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{{More citations needed|date= July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox person 
| name = Hira Lal Atal
| caption =
| image =
| other names =
| birth_date = 26 January 1905
| birth_place =
| death_date = 23 January 1985
| death_place =
| occupation = Soldier, writer<ref>{{cite book |last1=Atal |first1=Hiralal |title=Nehru's Emissary to Kashmir: October 1947 |date=1972 |publisher=Army Educational Stores |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MOAPeS1QoCsC&q=hira+lal+atal |language=en}}</ref>
| nationality = Indian
}}
'''Hira Lal Atal''' (26 January 1905 – 23 January 1985) was an Indian soldier in the British Indian Army from 1925 until 1947 and the Indian Army from 1947.<ref>Sandhu, Gurcham Singh, "I serve ("Ich dien"): Saga of the Eighteenth Cavalry", 1991</ref> He became a [[Major general (India)|Major General]] and the first indigenous Adjutant General of independent India. He was instrumental in designing the Indian Armed Forces’ highest award for bravery, the [[Param Vir Chakra]].

==Career==
===Early years===
Hira Lal Atal attended the Rawlinson Section (renamed the Pratap Section in 1947) of the [[Rashtriya Indian Military College]] RIMC in [[Dehradun]], [[India]]. RIMC was intended to prepare native Indians to take command of the [[British Indian Army]] and was earlier known as the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, which was established in 1921. Hira was the first cadet captain, or head boy.<ref>Page 23, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997, Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=An Incredible War: IAF in Kashmir War 1947-1948: IAF in Kashmir War 1947-1948 |date=2013 |publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-85714-65-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0m6DQAAQBAJ&dq=hira+lal+atal&pg=PT56 |language=en}}</ref>

Atal attended Sandhurst and was commissioned a second lieutenant into the Unattached List, Indian Army on 29 January 1925.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} He was attached to the 1st battalion Gordon Highlanders from 20 March 1925, and appointed to the Indian Army on 31 March 1926, and the [[16th Light Cavalry]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Atal became a lieutenant on 29 April 1927 and a quarter-master, serving in that post from 3 January 1928 until 1 October 1930. He attended an eight-month course at the Equestrian School, Saugor during 1929 and 1930. He was appointed adjutant on 1 October 1930 until being attached to the Rewa State Forces. He was promoted to captain on 29{{nbs}}January 1934. He was appointed chief of staff 16{{nbs}}February 1935, an appointment he relinquished in 1936. He was attached to the [[15th Lancers]], a training regiment, on 7{{nbs}}September 1937 until being appointed adjutant and quarter-master of the Equestrian School, Saugor on 4{{nbs}}December 1938 until the establishment was closed in September 1939.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Jasbir |title=Roar of the Tiger: Illustrated History of Operations in Kashmir by 4th Battalion The Kumaon Regt in 1965 War |date=2013 |publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-82573-58-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwSqCQAAQBAJ&dq=hira+lal+atal&pg=PA13 |language=en}}</ref>

===War years===

Atal attended the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]] in Quetta from 1940 to 1941 and joined the staff from 1941 to 1942.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} He became a major on 29 January 1942 and by 1943 was serving with the 47th Cavalry, a unit raised in April 1941 and later sent to Kohat as a frontier defense armored-car regiment.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} It was disbanded in August 1943 and he was sent back to the 16th Light Cavalry. He became an acting [[lieutenant colonel]] on 31 July 1944 and the commanding officer of the [[18th King Edward's Own Cavalry]] until 13 February 1946. He commanded the 2nd Independent Armored Brigade from December 1947 until February 1948. He became a major general and commander of the 1st Armored Division from February 1948 until May 1948. {{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Adjutant General===
Atal was the first indigenous Adjutant General of independent India, entrusted by [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] with the responsibility of designing (with [[Savitri Khanolkar]]) the [[Param Vir Chakra]], the Indian equivalent of the [[Victoria Cross]].<ref>Page 51, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997, Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Ajai |title=The Swiss-born who crafted Param Vir Chakra |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/the-swiss-born-who-crafted-param-vir-chakra-113072000005_1.html |work=Business Standard India |date=20 July 2013}}</ref>

His brother, K.L. Atal, who went on to win the [[Maha Vir Chakra]],<ref>Page 57, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997, Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref> was also a [[Rimcollians|Rimcollian]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome to RIMC {{!}} Rashtriya Indian Military College |url=http://rimc.gov.in/site/formtemplete/normallayout.aspx?MenuID=0ag0VbDUZ8vtB52+37sU9Q== |work=rimc.gov.in}}</ref>

==Post retirement==
Atal was the Chief Commissioner of [[Tripura]] between 15 February 1955 and 8 November 1956.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rajbhavan.tripura.gov.in/incumbents|title=List of Incumbents, Raj Bhavan, Tripura|access-date=2021-08-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
* London Gazette (various dates)
* Indian Army List (various dates)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atal, Hira Lal}}
[[Category:Rashtriya Indian Military College alumni]]
[[Category:Indian generals]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]

Hira Lal Atal - Revision history

Bot at 02:00, 26 October 2022