Mahatam Singh

Lieutenant Colonel Mahatam Singh, MVC (16 Jul 1921 – ) 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.

Lieutenant Colonel

Mahatam Singh

MVC
Born(1921-07-16)16 July 1921
Jammu District, Jammu and Kashmir, British India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
UnitJammu and Kashmir Rifles
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards Maha Vir Chakra[1]

Early life

Lt Col Mahatam Singh was born in the village of Dumna in Jammu District in Jammu and Kashmir on 16 Jul 1921.

Military career

Lt Col Mahatam Singh was commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on 13 August 1942.

In 1967, he was commanding the 10 JAK Rifles battalion deployed at Cho La, Sikkim, when the Chinese Army attempted incursions into Indian held territory, leading to the Nathu La and Cho La clashes. In order to prevent incursions barbed wire coils were laid along the border, which annoyed the Chinese. On 1 October 1967, to prevent further fence laying and intimidate Indian troops, Chinese forces started heavy and simultaneous firing on all Indian posts using Heavy machine guns and Recoilless rifles. Lt Col Mahatam Singh held on to the Cho La pass and defeated the Chinese aggression and displayed conspicuous bravery and exceptional leadership in the face of the enemy, for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest military decoration.[2][3]

See also

Further reading
  • Maj Gen DK Palit, War in the High Himalayas, Lancers
  • B.Chakravorty, Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners, Allied Publishers

References
  1. "LT COL LT COL MAHATAM SINGH MAHA VIR CHAKRA". Gallantry Awards, Ministry of Defence, Govt of India website.
  2. Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. 233: Allied Publishers. p. 387. ISBN 9788170235163.CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. "Mahavir Chakra (MVC) Awardee: Lt Col Mahatam Singh, MVC". The War Decorated India and Trust.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.