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Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
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Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM (22 November 1940 – 17 November 2018) was a decorated Indian Army officer.[3][4] He is known for his bravery and leadership in the Battle of Longewala during the India–Pakistan war of 1971, for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest Indian military decoration, by the Indian government. The 1997 Hindi film Border was based on the battle, with his role played by Sunny Deol.[5][6] He was a councillor in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation from 2006 to 2011.[1]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was born on 22 November 1940 in a Sikh Gurjar family in Montgomery, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan).[7][8] His family then moved to their native village, Chandpur Rurki, in Balachaur. He was an active member of the NCC and cleared the NCC examination when he graduated from the Government College, Hoshiarpur in 1962.[7] Chandpuri was the third generation in his family who have served in the Indian Army as officers. Both his younger uncles were flying officers in the Indian Air Force. Chandpuri was the only child of his parents.

Career

[edit]

In 1963, Chandpuri was commissioned from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai into the 3rd battalion, Punjab Regiment (3rd Punjab), which is one of the oldest and one of the most highly decorated regiments of the Indian Army. He took part in the India–Pakistan war of 1965 in the western sector. After the war, he served in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Gaza (Egypt) for a year. He also served twice as an instructor at the prestigious Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.[7]

Battle of Longewala

[edit]

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was a Major in 23 Punjab when the Pakistan Army attacked the Longewala post in Rajasthan, India, early in the India–Pakistan war of 1971. Chandpuri with his company of 120 soldiers and a small contingent of BSF defended the post, in spite of considerable odds, against the 2000-3000 strong assault force of the Pakistani 51st Infantry Brigade, backed by the 22nd Armored Regiment. Chandpuri and his company held the Pakistanis at bay for a full night until the Indian Air Force arrived to provide air support in the morning.

Chandpuri inspired his men, moving from bunker to bunker, encouraging them to beat back the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Chandpuri and his men inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and forced them to retreat, leaving behind twelve tanks. For his conspicuous gallantry and leadership,[3] Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the government of India.

Chandpuri retired from the army as a brigadier.

Maha Vir Chakra Citation

[edit]

The citation for Chandpuri's Maha Vir Chakra award reads as follows:

Gazette Notification: 18 Pres/72,12-2-72
Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily
Date of Award: 05 Dec 1971

Citation: Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was commanding a company of the Punjab Regiment occupying a defended locality in the Rajasthan Sector. On 5th December 1971, in the early hours of the morning the enemy launched a massive attack on this locality with infantry and tanks. Major Chandpuri exhibited dynamic leadership in holding his command intact and steadfast.

Showing exceptional courage and determination, he inspired his men moving from bunker to bunker, encouraging them in beating back the enemy till reinforcements arrived. In this heroic defence, he inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and forced them to retreat leaving behind twelve tanks.

In this action, Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri displayed conspicuous gallantry, inspiring leadership and exceptional devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.[9]

[edit]

Death

[edit]

On 17 November 2018, Chandpuri died at the Fortis Hospital, Mohali due to cancer, at the age of 77, five days before his 78th birthday.[12] He was survived by three sons.[13]

Military awards and decorations

[edit]
Maha Vir Chakra Vishisht Seva Medal Wound Medal
Samanya Seva Medal Samar Seva Star Paschimi Star Raksha Medal
Sangram Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal Videsh Seva Medal
25th Anniversary Independence Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal UN Emergency Force Medal

Dates of rank

[edit]
Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Second Lieutenant Indian Army 30 June 1963 (emergency)[14]
16 January 1968 (substantive, with seniority from 15 January 1964 but for pay from 30 June 1963)[15]
Lieutenant Indian Army 30 June 1965 (emergency)[16]
16 January 1968 (substantive, with seniority from 15 July 1966)[15]
Captain Indian Army 15 July 1970[17]
Major Indian Army 15 July 1971[18]
Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army 10 February 1984 (substantive)[19]
Colonel Indian Army 23 February 1987[20]
Brigadier Indian Army 1 December 1991[21]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM (22 November 1940 – 17 November 2018), was an Indian Army officer distinguished for his command of a small infantry company during the Battle of Longewala in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. As Major Chandpuri, he directed 'A' Company of the 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment, at the remote Longewala outpost in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer sector, where roughly 120 soldiers repelled an overnight assault by a Pakistani force exceeding 2,000 troops backed by 40–45 tanks and artillery, destroying multiple enemy vehicles and thwarting their advance until Indian Air Force strikes turned the tide on 5 December. His resolute defense, conducted with limited anti-tank weaponry amid intense shelling and infantry probes, earned him the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second-highest gallantry award, with the official citation commending his "outstanding leadership and courage in the highest tradition of the Army." Rising to brigadier before retirement, Chandpuri also received the Vishisht Seva Medal for meritorious service, capping a career marked by operational deployments including UN peacekeeping.

Personal Background

Early Life and Education

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was born on 22 November 1940 in Montgomery, Punjab Province, British India (now Sahiwal District, Pakistan), into a Sikh family. Following the partition of India in 1947, his family relocated to their ancestral village of Chandpur Rurki in Balachaur tehsil, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, from where he adopted the surname Chandpuri. As a third-generation soldier, Chandpuri grew up in a martial tradition, with his upbringing emphasizing discipline and service. Chandpuri pursued higher education at Government College, Hoshiarpur, graduating in 1962 while actively participating in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). During this period, he cleared the NCC special entry examination, which facilitated his path into military service, and demonstrated aptitude in sports, reflecting his physical prowess from an early age. In 1963, he joined the in Madras (now ), completing the course and receiving a commission into the 23rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment of the . This marked the transition from his academic foundation to a professional military career.

Family and Personal Interests

Chandpuri married in 1967, and the couple had three sons. One of their sons, Hardeep Singh Chandpuri, has spoken publicly about his father's experiences during the 1971 war, emphasizing the collective efforts of the troops under Chandpuri's command. Beyond his military service, Chandpuri maintained interests in outdoor pursuits, including travelling, , and trekking. He was also a keen sportsman with significant involvement in athletics administration, serving as a senior technical official for decades and contributing to the sport's development in .

Military Career

Commissioning and Early Service

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri joined the in 1962 and completed his training at the in Madras (now ), passing out in 1963. He was commissioned as a into the 23rd of the Regiment, an unit with a history tracing back to the . During his initial years of service with the battalion, Chandpuri progressed through roles, gaining experience in operations along India's western borders. By the time of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, he had attained the rank of major and was assigned command of 'C' Company, positioned in forward areas of .

Battle of Longewala

The took place from 4 to 5 December 1971 at a remote forward outpost in the sector of Rajasthan's during the , pitting a small Indian detachment against a numerically superior Pakistani force aiming to sever Indian lines of communication toward . The outpost, manned by 'A' Company of the 23rd Battalion, The Regiment, under Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, consisted of roughly 120 soldiers equipped with limited anti-tank capabilities, including three jeeps mounted with 106mm recoilless rifles and Carl Gustav rocket launchers, but no or armored support. Pakistani forces from the 51st Infantry Brigade, numbering about 2,000 troops with 40–45 tanks and over 100 armored personnel carriers and supply vehicles, launched a nocturnal assault starting around 23:00 hours on 4 December, exploiting the element of surprise and the post's isolation. Chandpuri, informed of enemy movement by a earlier that evening, opted to hold the position despite orders suggesting withdrawal and overwhelming odds, deploying his men to maximize the defensive terrain's and minefields while requesting urgent air support. Throughout the night, his engaged the advancing Pakistani and tanks at close range, using recoilless rifles to destroy or disable at least 10–12 enemy tanks and inflicting significant casualties on the assaulting forces amid intense close-quarters combat that continued until dawn. Chandpuri's maintained troop under fire, with soldiers fighting in shifts and using every available weapon, including small arms and anti-tank rounds, to blunt the enemy momentum despite sustaining two fatalities and minor equipment losses, such as one jeep-mounted gun. By first light on 5 December, the Pakistani advance had stalled short of overrunning the post, allowing Hunters from to conduct multiple sorties, destroying or abandoning an additional 20–30 tanks and scattering the remaining enemy column with and rocket attacks. The Pakistanis withdrew in disarray, suffering approximately 200 killed and heavy materiel losses, including 36 tanks and over 100 vehicles, while Chandpuri's company preserved the outpost intact, enabling Indian ground reinforcements to and secure the sector. For his "conspicuous gallantry" in commanding the defense and repulsing the assault, Chandpuri was awarded the , with the official citation noting his role in a "grim battle throughout the night" that foiled the enemy's objective.

Post-1971 Service and Retirement

Following the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, Kuldip Singh Chandpuri continued his service in the , advancing from major to over the subsequent decades. He held instructional roles on two occasions at the Infantry School in , , where he trained officers in tactical and leadership skills essential for operations. These postings underscored his expertise gained from combat experience, contributing to the of junior officers in the post-war era. Chandpuri's later career involved staff and command responsibilities typical for a senior officer in the Regiment, though specific brigade-level commands remain sparsely documented in public records. He received the for meritorious service, reflecting sustained contributions to army efficiency and preparedness in peacetime. Chandpuri retired from as a after approximately 33 years of commissioned service, concluding a career marked by operational valor and instructional mentorship rather than further frontline combat. Post-retirement, he resided in , occasionally engaging in public discourse on but maintaining a low profile away from active military involvement.

Awards and Honors

Maha Vir Chakra

Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, then commanding 'A' Company of the 23rd Battalion, Regiment, was awarded the (MVC), India's second-highest gallantry award, for his leadership and bravery during the in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. The award's effective date was 5 December 1971, recognizing acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. On the night of 4/5 December 1971, Chandpuri's company, consisting of approximately 120 soldiers, defended a forward position in the sector against a Pakistani armored involving an supported by a of 45 Patton tanks. Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, with limited anti-tank weaponry including recoilless guns and mines, Chandpuri rallied his men, moving between posts to maintain morale and direct fire, inflicting significant casualties on the attackers and destroying multiple tanks. His resolute defense delayed the enemy advance until support arrived at dawn, compelling the Pakistanis to withdraw after sustaining heavy losses, including the destruction or disablement of around 37 tanks. The official citation from praises Chandpuri's "conspicuous gallantry, leadership and total disregard for his own personal safety," noting how he held the position against overwhelming odds, forcing the enemy retreat. This action exemplified the MVC's criteria for exceptional valor, as established under the Indian government's gallantry awards framework post-independence. Chandpuri's company suffered casualties, including two soldiers killed and several wounded, but their stand prevented a deeper incursion into Indian territory.

Other Decorations and Dates of Rank

Chandpuri was awarded the in 1984 by the in recognition of his distinguished service. He was commissioned as a into the 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment, in 1963 after completing training at the , . By December 1971, he had been promoted to the rank of Major and commanded 'C' Company during the . Chandpuri retired as a after 32 years of service.

Controversies

Debates on Battle of Longewala Attribution

The primary debate surrounding the attribution of success in the centers on the relative contributions of ground infantry forces under Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and the subsequent (IAF) strikes. Official Indian military accounts emphasize Chandpuri's 'A' Company of the 23rd , Regiment—comprising approximately 120 soldiers equipped with light arms, two M40 recoilless rifles, and limited anti-tank capability—as having delayed a Pakistani assault force of around 2,000–3,000 troops supported by 40–50 tanks from the 22nd Cavalry and 51st Infantry Division on the night of December 4–5, 1971. This holding action, which reportedly destroyed or disabled several Pakistani tanks and vehicles through nighttime engagements, is credited with preventing an overrun of the post and the adjacent Tanot temple area, buying time until dawn air support arrived. Chandpuri's leadership in this phase earned him the , with the citation highlighting the company's "tenacity" in facing "overwhelming odds." Critics, particularly from IAF veteran circles, argue that the ground forces' role has been overstated, attributing the Pakistani retreat primarily to IAF Hunter aircraft strikes commencing around 9:00 AM on December 5, which destroyed 37 Pakistani tanks and numerous vehicles in daylight operations. A 2013 book by retired IAF officer Air Commodore Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (not the MVC recipient) reiterated doubts, claiming the army's narrative exaggerated infantry impacts to mask inadequate preparedness, with Pakistani forces stalled more by terrain difficulties and poor coordination than by effective ground fire; Sekhon suggested post-ceasefire rehearsals by army units fabricated evidence of nighttime kills. Chandpuri contested such assertions legally, filing a suit for symbolic damages of ₹1 against the author, underscoring his view that while air support was crucial, the infantry's overnight resistance inflicted initial setbacks and morale damage on the attackers, as evidenced by Pakistani radio intercepts requesting retreat permissions before full IAF involvement. Further controversy arose from claims of fabricated army achievements, including a 2008 allegation by an Indian soldier awarded a military honor—who asserted the "splendid victory" was staged, with ground troops conducting mock engagements on a sand model after the ceasefire to claim unearned credit, as no sustained ground battle occurred due to Pakistani hesitancy. These assertions, echoed in some online military forums, contrast with empirical data from battle records showing at least two Indian casualties and confirmed Pakistani equipment losses, though exact nighttime attributions remain disputed without independent verification beyond participant accounts. Pakistani sources, such as post-war analyses, downplay the engagement altogether, citing logistical failures over enemy action, which aligns with Indian critics' emphasis on air power but undermines broader infantry valor claims. Military tradition generally awards primary credit to the on-site commander for tactical decisions, as noted in analyses of the battle's confusion and Sam Manekshaw's directives prioritizing air-ground coordination; however, inter-service rivalries have fueled ongoing attributions, with IAF histories like those detailing Hunter sorties claiming 90% of Pakistani armor losses occurred post-dawn. Chandpuri publicly acknowledged the IAF's role in speeches, stating the battle "could not be won without air support," yet maintained the ground delay was causally pivotal in exposing Pakistani columns to vulnerability. These debates highlight tensions in joint operations narratives, where empirical attribution is complicated by fog-of-war reporting and institutional incentives to highlight respective branches' heroism, though declassified records affirm the infantry's delay as a key enabler of air victory without which the post might have fallen.

Legacy

The , in which Chandpuri played a pivotal role, served as the basis for the 1997 Border, directed by and produced by J. P. Films. In the film, portrays Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, depicting him as the resolute commander of an outnumbered company of the 23rd Battalion, Punjab Regiment, who holds the post against a Pakistani armored comprising approximately 40–45 tanks and 2,000–3,000 troops on the night of 4–5 December 1971. The narrative emphasizes Chandpuri's leadership in sustaining defensive fire with limited resources, including anti-tank guns and infantry weapons, until support arrives at dawn, resulting in the destruction of most Pakistani tanks. Border was a commercial success, grossing over ₹80 worldwide against a budget of ₹10 , and received acclaim for its portrayal of valor, though some critics noted dramatic embellishments for cinematic effect, such as intensified personal dialogues amid the combat sequences. Sunny Deol's performance as Chandpuri, marked by intense resolve and motivational commands to his troops, became , contributing to the film's enduring popularity in Indian cinema as a to the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. No other major films or television adaptations directly feature Chandpuri, though the battle's events have been referenced in documentaries and histories.

Tributes and Posthumous Recognition

Following Chandpuri's death on November 17, 2018, at a private hospital in , , his funeral rites were conducted with full state and military honours on November 20, 2018, including an official reflecting his service in the . Bollywood actor , who portrayed Chandpuri's character in the 1997 war film Border, publicly paid respects on the day of his passing, highlighting the officer's real-life heroism as the basis for the film's depiction of the . The observed a and paid formal tributes to Chandpuri during the commencement of its winter session on December 14, 2018, as part of homage to notable figures who had passed away since the prior session. Family members, friends, and military personnel gathered for tributes in the days following his death, with reports emphasizing his legacy of leadership in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. No additional gallantry awards were conferred posthumously, as his and other decorations had been granted during his lifetime for wartime actions.

Death

Final Years and Passing

After retiring from active service, Chandpuri resided in , , where he lived a relatively private life focused on family and veteran community engagements. In 2018, while battling cancer, he returned to from abroad on 10 November. He succumbed to the illness on 17 November 2018 at Fortis Hospital in Mohali, , at approximately 8:30 a.m., five days before his 78th birthday. Chandpuri was survived by his wife, , and their two daughters. His took place with full honors, reflecting recognition of his distinguished service.

References

  1. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/laungewala-battle-hero-brig-kuldip-singh-chandpuri-passes-away-at-78-684625/
  2. https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/assets/uploads/home_banner/UpdatedFinalBattleofLongewala_com-2024-04-04.pdf
  3. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1758652
  4. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/battleground-veteran-who-excelled-on-playground-too-5451923/
  5. https://www.ndtv.com/people/kuldip-singh-chandpuri-hero-of-battle-of-longewala-who-defied-pak-tanks-1949193
  6. https://www.ssbcrack.com/2015/06/story-of-brigadier-kuldip-singh-chandpuri-maha-vir-chakra.html
  7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/difficult-days-cried-most-of-the-time-war-heros-widow/articleshow/84334802.cms
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  36. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1971-india-pakistan-war-hero-brigadier-kuldip-singh-chandpuri-dies-at-78/story-mHRqFkVtKYOuzmgV7IRlcL.html
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