6 December: Remembering Colonel Hoshiar Singh on his punya tithi

OV Digital Desk
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Hoshiar Singh

Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya (5 May 1930 – 6 December 1998) was an officer of the Indian Army who was awarded India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.

Early Life

Hoshiar Singh Dahiya was born in Sisana village, Sonipat district, Haryana. He was born in a jat family. His father’s name is Choudhary Hira Singh. After his schooling and one year’s study at the Jat College, Rohtak, he joined the Army. He was married to Dhano Devi. He was commissioned in The Grenadiers Regiment of the Indian Army on 30 June 1963 and was promoted to lieutenant on 30 June 1965.

Career

Singh was promoted to substantive major on 30 June 1976, subsequently serving for two years as an instructor at the Officers Training School, Madras. In 1981 he was posted as an Instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 8 April 1983, he eventually rose to command of his battalion. He retired in May 1988 with the rank of colonel and settled in Jaipur, but frequently visited his village of Sisana and successfully encouraged many local residents to join the armed forces.

Awards & Recognitions

Mohanlal reprised Major Hoshiar Singh’s character as Major Sahadevan in the 2017 Malayalam film, 1971: Beyond Borders. He was awarded India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.

Death

He succumbed to a cardiac arrest on 6 December 1998, aged 61, and was cremated with full military honours at Jaipur. He was survived by three sons, two of whom followed their father into the army as commissioned officers in the Grenadiers, with one joining the 3rd Grenadiers.

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