ErmaT39411378 at 01:35, 29 March 2026

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{{Short description|(Recipient of Param Vir Chakra) Indian Military Officer (1936-1998)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{distinguish| text= [[Hoshiar Singh (Brigadier)|Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Rathi]] of 1962 India-China War}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Colonel]]
| name = Hoshiar Singh Dahiya
| other_name = H. S. Dahiya
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|country=IND|PVC}}
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Major Hoshiar Singh.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1936|5|5|df=y}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms |access-date=11 April 2016 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=25 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411012041/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Param-Vir-Chakra-winners-since-1950/articleshow/2731710.cms |archive-date=11 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1998|12|6|1936|5|5}}
| birth_place = [[Sisana]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Bravery award winners honoured|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100518/harplus.htm#21|access-date=11 April 2016|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]|date=18 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411001420/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100518/harplus.htm#21|archive-date=11 April 2016}}</ref> [[Rohtak District]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br>(now in [[Sonipat District]], [[Haryana]], [[India]])
| death_place = [[Jaipur]], [[Rajasthan]], India
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_name = Hoshiar Singh Dahiya
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|India}}
| serviceyears = 1963–1988<ref name="dauntless"/>
| rank = [[File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Colonel]]
| servicenumber = IC-14608A<ref name="commission"/>
| unit = [[File:Grenadiers Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[The Grenadiers]]
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1965]]
* [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
** [[Battle of Basantar]]
{{tree list/end}}
| battles_label =
| awards = [[File:Param-Vir-Chakra-ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vir Chakra]]
| spouse = 
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
| website = 
}}
[[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] '''Hoshiar Singh Dahiya''', {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVC}} (5 May 1936 – 6 December 1998) was an Indian military officer and a recipient of India's highest military honour, the [[Param Vir Chakra]], for his gallantry during the [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]].

==Early life==

Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was born in [[Sisana]] village, [[Sonipat]] district, [[Haryana]] to Choudhary Hira Singh in a [[Jat]] family of Dahiya clan. After his schooling and one year's study at the [[Jat Education Society Rohtak|Jat College, Rohtak]], he joined the Army.<ref name=PVC/> He was married to Dhano Devi, who is still alive as of January 2026.<ref name="jathosh1">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-10 |title=Border 2: Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya's wife blesses Varun Dhawan, showers praise for his performance. Watch |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/border-2-colonel-hoshiar-singh-dahiyas-wife-blesses-varun-dhawan-showers-praise-for-his-performance-101768057083175.html |access-date=2026-01-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> He was commissioned in [[The Grenadiers]] [[Regiment]] of the [[Indian Army]] on 30 June 1963,<ref name=PVC/><ref name="commission">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=655 |date=11 December 1965|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1965/O-1728-1965-0050-78955.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was promoted lieutenant on 30 June 1965.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=330 |date=4 June 1966|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1663-1966-0023-75844.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>

His first posting was in [[North-East Frontier Agency|NEFA]].{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} In the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, he saw some action in the Rajasthan sector,<ref name="indiatimes">{{Cite news|url=https://m.indiatimes.com/news/here-are-12-untold-stories-of-martyrs-who-sacrificed-their-lives-in-1971-indo-pak-war-267549.html|title=Here Are 12 Untold Stories Of Martyrs Who Sacrificed Their Lives In 1971 Indo-Pak War|date=2016-12-16|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en}}</ref> for which he was [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 1|page=733 |date=5 November 1966 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was promoted to captain on 30 June 1969.

==Param Vir Chakra Citation==
The [[Param Vir Chakra]] citation on the Official [[Indian Army]] Website reads as follows:
{{Quotation|{{center|'''CITATION'''<br>
'''MAJOR HOSHIAR SINGH'''<br>
'''3 GRENADIERS (IC-14608)'''}}

On 15 December 1971 a battalion of the Grenadiers was given the task of establishing a bridgehead across the Basantar river in the Shakargarh Sector. Major Hoshiar Singh was commanding the left forward company and he was ordered to capture the enemy locality of Jarpal. This was a well-fortified position and was held in strength by the enemy. During the assault, his company came under intense shelling and effective crossfire from enemy medium machine guns. Undeterred, he led the charge and captured the objective after a fierce hand-to hand fight. The enemy reacted and put in three counter attacks on 16 December 1971, two of them supported by armour, Major Hoshiar Singh unmindful of the heavy shelling and tank fire went from trench to trench, motivating his command and encouraging his men to stand fast and fight. Inspired by his courage and dauntless leadership, his company repulsed all the attacks inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Again, on 17 December 1971 the enemy made another attack with a battalion supported by heavy artillery fire. Though seriously wounded by enemy shelling, Major Hoshiar Singh again went from trench to trench moving about in the open with utter disregard to his personal safety when an enemy shell landed near the medium machine gun post injuring the crew and rendering it inoperative. Major Hoshiar Singh, realizing the importance of machine-gun fire, immediately rushed to the machine-gun pit and though seriously wounded himself, manned the gun inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The attack was successfully repulsed and the enemy retreated leaving behind 85 dead including their Commanding Officer and three other officers. Though seriously wounded, Major Hoshiar Singh refused to be evacuated till the ceasefire.

Throughout this operation, Major Hoshiar Singh displayed most conspicuous gallantry, indomitable fighting spirit and leadership in the highest traditions of the Army.<ref name=PVC>{{citation|url=http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=NCvnix4zLfQhf90l3OuEBw%3d%3d&ParentID=1tHir3NYQjroCJ9AgypEwg%3d%3d|access-date=28 August 2014|title=The Param Vir Chakra Winners (PVC) |publisher=Official Website of the Indian Army}} "Profile" and "Citation" tabs.</ref>}}

==Later Major Hoshiar Singh==

Singh was promoted to substantive major on 30 June 1976,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=39 |date=8 January 1977|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1977/O-1127-1977-0002-50011.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> subsequently serving for two years as an instructor at the Officers Training School, Madras (now Chennai). In 1981 he was posted as an Instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 8 April 1983,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=148 |date=2 February 1985|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1985/O-0780-1985-0005-34585.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> he eventually rose to command of his battalion. Having reached retirement age for his rank, Singh retired from the army on 31 May 1988 with the honorary rank of colonel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=1865 |date=17 December 1988|url=https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/1988/O-0635-1988-0051-28053.pdf |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|title=Col. Hoshiar Singh Dahiya | Param Vir Chakra | Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 #RememberAndNeverForget #SaluteToSoldier #IndianArmy|user=KSBSectt|number=993719740928528385|date=2018-05-07}}</ref> He settled in Jaipur, but frequently visited his village of Sisana and successfully encouraged many residents to join the armed forces.<ref name="dauntless">{{cite news|title=Dauntless leadership in the face of enemy|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/weekly-pullouts/haryana-tribune/dauntless-leadership-in-the-face-of-enemy/587903.html|access-date=30 June 2019|newspaper=The Tribune (Haryana)|date=12 May 2018|archive-date=1 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701010350/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/weekly-pullouts/haryana-tribune/dauntless-leadership-in-the-face-of-enemy/587903.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He succumbed to a [[cardiac arrest]] on 6 December 1998, aged 62, and was cremated with full military honors at Jaipur. He was survived by three sons, two of whom followed their father into the army as commissioned officers in the Grenadiers, with one joining the 3rd Grenadiers.<ref name="dauntless"/>

== In popular culture ==
[[File:Major Hoshiar Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|250px|thumb|Dahiya's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], New Delhi]]
[[Varun Dhawan]] played the role of Hoshiar Singh in the Hindi film ''[[Border 2 (film)|Border 2]]'', a sequel to the 1997 film ''[[Border (1997 film)|Border]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-05-11 |title=Varun Dhawan gears up to portray war hero Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya in 'Border 2'- reports |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/varun-dhawan-gears-up-to-portray-war-hero-major-hoshiar-singh-dahiya-in-border-2-reports/articleshow/121075075.cms |access-date=2025-09-24 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

[[Mohanlal]] reprised Major Hoshiar Singh's character as Major Sahadevan in the 2017 [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film]], ''[[1971: Beyond Borders]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/previews/1971-beyond-borders/articleshow/57985042.cms|title=1971: Beyond Borders}}</ref>

[[Mangal Dhillon]] was cast as Major Hoshiar Singh in the tele-serial [[Param Vir Chakra (TV series)| Param Vir Chakra]] aired on Doordarshan in the 1980s

==See also==
*[[Battle of Basantar]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/PVC/photo_12.htm |publisher=Indian Army |title=Major Hoshiar Singh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401161801/http://indianarmy.nic.in/PVC/photo_12.htm |archive-date=2008-04-01}}

{{Param Vir Chakra recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh Dahiya, Hoshiar}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:People from Sonipat district]]
[[Category:People of the India–Pakistan war of 1971]]
[[Category:People from Rohtak]]

Hoshiar Singh Dahiya - Revision history

ErmaT39411378 at 01:35, 29 March 2026