Narender Singh Ahlawat

Captain

Narender Singh Ahlawat

SC, SM
Captain ; Narender Singh Ahlawat; SC, SM
Died	28 November 1974; Dighal, Haryana, India
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	15 The Grenadiers
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 ; Naga Insurgency
Awards	Shaurya Chakra ; Sena Medal

Last updated July 22, 2024

Captain Narender Singh Ahlawat, SC, SM was an officer of the Indian Army. He was awarded the Sena Medal for his gallantry in the Battle of Shakargarh in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his actions in counterinsurgency operations in Nagaland in 1974.

Early life

Narender Singh was born in Dighal village of Jhajjar district in Haryana to Major Ran Singh and Nehali Devi. His grandfather, Chaudhary Sohan Singh Ahlawat, was well known in the village and fought with the British Indian Army in World War I. He had five brothers and two sisters. Two of his brothers, Lt. Colonel Ramphal and Colonel Mohinder Singh Ahlawat, served in the Indian army, and one, Nafe Singh Ahlawat, retired as a District and Sessions Judge,^[1] after serving in the Haryana judiciary. Another of his brothers, Ved Singh Ahlawat, served as the Deputy inspector general of police (DIG) in the Border Security Force, and his youngest brother, Sh Virender Singh, was an officer in the Delhi Police.

Education

Narender first attended King George School, and later graduated from DAV College, Chandigarh.

Military career

Following the tradition of the family, he joined the Indian army, and was commissioned into 15 The Grenadiers of the Indian Army as a second lieutenant. He rose to the rank of captain.

1971 Indo-Pakistani War

Immediately after becoming commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was deployed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and showed highest level of gallantry in the Battle of Shakargarh. For his bravery in the war he was awarded Sena Medal ^[2] by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

His citation as published on 9 March 1974 in the official Gazette of India reads as under:

"83. Second Lieutenant NARENDER SINGH AHLAWAT (EC-25103)

The Grenadiers. On the Morning of 8 December 1971.

Second Lieutenant Singh Ahlawat was assigned the task of destroying a medium machine-gun bunker in the Shakargarh Sector. He led his patrol with courage and captured the enemy infantry and weapon crew. He had barely got into position when the enemy launched a counter attack with a squadron of armour to effect a break through. A fierce tank battle ensued and a number of enemy tanks were destroyed. Second Lieutenant Singh Ahlawat had knocked out three enemy tanks when his own tank was hit, wounding his gunner. Taking over the gun control, he continued to fight from his tank. A direct hit put his tank out of action and he himself was wounded, but undeterred he continued to fight till the enemy attack was repulsed.

In this action, Second Lieutenant Singh Ahlawat displayed gallantry, determination and professional skill of a high order.

1974 Nagaland Counter Insurgency

His Citation reads as:

"8. Captain NARENDER SINGH AHLAWAT (IC 25103), SM GRENADIERS

(Posthumous)

(Effective date of the award-28th November, 1974)

On the 28th November, 1974, during an operation against hostiles Captain Narender Singh Ahlawat of an infantry regiment, was assigned the task of establishing two stops, while the main column was conducting a search. Captain Ahlawat accomplished the task and took charge of one of the stops while the other was being looked after by a Non Commissioned Officer. The Non Commissioned Officer saw some hostiles at a distance of 300 yards from his stop, and ordered his Light Machine Gun group to open fire. This took the hostiles by surprise, who ran in disarray. Some of them ran towards the stop of Captain Ahlawat who immediately lifted his stop to intercept the hostiles. Some of the hostiles rushed into the nullah. Captain Ahlawat came face to face with two hostiles whom he made to surrender. In the meantime, another hostile fired from the nullah at one of his stop members. The officer immediately engaged that hostile but in the meanwhile he got a burst in his chest. Though seriously wounded, he continued to engage that hostile and kept on instructing his stops to chase the other fleeing hostiles. He simultaneously apprised the searching column commander of the situation and then lay dead.

In this action, Captain Narender Singh Ahlawat, displayed gallantry, devotion to duty and leadership of a High Order."^[3]

For his gallant act and supreme sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.^[3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karamjeet Singh Judge</span>

Karamjeet Singh Judge VC was an Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)</span> Indias highest peacetime military decoration

The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy. The decoration may be awarded either to military or civilian personnel.

The Grenadiers is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly part of the Bombay Army and later the pre-independence British Indian Army, when the regiment was known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers. It has distinguished itself during the two world wars and also since the Independence of India. The regiment has won many battle honours and gallantry awards, and is considered to be one of India's most decorated regiments with three Param Vir Chakra awardees in three different conflicts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Basantar</span> Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind, was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard-fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arun Khetarpal</span> Indian Army decorated Second Lieutenant (1950–1971)

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC was an Indian military officer and a posthumous recipient of India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, which he was awarded for his valour in face of the enemy. He was killed in action in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 where his actions earned him his honour.

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

Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC 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.

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.

Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.

The 16th Light Cavalry is a regiment of the Armoured Corps, a primary combat arm of the Indian Army. Prior to India gaining independence from the British in 1947, it was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1776 and is the oldest armoured regiment raised in India. The 16th Light Cavalry saw service in a number of conflicts ranging from the Second Anglo-Mysore War in 1781 to World War II. It has a number of battle honours including "Punjab 1965" earned during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Dighal is a village in Beri tehsil in Jhajjar district of Haryana state in north India. It falls under the Rohtak Division. It is the largest village in terms of population in a single panchayat in Haryana.

Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM is an Indian Army officer of the 21 Para (SF) and an avid mountaineer. He is one of Indian Army's most decorated officers, with one war-time gallantry award and two peace-time gallantry awards to his name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vasanth Venugopal</span> Ashoka Chakra recipient (1967–2007)

Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, AC was an Indian Army officer. He was the commanding officer of the 9th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. On 31 July 2007, he was Attained veergathi in action while preventing heavily armed infiltrators from crossing the India-Pakistan border at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. As a result he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest military decoration for peacetime gallantry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajiv Kumar Joon</span>

Major Rajiv Kumar Joon, AC, SC was a highly decorated Officer in the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace-time military decoration. He was previously decorated with the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest peacetime military decoration.

Lieutenant General Raj Mohan Vohra, PVSM, MVC was a General Officer of the Indian Army. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery and leadership in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harsh Uday Singh Gaur</span> Indian military officer

Harsh Udai Singh Gaur was an Indian military officer posted as commanding officer of 10 Bihar Regiment.

Colonel Balwan Singh Panghal MVC is a decorated Indian Army officer who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his courage in leading the successful assault to capture Tiger Hill during the 1999 Kargil War.

Brigadier Rai Singh Yadav, MVC was an officer in the Indian Army notable for his participation in the Nathu La and Cho La clashes 1967. He displayed exemplary courage and leadership during the clashes, for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest military decoration. He is also known as the Tiger of Nathu La.

Lieutenant General Ved Prakash Airy, MVC was an officer of the Indian Army, who served with the 3 Grenadiers. He is best known for his participation in the Battle of Basantar, one of the major battles of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, where he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

Brigadier Amarjit Singh Bal, MVC was an officer of the Indian Army, who served with the 17 Horse. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, during the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

101 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

References

↑ District, Bhiwani (2002). "Haryana Judiciary". Haryana Judiciary. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
↑ "Gazette of India , 1974 , 9th March". archive.org. 9 March 1974. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
1 2 "Narender Singh Ahlawat" . Retrieved 7 October 2018.