CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat – Paramvir Chakra Posthumously
Company Havildar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat is one of the earliest recipients of Paramvir Chakra the highest gallantry award of India. Below given is a little tribute to this great son of India. No doubt, his saga of bravery will be remembered till eternity. In Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s (then Prime Minister of India) words “He paid with his life for his singularity brave act, but he left for the rest of his comrades a unique example of single-handed bravery and determined cold courage. The country is grateful, for this sacrifice made in the service of the Motherland, and it is our prayer that this may give you some peace and solace”. – In a letter written to his mother.
Early Life:- Piru Singh Shekhawat was born on 20th of May 1918 in a Shekhawat Rajput family of Village Rampura Beri – District Churu of Rajasthan. Since early age he was interested to join the Armed forces as a family tradition. His mother’s name was Mrs. Tarawati Kanwar(This section will be updated).
Joining the Army: In the year of 1936 , Piru Singh Shekhawat joined the 6th Rajputana Rifles of then British Indian Army. It was a mere coincidence that Piru Singh Shekhawat joined the Army exactly on his 18th Birthday i;e 20th May 1936.
Sacrifice: After independence from the British Raj, the formation of two nations led to bring the Armies of India and Pakistan face to face in year 1948. The Pakistani troops have made very aggressive forwards in Tithwal Sector of Jammu and Kashmir forcing to vacate the posts (163rd Brigade) over River Kishanganga. In a need to counter attack and push back the Pakistani Army 6th Rajputana Rifles was called to strengthen the already present 163rd Brigade. On 18th July 1948 CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat was leading a party of “D” Company of 6th Rajputana Rifles. The geography was also not supportive to the Indian troops, the path towards objective was hardly 1 meter wide. In a result there were 51 casualties within 30 minutes of the enemy MMG fire.In such a scenario the brave Rajput CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat lead from the front with the war cry “Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai”.
CITATION
COMPANY HAVILDAR MAJOR PIRU SINGH SHEKHAWAT
6th BATTALION THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES (NO 2831592)
“South of Tithwal, ‘D’ Company, of which No 2831592 Piru Singh, was Havildar Major was detailed to attack and capture an enemy occupied hill feature. The enemy had well dug in positions and had sited his MMGs so as to cover all possible approaches. As the attack advanced, it was met with heavy MMG fire from both flanks. Volleys of grenades were hurled down from enemy bunkers. Company Havildar Major Piru Singh was then with the forward most Section of the company.”
“Seeing more than half of the Section killed or wounded, he did not lose courage. With battle cries he encouraged the remaining men and rushed forward with great determination onto the nearest enemy MMG position. Grenade splinters ripping his clothes and wounding him at several places, he continued to advance without the least regard for his safety. He was on top of the MMG position wounding the gun crew with Sten gun fire. With complete disregard to his bleeding wounds he made a mad jump on the MMG crew bayoneting them to death, thus silencing the gun.
“By then he suddenly realized that he was the sole survivor of the section, the rest of them either dead or wounded. Another grenade thrown at him wounded him in the face. With blood dripping from his face wounds in his eyes, he crawled out of the trench, hurling grenades at the next enemy position.”
“With a loud battle cry, he jumped on the occupants of the next trench bayoneting two to death. The ‘C’ Company Commander who was directing fire in support of the attacking company witnessed this action.”
“As Havilder Major Piru Singh emerged out of the second trench to charge on the 3rd enemy bunker, he was hit in the head by a bullet and was seen dropping on the edge of the enemy trench. There was an explosion in the trench, which showed that his grenade had done its work. By then Company Havildar Major Piru Singh’s wounds had proved fatal.”