Kuldip Singh Chandpuri

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was born on 22 November 1940 in a Sikh Gurjar family in Montgomery, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan).{{cite web |title=In Conversation with: Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri|url=http://www.theasianconnectionsnewspaper.com/in-conversation-with-brig-kuldip-singh-chandpuri/ |publisher=The Asian Connections |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020094938/http://www.theasianconnectionsnewspaper.com/in-conversation-with-brig-kuldip-singh-chandpuri/ |archive-date=20 October 2013}}[https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/retelling-the-tale-of-brigadier-kuldip-singh-indias-braveheart-who-won-the-maha-vir-chakra-for-the-battle-of-longewala-245861.html "Retelling The Tale Of Brigadier Kuldip Singh"]. Times of India. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021 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. 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.

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 Indo-Pakistani 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.

Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was a major in 23 Punjab when the Pakistan Army attacked the Longewala post in Rajasthan, India, early in the Indo-Pakistani 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, Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the government of India.

Chandpuri retired from the army as a brigadier.

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

{{Blockquote|{{center|

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.{{cite web |url=http://twdi.in/node/1337 |title=Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM (Retd) @ TWDI |access-date=2014-11-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430013007/http://twdi.in/node/1337 |archive-date=2014-04-30}}}}

• Border, a 1997 Hindi film directed by J.P.Dutta was an adaptation of the real-life battle, with Major Chandpuri being portrayed by Hindi film actor Sunny Deol.{{cite web |title=The real-life hero who inspired 'Border' |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-real-life-hero-who-inspired-border/20101122.htm |publisher=Rediff |date=22 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725020028/http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-real-life-hero-who-inspired-border/20101122.htm |archive-date=25 July 2012}}{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sunny-deol-pays-tribute-1971-war-hero-brigadier-kuldeep-singh-chandpuri-5451355/ |title=Sunny Deol pays tribute to the 1971 war hero Brigadier Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=17 November 2018 |access-date=17 November 2018}}

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.{{Cite news|date=17 November 2018|title=1971 war hero Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, who inspired Border movie, dies|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/battle-of-longewala-hero-kuldip-singh-chandpuri-dies-1390427-2018-11-17|access-date=26 June 2020|work=India Today|language=en}} He was survived by three sons.{{Cite news|title=Kuldip Singh Chandpuri: Hero Of Battle Of Longewala Who Defied Pak Tanks|last=IANS|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/kuldip-singh-chandpuri-hero-of-battle-of-longewala-who-defied-pak-tanks-1949193|date=18 November 2018|access-date=26 June 2020|website=NDTV.com}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070204133635/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Images/0075.jpg Picture, Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (3rd from left) with his company]
• [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/military/mahavir_citations.html MVC citations, Sikh Personalities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114204847/http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/personalities/military/mahavir_citations.html |date=14 November 2018}}

{{1971 Indo-Pak War}}

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Category:1940 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:Military leaders of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Category:Punjabi Sikhs

Category:Indian Army officers

Category:Military personnel from Punjab, India

Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal

Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra

Category:People from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district

Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)