2405:201:200A:E10B:F5A0:1E92:75D3:6284 at 10:34, 17 November 2022

2022-11-17T10:34:26Z

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{{Short description|Indian soldier and war hero, 1915–1993}}
{{For|the Sikh historian (1884–1930)|Karam Singh (historian)}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Subedar]] and [[Honorary Captain]]
| name = Karam Singh
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]], [[Military Medal|MM]]
| image = Karam Singh 2000 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt = Karam Singh
| caption = Singh 2000 on a stamp of India
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|9|15|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1993|1|20|1915|9|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sehna, [[Barnala, Punjab]], India
| death_place = Sehna, Barnala, Punjab, India
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = [[British India]] India
| branch = [[British Indian Army]] [[Indian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1941–1969
| rank = [[Subedar]] [[Honorary Captain]]
| servicenumber = 22356 (enlisted){{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|p=45}} JC-6415 (junior commissioned officer)<ref name="JCO"/>
| unit = 1st Battalion ([[Sikh Regiment|1{{nbsp}}Sikh]])
| commands =
| battles = [[World War II]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
| battles_label =
| awards = [[Param Vir Chakra]] [[Military Medal]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
| signature =
}}
[[Subedar]] and [[Honorary Captain]] '''Karam Singh''' [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]], [[Military Medal|MM]] (15 September 1915 – 20 January 1993), an Indian soldier, was a recipient of the [[Param Vir Chakra]] (PVC),<ref name="Family of second Param Vir Chakra recipient to auction medal" /> 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|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 Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]. 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 [[World War I]] [[veterans]] from his village.{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|pp=44–45}} After completing his [[primary schooling]] in his village, in 1941, he joined the Army.<ref name="Death anniversary of Hony Capt Karam Singh today" />

== 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]].<ref>[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36518/supplement/2271 ''The London Gazette'']. 16 May 1944. Supplement: 36518. p. 2271</ref> As a young, war-decorated [[sepoy]], he earned respect from fellow soldiers in his [[battalion]].{{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|pp=44–45}} He was one of the five soldiers selected by then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] to raise the [[Indian flag]] for the first time after independence in 1947.<ref name="Family of second Param Vir Chakra recipient to auction medal" />

===War of 1947===
In the aftermath of the independence of India in 1947, India and Pakistan fought over the [[Kashmir and Jammu (princely state)|princely state of Kashmir]] for a brief period.<ref name="Understanding Support for Islamist Militancy in Pakistan">{{cite web|first1=Jacob N.|last1=Shapiro|first2=C. Christine|last2=Fair|title=Understanding Support for Islamist Militancy in Pakistan|url=http://www.princeton.edu/~jns/publications/Understanding%20Support%20for%20Islamist%20Militancy.pdf|website=Princeton Education|publisher=Princeton University|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912114721/http://www.princeton.edu/~jns/publications/Understanding%20Support%20for%20Islamist%20Militancy.pdf|archive-date=12 September 2014|page=79}}</ref> During the initial stages of the conflict, Pakistan's Pashtun tribal militias crossed the border of the state, occupying several villages, including [[Tithwal]].{{Sfn|Mikaberidze|2011|pp=393–395}} That village, being on the [[Line of Control]] in the [[Kupwara district|Kupwara Sector]], was a strategically important point for India.<ref name="In the Line of Fire">{{cite web|first1=Mihir|last1=Srivastava|title=In the Line of Fire|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/india/in-the-line-of-fire|website=Open Magazine|publisher=Open Media Network Pvt. Ltd.|access-date=11 October 2017|date=31 July 2014}}</ref>

On 23 May 1948, the [[Indian Army]] captured [[Tithwal]] from Pakistan troops, but the Pakistans 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.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=60}}

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.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=60}} During the fierce battle on the night of 13 October at Richhmar Gali, [[Lance Naik]]{{efn|Lance naik is equivalent to [[lance corporal]].}} Singh was commanding a 1{{nbsp}}SIKH forward post.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=61}}

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 [[shell (projectile)|shell]]ing. 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 [[Casualty evacuation|evacuation]] and continued to hold the first line of [[trenches]].{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=61}}

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]], greatly demoralizing the Pakistanis. Singh and his men then successfully repelled three more enemy attacks before the Pakistani troops finally retreated, unable to capture their position.{{Sfn|Chakravorty|1995|p=61}}

===Param Vir Chakra===
[[File:Lance Naik Karam Singh statue at Param Yodha Sthal Delhi.jpg|250px|thumb|Singh's statue at ''Param Yodha Sthal'', [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], New Delhi]]
On 21 June 1950, Singh's award of the [[Param Vir Chakra]] was [[gazetted]]. The citation read:
{{Quotation|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 [[Mortar (weapon)|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 [[wikt:Hardship|hardship]] could break his spirit.|author=Gazette Notification: 2 Pres/50, 21.6.50|source={{Sfn|Cardozo|2003|pp=45–46}}}}

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.<ref name="JCO">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=263 |date=19 October 1957 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was promoted to ''[[subedar]]'' on 1 March 1964,<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=444 |date=31 October 1964 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> and was later promoted to ''[[subedar-major]]''. On 26 January 1969, he received an [[Junior commissioned officer#Honorary commissions|honorary commission]] in the rank of [[captain]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence - Extraordinary Gazette of India|page=2 |date=26 January 1969 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> Singh retired in September 1969.<ref name="Death anniversary of Hony Capt Karam Singh today">{{cite web|title=Death anniversary of Hony Capt Karam Singh today|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110120/punjab.htm#3|website=The Tribune India|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> He was one of the five soldiers to have a chance to raise the Indian flag for the first time on the independance day which is known to india biggest respect day .on this day people give respect to indian flag with the national song

==Later life==
Singh [[died]] on 20 January 1993 in his village, and was survived by his wife, [[Gurdial Kaur]], and children.<ref name="Family of second Param Vir Chakra recipient to auction medal">{{cite web|title=Family of second Param Vir Chakra recipient to auction medal|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/family-of-second-param-vir-chakra-recipient-to-auction-medal/article5545518.ece|website=The Hindu|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

== Other honours ==
In the 1980s, the [[Shipping Corporation of India]] (SCI), a [[Government of India]] enterprise under the aegis of the [[Ministry of Shipping (India)|Ministry of Shipping]], named fifteen of its [[crude oil tanker]]s 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.{{Sfn|Raj|2009|p=179}} The government also built a memorial in his honour at the District Administrative Complex in [[Sangrur]].<ref name="Death anniversary of Hony Capt Karam Singh today" />

==Notes==
;Footnotes
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==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|first1=B.C. |last1=Chakravorty|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7023-516-3|language=en|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC}}
*{{citation|first1=Major General Ian (retd.)|last1=Cardozo|title=Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle|year=2003|publisher=Roli Books|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7436-262-9|language=en|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9ymBAAAQBAJ}}
*{{citation|first1=Anthony|last1=Raj|title=Logistics Management for International Business: Text and Case|year=2009|publisher=PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-203-3792-3|language=en}}
*{{citation|first1=Alexander|last1=Mikaberidze|title=[[Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World]]|year=2011|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=978-15-988-4336-1|language=en|author-link=Alexander Mikaberidze}}

{{refend}}

{{Param Vir Chakra recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Karam}}
[[Category:Indian Army personnel]]
[[Category:People from Barnala]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1993 deaths]]

Karam Singh - Revision history

2405:201:200A:E10B:F5A0:1E92:75D3:6284 at 10:34, 17 November 2022