदृढ़ मोर्चाबंदी कर रखी थी। '''23 मई 1948''' को लांस नायक करम सिंह अपनी अग्रिम चौकी पर तैनात थे। उस दिन शत्रु ने भारी गोलाबारी और बार-बार के पैदल हमलों के साथ भारतीय स्थिति को तोड़ने का प्रयास किया।
* करम सिंह ने अत्यंत सीमित संसाधनों के बावजूद अपनी पोस्ट को छोड़ा नहीं।
* लगातार घायल होने के बाद भी उन्होंने मोर्चा संभाले रखा और शत्रु पर सटीक फायर जारी रखा।
* उनकी निर्भीकता और नेतृत्व से प्रेरित होकर उनके साथियों ने भी मोर्चे पर डटे रहकर शत्रु के सभी हमलों को विफल कर दिया।
उनकी इस अडिग प्रतिरोध क्षमता और असाधारण साहस ने न केवल उस चौकी को सुरक्षित रखा, बल्कि पूरे क्षेत्र में भारतीय रक्षा को मजबूती प्रदान की।
=== परमवीर चक्र ===
लांस नायक करम सिंह की '''अदम्य वीरता, कर्तव्यनिष्ठा और आत्मबलिदान की भावना''' के लिए उन्हें '''परमवीर चक्र''' प्रदान किया गया। यह सम्मान उन्हें जीवित रहते हुए प्राप्त हुआ, जो उनके पराक्रम की दुर्लभ और गौरवशाली मान्यता है।
=== सेवा-उत्तर प्रगति एवं सम्मान ===
युद्ध के बाद करम सिंह की सेवा यात्रा निरंतर आगे बढ़ती रही। वे क्रमशः '''सूबेदार''' बने और उन्हें '''मानद कप्तान''' की उपाधि प्रदान की गई। उनकी वीरता के लिए उन्हें '''मिलिट्री मेडल (MM)''' से भी सम्मानित किया गया। यह उनके दीर्घकालीन, अनुकरणीय सैन्य जीवन का प्रमाण है।
=== विरासत और स्मरण ===
लांस नायक करम सिंह का जीवन यह दर्शाता है कि '''एक सैनिक का साहस केवल हथियारों से नहीं, बल्कि उसके संकल्प और कर्तव्यबोध से मापा जाता है'''। आज उनका नाम 1 सिख रेजिमेंट, भारतीय सेना और राष्ट्र के इतिहास में स्वर्णाक्षरों में अंकित है।
राष्ट्रीय युद्ध स्मारक सहित विभिन्न सैन्य स्मृति स्थलों पर उनका सम्मान आने वाली पीढ़ियों को राष्ट्रसेवा के लिए प्रेरित करता रहेगा।