In the glorious history of the Indian Army, there are many such bravehearts who turned the tide of war even in the most difficult of times with their courage, intelligence, and exemplary leadership. One such great military leader was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Sampuran Singh, who established such a mark of his courage and leadership during the 1965 India-Pakistan war that its parallel is hard to find. He is one of those select officers of the Indian Army who were awarded both the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and the Vir Chakra (VrC) for extraordinary bravery and outstanding leadership.
Birth and Early Military Life
Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh was born in village Nathowal, district Ludhiana, Punjab. Having been born and brought up on the soil of Punjab, patriotism and bravery ran in his blood. He was commissioned into the Indian Army and joined the country’s famous and oldest infantry regiment, the “Punjab Regiment”. On the strength of his years of hard work, unwavering discipline, and capability, he rose to the rank of Commanding Officer of 19 Punjab.
The Atmosphere of 1965 and the Importance of Haji Pir
In August 1965, when Pakistan launched ‘Operation Gibraltar’ to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir on a large scale, the Indian Army decided to completely seal off the main routes used for this infiltration. This counter-offensive was carried out by the 68 Brigade under the 19 Infantry Division and was named “Operation Bakshi”. This operation was led by the Commander of the 68 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Zorawar Chand ‘Zoru’ Bakshi.
To secure the routes leading to Haji Pir, it was crucial to conquer the Bedori peak. Bedori was being defended by the soldiers of the Pakistani 6 Azad Kashmir Battalion. Bedori was such a high and strategic mountain peak from where the entire area could be observed. Until the Bedori peak was captured, advancing towards Haji Pir could pose a grave threat to the Indian soldiers.
The Difficulty of Bedori and Initial Failures
Capturing Bedori was not easy. Situated at an altitude of 12,330 feet, this peak was surrounded by jagged rocks and narrow mountain ridges, where the enemy had built strong defensive positions. On the night of August 25, 1965, the first attack on Bedori by 19 Punjab failed. Then, on August 28, the 7 Bihar Battalion was also sent for the same objective, but they too were pushed back. This resistance by the Pakistani platoon is considered a remarkable feat. After two failed attempts, Colonel Sampuran Singh went to the Brigade Headquarters and presented a plan for a fresh attack from the east. Trusting him, the Brigadier approved it.
Impossible Terrain and Lethal Load
Colonel Sampuran Singh’s soldiers faced not only the enemy’s deadly gunfire, but nature was also putting them to a severe test. Amidst heavy monsoon rains, dense fog, steep rocky climbs, and slippery muddy terrain, the battalion traversed an extremely arduous path. The soldiers climbed the undulating hills carrying heavy weapons, ammunition, and wireless sets on their shoulders. Despite the bitter cold, high altitude, heavy loads, and physical exhaustion, the Colonel’s personal presence and encouragement kept the soldiers’ morale from breaking.
Leading from the Front
During the ascent, when the soldiers of 19 Punjab approached the Bedori peak, the enemy sitting at the height opened indiscriminate fire with automatic weapons and artillery. There came a time when it became very difficult for the battalion to advance under the enemy’s deadly fire. At such a critical juncture, instead of staying behind and issuing orders, Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh took command of the soldiers by personally leading from the front. Caring little for his own life, he led the troops through a hail of bullets and kept their morale high. Seeing their Commanding Officer standing in the face of death, a renewed vigor surged through the soldiers, and they assaulted the enemy’s bunkers with all their might.
The Route to Haji Pir Cleared
Under the exemplary leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh, the bravehearts of 19 Punjab launched the final assault, giving the enemy no chance to recover. Following this fierce hand-to-hand combat, on August 29, 1965, the Indian warriors took complete control of Bedori. This victory at Bedori changed the direction of the entire operation. With the capture of this height, the route for 1 Para to conquer Haji Pir was completely cleared.
Consolidating the Victory: Further Operations
Even after winning Bedori, Colonel Sampuran Singh’s mission was not over. The threat of an enemy counter-attack constantly loomed. Without losing any time, he immediately fortified the defenses and took command of further operations to consolidate the Indian positions. Thanks to his tactical acumen, the enemy found no opportunity to regroup from any direction, and the Indian Army maintained a strong grip on the region.
Honored with VrC and MVC
For his unprecedented personal bravery on the battlefield, brilliant leadership during times of crisis, and courageous decisions, Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh was first awarded the Vir Chakra, and later the country’s second-highest gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra. He became one of the very few select officers to receive both the MVC and VrC awards for the 1965 operations.
An Immortal and Glorious Legacy
Although Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh is no longer amidst us today, his bravery will remain immortal forever. Rising from the village of Nathowal in Ludhiana, Punjab, to raise the country’s flag on the icy and inaccessible peaks of Kashmir, this braveheart remains a great source of inspiration for the youth and every soldier of the Indian Army today. The 19 Punjab Regiment and the entire nation will always remember this great sacrifice and leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Sampuran Singh with deep respect.
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