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{{Short description|Indian Army officer (born 1905)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Subedar Major and Honorary Captain
| name = Bhim Chand
| honorific_suffix = [[Vir Chakra|VrC & bar]]
| image = Bhim Chand VrC and Bar.png
| image_size =
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| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1905|12|17}}
| death_date = Unknown
| birth_place =
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| nickname =
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| allegiance = {{flag|British India}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|British India}} {{army|India}}
| rank = [[File:Subedar Major - Risaldar Major of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[Subedar Major]] [[File: Captain of the Indian Army.svg|25px]] [[Captain|Honorary Captain]]
| service_number = 14792 - IO
| unit = 2 Dogra
| commands =
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[Vir Chakra]] (2) Jangi Inam
| alma_mater =
| relations = [[Thakur Prithi Chand|Col. Thakur Prithi Chand, MVC]] [[Kushal Chand|Lt. Col. Kushal Chand, MVC]]
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| signature =
}}
[[Junior commissioned officer|Subedar Major and Honorary Captain]] '''Bhim Chand''', [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] & bar, (born 17 December 1905)<ref name=":52">{{Cite book |last=Tobdan |title=The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - the Saviours of Ladakh in 1948 |publisher=Kaveri Books |year=2022 |location=New Delhi |pages=38}}</ref> was an officer of the [[Indian Army]] around the mid-20th century. He is known for his role in stalling the advance of the Pakistani forces in [[Ladakh]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948|Indo-Pakistan War of 1947-48]]. He is the only person in the Indian Army known for having been awarded a double award in this war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prasad |first=Shankar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Wxsgt6_0TYC&q=prithi+chand+&pg=PA97 |title=The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment |date=2005 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-268-0 |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref> For his role in this war, Bhim Chand is regarded among the 'Saviours of Ladakh', alongside [[Thakur Prithi Chand]], [[Thakur Kushal Chand|Kushal Chand]], and [[Chewang Rinchen]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Homage paid to Lt Col Khushal Chand "Savior of Ladakh" |url=http://brighterkashmir.com//news/homage-paid-to-lt-col-khushal-chand-savior-of-ladakh |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Brighter Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Francis |first=J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3LOEAAAQBAJ&dq=kushal+chand+prithi+chand+chewang+rinchen+bhim+chand&pg=PT77 |title=Selected Stories of Gallant Indian Soldiers |date=2019-10-02 |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-88161-85-5 |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Bhim Chand hailed from Lahaul, then a part of the Kangra district of the Punjab Province of British India. His father was Phunchog Rabgai.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Subedar Major and Hony Captain (then Subedar) BHIM CHAND |url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/styles/awardee_img/public/sites/default/files/VrC_SubBhimChand_230213_SG_compressed-2023-02-23-0303-0202.pdf |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref> He was a maternal uncle to Colonel [[Thakur Prithi Chand]], MVC, and Lieutenant Colonel [[Thakur Kushal Chand|Kushal Chand]], MVC, and fought alongside them in Ladakh during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Col. Dilbag Dabas (retd.) |date=August 10, 2019 |title=Maj Kushal Chand — Ladakh valley's saviour |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachaltribune/maj-kushal-chand-%E2%80%94-ladakh-valleys-saviour-815931}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bloeria |first=Sudhir S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VXHOEAAAQBAJ&dq=bhim+chand+vir+chakra&pg=PT181 |title=Ladakh in the Twentieth Century |date=2021 |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-89620-84-9 |language=en}}</ref> Like all of them, Bhim Chand was a [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhist]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Tobdan |title=The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - The Saviours of Ladakh in 1948 |publisher=Kaveri Books |year=2022 |location=New Delhi |pages=38}}</ref>

== Armed forces career ==
Bhim Chand joined the [[British Indian Army]] as a soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the Dogra Regiment, on 22 September 1939.<ref name=":0" /> He served in World War II over 1939–45, for which he received a 'Jangi Inam' from the British government on 15 January 1947.<ref name=":53">{{Cite book |last=Tobdan |title=The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - the Saviours of Ladakh in 1948 |publisher=Kaveri Books |year=2022 |location=New Delhi |pages=39–40}}</ref>

He continued in 2 Dogra during the 1947-48 war. During this war, while at the [[Junior commissioned officer|JCO]] rank of [[Subedar]], he was twice awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] - the third highest gallantry award in the post-Independence Indian Army. He retired with the honorary rank of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain, on December 1, 1958.<ref name=":1" />

=== Actions in Ladakh, 1948 ===
In 1948, Bhim Chand was part of an all-volunteer group from the 2nd Dogras, led by Major [[Thakur Prithi Chand]] with Captain (later Major) [[Kushal Chand]] as second-in-command. Comprising around twenty men in total - all from Lahaul and all Buddhists - this group made its way to Ladakh in the thick of winter in February, arriving there by mid-March. The aim was to protect Ladakh from Pakistani invaders. Prithi Chand and Bhim Chand raised a militia of local volunteers in Nubra, called the 'Nubra Guards', of which Colonel [[Chewang Rinchen]], MVC & bar, SM - then a 17-year old - became a member.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Capt. D.P. Ramachandran |date=June 5, 2017 |title=The Snow Warriors |url=https://www.coloursofglory.org/the-snow-warriors/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Colours of Glory |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arpi |first=Claude |date=May 26, 2009 |title=An Ode to the Unsung Heroes of Ladakh |url=http://www.khandro.net/place_Ladakh_CArpi.htm |website=khandro.net}}</ref> Bhim Chand also played a vital role in the defence of [[Leh]], the capital of Ladakh.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brig (retd.) Ashok Malhotra |url=https://docplayer.net/182574454-Trishul-ladakh-and-kargil.html |title=Trishul - Ladakh and Kargil, 1947-1993 |publisher=Lance Publishers & Distributors |year=2003 |location=New Delhi}}</ref>

==== Vir Chakra awards ====
The first Vir Chakra citation for Subedar Bhim Chand, dated 23 August 1948, reads as the following:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Tobdan |title=The Brave Soldiers of Lahaul - the Saviours of Ladakh in 1948 |publisher=Kaveri Books |year=2022 |location=New Delhi |pages=40–41}}</ref>

{{Reduced pull quote|width=|quote="During the operation against Pakistan in August 1948, Sub Bhim Chand was ordered to recapture Lasringmo at a height of 18,500 ft. He appeared in the rear of the enemy position after a strenuous night march in extremely difficult most inhospitable terrain. He destroyed enemy ammunition and ordinance dumps. His successful attack resulted in the route of enemy who left behind many dead and one prisoner. In October, he destroyed 3.7 mch Howitzer at Basgo. In November, again he destroyed big enemy ammunition at Lamayuru. This JCO displayed gallantry, grit and calmness of the highest degree. He lived up to the highest traditions of his Regiment."|author=|source=}}

The second Vir Chakra citation of Subedar Bhim Chand, dated 27 December 1948, reads as the following:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subedar Major and Honorary Captain (then Subedar) BHIM CHAND Vir Chakra |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/4254 |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>

{{Reduced pull quote|width=|quote=Subedar BHIM CHAND was ordered to take out a Guerilla platoon and capture the last enemy positions in LEH Tehsil. To reach his objective he had to use ropes, picks and shovels on the way and had to cross snow covered peaks 22,000 ft. high. His platoon suffered 50 per cent. casualties from frost bite, but Subedar BHIM CHAND was confident and determined to fulfil his mission. Finally on 27 Dec. 1948 he made a surprise attack and captured enemy positions. The enemy ran away leaving behind six dead, three rifles, bren magazines, blankets and other stores. In this action the JCO showed great power of endurance, devotion to duty, magnificent capacity to organize and extraordinary determination to win his objective.|author=|source=}}

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chand, Bhim}}
[[Category:People from Lahaul and Spiti district]]
[[Category:People of the India–Pakistan war of 1947–1948]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]
[[Category:1905 births]]

[[Category:Year of death missing]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian royalty]]

[[Category:20th-century Indian military personnel]]

Bhim Chand soldier - Revision history

Diazonium at 01:01, 7 May 2026