Sundar Singh | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Sundar Singh | |
| Born | (1929-02-14)14 February 1929 Chowki Handan Village,Poonch District,Jammu & Kashmir |
| Died | 23 January 2017(2017-01-23) (aged 87) Chauk Hadan,Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Service |  British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1947–? |
| Rank |  Subedar Major Honorary Captain |
| Service number | 15103 |
| Unit | 4 JAK RIF |
| Awards |  Ashoka Chakra |
Subedar Major andHonorary CaptainSundar Singh,AC (14 February 1929 – 23 January 2017) was anIndian Army officer of4 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles who was awarded India's highest peace time military decorationAshoka Chakra. He became the first recipient of the award fromJammu & Kashmir.[1]
Sunder Singh was born on 14 February 1929 in Chauk Hadan Village ofPoonch District,Jammu & Kashmir. His father was Kalyan Singh.[2]
He was enrolled in the Jammu & Kashmir Infantry in February 1947. He was posted to 4 JAK RIF and retired from his duties asSubedar Major andHonorary Captain. Singh after completion of his training, was posted as a soldier in Jammu & Kashmir State Force (after 1957 it became J&K Rifles). In 1952, he was made ActingLance Naik by his Commanding Officer for his actions in rescuing his family members from Pakistan.[3]
On 18 March 1956 he was posted withJammu & Kashmir Rifles atHussainiwala nearFerozepore. On the night of 18/19 March J&K RIF's unit was attacked by elements of the Pakistani Army. His unit responded with a counterattack and chased them away from the right side of the dam. Other hostile elements then moved into positions at Bela, starting to fire towards the left side of the dam with light machine guns. This made it difficult for India to retain the dam and safeguard the troops there.[citation needed]
Sunder Singh's name was suggested to destroy the position, and on being ordered Sunder agreed immediately. Armed with six hand grenades and amidst hostile fire, he crawled one hundred and fifty meters to a rocky area. When he was near to the enemy position, he threw his first grenade which killed three enemies and silenced their guns. He did this three times which allowed Jammu & Kashmir Rifles to possess the right end of dam.[4]
Sunder Singh showed great presence of mind, courage and total disregard of his safety of the highest order. Without him it had been not possible to achieve the target. For this bravery act he had received "Ashoka Chakra" in 1956.[5]
Singh died on 23 January 2017 in his home village of Chauk Hadan. His death received no official acknowledgement.[6]