Overview: The invasion starts
The date was 13th October, 1948 when the war between India and Pakistan was at it's peak. Lance Naik karam singh was commanding the Alpha company of 1 Sikh deployed on Richmar gali, in the Kashmir valley.
Archive image of Richmar Gali, source: Indian Army
The location has a huge strategic significance, if this was captured then Pakistanis would be able to invade Srinagar which could cut off J&K from Indian Army's reach.
At 600 hrs, his post was attacked by the invading Pathans mixed with regulars from Pakistani Army. At the first sight, it was clear that they were heavily outnumbered. More importantly the Pakistanis attacked in waves.
The first two attacks were repulsed by the Sikhs at 6:00 AM and 9:30 AM but only four men including Lance Nk. Karam Singh were remaining with low ammunition. However not only Karam singh was able to get his wounded comrades back to the company position, but also managed to single-handedly repulse the second attack. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his exemplary courage in face of enemy and he became India's first live PVC awardee. He thus became an ideal for 1 Sikh.
The Enemy is approaching, What do we do?
"The Enemy is approaching, we are only four what do we do?"
These were the words of Sikh soldier standing beside Lance Naik Karam singh in their trench, they were four men out of which two were wounded and the ammunition was running out. 4 sections of enemy were aprroaching them and they were outnumbered 1 to 10.
Lance Naik Karam Singh however didn't reply and concentrated on the area in front of him, the next moment he took one grenade out of his hand removed the pin and shouted JO BOLE SO NIHAL, SAT SRI AKAL and the next moment the grenade was right in front of the approaching enemy section wiping it out completely. Only then he looks in the eye of his comrade and shouts,
"If we die here our value will increase, the company will recapture after our death for sure"
Lance Naik Karam Singh saw the opportunity and carried his wounded friends to the company position leaving the post. Even though he was wounded, he continued to fight when Pathans attacked Company position. Later the post was captured and Pathans were pushed back effectively with heavy fire.
He did his full service after the war and was promoted to Honorary Captain before retiring. He took his last breath in 1993 in his home in Punjab. His Comrades remember him as a straightforward and simple man.
Hony. Capt. Karam Singh: A man who stood by truth
(This is an excerpt from The Brave: Param Vir Chakra stories by Rachna Bisht)
There is an incident shared by Lance Nk Karam Singh's junior Subedar Kala Singh. When Karam Singh was posted in Sikh Regimental centre at Meerut, in 1960s, he was asked to buy sugar for the soldiers from a nearby sugar mill. When he was bdoing that, someone informed him that the sacks of sugar were soaked in water to increase their weight. Furious Karam Singh went straight to the owner of mill and told him about the incident, who was a very powerful person and had connections in Delhi. The owner had an argument with Karam Singh. When he stood to his point, the owner pushed him over physically and threatened him with his connections. Hot headed Karam Singh, clutched his fists and started beating the owner at the spot right away in front of his workers. A case was recorded and he was dismissed from service as a punishment for manhandling a civilian. However, Karam Singh didn't submit, he went to Delhi with his war medals and met the President of India and explained his point, He was immediately reinstated in the service. And from this incident, his comrades called him Karela wo bhi neem chada appreciating his forthrightness.
I am sure that this thrilling life story of Hony. Capt. Karam Singh will inspire the readers to support truth and fight for their nation till their last breath. For more such stories stay tuned with my blog. Feel free to comment your feedback in comments below.
Jai Hind!!
~ Apoorv Saxena
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