Sukhjit Singh
Crown Prince of Kapurthala
Head of the House of Ahluwalia-Kapurthala
Tenure19 July 1955 - present
PredecessorCrown Prince Paramjit Singh
SuccessorPrince Shatrujit Singh
Born (1934-10-15) October 15, 1934
Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, Empire of India (now State of Karnataka, Republic of India)
Spouse
Princess Gita Devi of Jasdan
​
​
(m. 1958)​
Separated (1977)
IssuePrincess Gayatri Devi
Princess Priti Devi
Prince Shatrujit Singh
Prince Amanjit Singh
Names
Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur
HouseHouse of Ahluwalia-Kapurthala
FatherParamjit Singh, Crown Prince of Kapurthala
MotherLilavati Devi Kangra
ReligionSikhism
Military career
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Rank Brigadier
UnitScinde Horse
Battles/warsBattle of Basantar - Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Maha Vir Chakra[1]

Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, MVC (born 15 October 1934) is a former Indian Army officer who served with The Scinde Horse. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and courage in facing the enemy during the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Early life

Crown Prince Sukhjit Singh was born on 15 October 1934, in Bangalore as the second child to the Crown Prince Paramjit Singh Sahib Bahadur (son of King Jagatjit Singh I) by his second wife, Lilavati Devi, he had an elder sister, Princess Aas Kaur (b.1933 - d.2017) as well as three paternal elder half-sisters (Princess Indira Devi, Princess Sushila Devi and Princess Urmila Devi) from, Brinda Devi, the first wife of his father.

He was educated at The Doon School in Dehradun, and then received military training at the Indian Military Academy.[2]

His fondest memory is of rides with his grandfather, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, "in a zebra-driven chariot in the zoological gardens of the palace", according to an interview to The Tribune.[3]

Military career

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the Battle of Basantar, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in Shakargarh. On the night of 8 December, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near Nainan Kot. On 10 December, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Leading from the front, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh directed his tanks with great skill. His unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at Malakpur. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers.

Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.[4][5][6] Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier.

Titles

  • Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh-al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Sukhjit Singh Sahib Bahadur, Crown Prince of Kapurthala

See also

References

  1. ↑ "LT COL SUKHJIT SINGH MAHA VIR CHAKRA". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
  2. ↑ "Release of Prince, Patron and Patriarch: Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala".
  3. ↑ "Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, the Maha Virs".
  4. ↑ "Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC". The War Decorated India & Trust.
  5. ↑ Bhat, Anil (21 December 2017). "India-Pak tank warfare and Pak military's drawbacks". Asian Age.
  6. ↑ Singh, Lt Gen Harwant (13 December 2013). "Rare case of courage of conviction". Hindustan Times.
  7. ↑ "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala; tale of loyal service to royalty".
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