D. P. Singh (runner)

Last updated


Devender Pal Singh
Major DP Singh.jpg
Born(1973-09-00)September 1973
Jagadhari, India
AllegianceIndia
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service1997–2007
Battles/wars Kargil War
Operation Vijay
LOC in Akhnoor sector
Alma mater Indian Military Academy

Major D.P. Singh is a retired officer of the Indian Army. He is a Kargil War veteran and is known as India's first blade runner. [1] [2] After his amputation, he gradually started running using a prosthetic limb and has run in 26 half-marathons in his running career. [1] This includes three half-marathons in extreme high altitude as high as 11,700 ft (3,600 m) in Leh. The Limca Book of Records added his name to their "People of the Year 2016" list. [3] In 2018, Govt of India, Ministry of social justice and empowerment conferred him with National award for persons with disabilities under Role model category. In 2019 he was conferred with coveted civilian award, CavinKare Ability Mastery award in recognition of excellence achieved against all odds. He was taken as Ambassador by Indian army for year 2018, which was the year dedicated to soldiers who got disabled in line of duty.

Contents

In 2019, he wrote another chapter in history when he became the 1st solo Skydiver among persons with disabilities in whole Asia.

His life story was chronicled in Grit: The Major Story, a 2019 graphic memoir Singh coauthored with V.R. Ferose and Sriram Jagannathan. [4]

Early life and career

Devender Pal Singh was born on 13 January 1974 in Jagadhari, India. His date of birth in official records is however, 13 September 1973. Incidentally, as he was declared dead once, when during Kargil War, after getting injured, he was received at nearest hospital, he takes 15 July 99 as his death and rebirth day. He believes in living life (now 2nd life so all the more important) to the fullest, so he celebrate all 3 dates. Especially 15 July, which is celebrated as "Death and Rebirth day" by inscribing same on the cake.[ citation needed ] He received his senior secondary education from Kendriya Vidyalaya Roorkee. [5] He did his Bachelor of Arts degree from CCU Meerut.[ citation needed ]

Major Singh graduated from the Indian Military Academy (101st course, Regular batch) on 6 December 1997 and was commissioned into the 7th Battalion, The Dogra Regiment. [6] After the injury, in 2002, he converted to Army Ordnance Corps. He retired from the Indian Army in 2007, after serving for 10 years. [7]

Kargil War

Major D.P. Singh was injured on 15 July 1999 at LOC in Akhnoor sector while fighting for India during the Kargil War (Operation Vijay). [8]

He was 80 meters from a Pakistani Army post when a mortar fell within 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) of where he was; the shrapnel injured multiple parts of his body. [5] A part of his right leg was amputated as it had developed gangrene. [5] His war injuries and its side effects has made him a man with multiple following disabilities making him more than 100% disabled: 1. Amputation right leg (through the knee, a rare and difficult amputation due to which prosthesis fitment becomes a challenge) amputation. (WAR Injury) 2. Bilateral high frequency hearing loss (Blast acoustic trauma) (WAR Injury) 3. Partial removal of intestines (WAR Injury) 4. 73 shrapnel (cast iron bomb particles, 1 mm to 1 inch) embedded in various body parts/joints/bones, all over the body, including liver. (WAR Injury) 5. Urinary bladder operated for cystitis cystica glandularis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystitis_glandularis) (Side effect of WAR Injuries) 6. Cervical spondylosis (C5, C6 and C7 affected) (Side effect of WAR Injuries) 7. Left knee operated for meniscus and ligament tear (martial art injury) 8. Eyes nerve impacted leading to presbyopia (side effect of WAR injuries) 9. PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) (WAR Impact) 10. Latest found is Parkinson's disease (right brain impacted leading to bradykinesia and tremor in left side limbs) (Side effect of WAR injuries)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kargil War</span> 1999 India–Pakistan conflict

The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC). In India, the conflict is also referred to as Operation Vijay, which was the codename of the Indian military operation in the region. The Indian Air Force acted jointly with the Indian Army to flush out the Pakistan Army and paramilitary troops from vacated Indian positions along the LoC, in what was designated as Operation Safed Sagar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vikram Batra</span> Indian army officer, recipient of Param Vir Chakra (1974–1999)

Vikram Batra was an Indian Army officer. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian military decoration, for his actions during the Kargil War; on 7 July 1999, Batra was killed while fighting Pakistani troops around Area Ledge, Point 4875, in the Kargil district of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bana Singh</span> Indian Army soldier, recipient of Indias highest gallantry award

Captain Bana SinghPVC is an Indian soldier and a recipient of the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. As a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, he led the team that wrested control of the highest peak on the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir from Pakistani forces as part of Operation Rajiv. Following his success, India renamed the peak to Bana Post in his honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjay Kumar (soldier)</span> Recipient of Param Vir Chakra

Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar PVC is a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army, and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anuj Nayyar</span> Indian army captain; Maha vir chakra recipient

Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC was an Indian Army officer of 17 Jat who was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for exemplary valour in combat during operations in the Kargil War in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry</span> Military unit

The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regimental center is in Srinagar's Airport Complex at Awantipora with a winter setup near Jammu. Its regimental insignia consists of a pair of crossed rifles. The regiment mostly consists of volunteers from the state of Jammu & Kashmir and ethnic groups from the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is considered to be one of the most decorated regiment of the Indian army having won 1 Param Veer Chakra and 3 Ashok Chakra. Naib Subedar Chuni Lal of the 8th battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry is one of the most decorated personnel of the Indian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogendra Singh Yadav</span> Recipient of Param Vir Chakra

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav PVC is a retired commissioned officer in the Indian Army, who was awarded the highest Indian wartime gallantry decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the Kargil War. He is the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra to date, having received it at the age of 19.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saurabh Kalia</span> Indian Army officer killed during the 1999 Kargil War

Saurabh Kalia was an officer of the Indian Army who was killed during the Kargil War while being held as a prisoner of war by the Pakistan Army. He and five soldiers in his patrol group were captured by Pakistani troops following a gunfight at the Line of Control and allegedly tortured prior to their execution; the Government of Pakistan has rejected all allegations of Indian military personnel being tortured while in Pakistani custody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H. P. S. Ahluwalia</span> Indian mountaineer (1936–2022)

Major Hari Pal Singh Ahluwalia was an Indian mountaineer, author, social worker and Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) officer. During his career he made contributions in the fields of adventure, sports, environment, disability and social work. He is one of six Indian men and the twenty first man in the world to climb Mount Everest. On 29 May 1965, 12 years to the day from the first ascent of Mount Everest, he made the summit with the fourth and final successful attempt of the 1965 Indian Everest Expedition along with H. C. S. Rawat and Phu Dorjee Sherpa. This was the first time three climbers stood on the summit together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajesh Singh Adhikari</span> Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra

Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari, MVC, was an Indian Army officer who died during the Kargil War. He was posthumously awarded the second highest Indian military honour, the Maha Vir Chakra for bravery on the battlefield.

Captain Jerry Prem Raj, VrC, was a commissioned officer in the Indian Army during the Kargil War. He was a Forward Observation Officer at Point 4875. During battle, he sustained grievous injuries but showing undaunted courage, continued to direct artillery fire against enemy positions. He succumbed to his injuries later the same day. Because of his effort in the battle, he was declared a war hero. His body was cremated in his native city,Thiruvananthapuram. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, the third highest wartime gallantry award, posthumously.

<i>Dhoop</i> 2003 Indian film

Dhoop is a 2003 Indian war drama film directed by Ashwini Chaudhary, based on Battle of Tiger Hill. Actress Gul Panag made her Bollywood debut with this film. The film stars Om Puri and Revathi and is loosely based on Captain Anuj Nayyar, MVC and his family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neikezhakuo Kengurüse</span> Indian army officer and Recipient of Maha Vir Chakra

Captain Neikezhakuo Kengurüse, MVC was an Indian Army officer from Nagaland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Cardozo</span> Former Indian army officer

Major General Ian Cardozo AVSM SM is a former Indian Army officer. He was the first war-disabled officer of the Indian Army to command a battalion and a brigade. He is an amputee due to a war injury.

Point 5353 is a mountain peak on the Line of Control dividing the Indian- and Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir in the vicinity of Dras in the Kargil district. It is the highest peak along the Marpo La ridge and dominates the entire area on both the sides of the Line of Control.

<i>Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl</i> 2020 Indian biographical film by Sharan Sharma

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language biographical drama film directed by Sharan Sharma and produced under Dharma Productions and Zee Studios. The film stars Janhvi Kapoor as Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, Indian female air-force pilot, one of the first women to fly in a combat zone, alongside Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi in supporting roles.

<i>Shershaah</i> 2021 Indian film directed by Vishnuvardhan

Shershaah is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language biographical war film based on the life of Vikram Batra, killed in action in the Kargil War, directed by Vishnuvardhan in his Hindi film debut and written by Sandeep Shrivastava. The film was produced by Dharma Productions and Kaash Entertainment, with Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Shabbir Boxwala, Ajay Shah and Himanshu Gandhi serving as producers. Sidharth Malhotra stars in dual roles as Vikram Batra and his twin brother Vishal, with Kiara Advani as his girlfriend Dimple Cheema.

Yaldor Sub Sector was the scene of some of the major infiltration by Pakistani Northern Light Infantry battalions and some of the major battles of Kargil War were fought here.

Gunjan Saxena is an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and former helicopter pilot. She joined the IAF in 1996 and is a 1999 Kargil War veteran. She is one of the first women to fly in a combat zone. One of her main roles during the Kargil War was to evacuate the wounded from Kargil, transport supplies and assist in surveillance. She would go on to be part of operations to evacuate over 900 troops, both injured and deceased, from Kargil. In 2004, after serving as a pilot for eight years, her career as a helicopter pilot ended; permanent commissions for women were not available during her time.

Major Ajay Singh Jasrotia, SM was an Indian military officer with the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles who laid down his life during Kargil War to save the lives of his six comrades.

References

  1. 1 2 Sharma, Nitin (22 November 2016). "India's First Blade Runner in City: 'Being active is the biggest answer to disability'". The Indian Express.
  2. "Batting great Sachin Tendulkar pays respect to India's first blade-runner — a 'Kargil War' hero". Zee News. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  3. "Major Devender Pal Singh (Retd)". Limca Book of Records. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. "Micro review: 'Grit: The Major Story' is a graphic novel on Major DP Singh's deeply inspiring story - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 Sharma, Aasheesh (17 October 2015). "Meet DP Singh, the man who fought his disability to run marathons". Hindustan Times.
  6. "Major DP Singh Interview: "I want to live every moment of this life to the fullest"". 23 July 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  7. Teja, Charanjit Singh (4 September 2015). "With courage higher than mountains, amputee to run Ladakh marathon". The Tribune.
  8. "The inspiring story of Major D P Singh". Rediff.com . 19 August 2014.