Service No : 2831592
Date of Birth : May 20, 1918
Place of birth : Churu Dist, (Raj)
Service : Army
Last Rank : Company Havaldar Major
Unit : 6 Raj Rif
Arm/Regt : The Rajputana Rifles
Operation : Indo-Pak War 1947-48
Awards : PVC
Martyrdom : July 18, 1948
Company Havaldar Major Piru Singh Shekhawat was born on 20th May 1918 in Rampura Beri village in Churu district of Rajasthan. Son of Shri Lal Singh and Smt Tarawati Kanwar (Jarav Devi), he was youngest in the family and had three brothers and four sisters as his siblings. He had inclination to join the Army right from his younger days and eventually got selected through one of the recruitment camps. He joined the Army coincidently on his birthday on 20 May 1936 at the age of 18 years.
Initially he was sent to 10/1 Punjab but was later posted to 5/1 Punjab of the Punjab Regiment, one of well known infantry Regiments. Soon, he developed into a committed soldier and got promoted to the rank of Naik with in short period. He also served as an instructor in the Punjab Regimental Centre at Jhelum. In May 1945, he was appointed as Company Havaldar Major. He then participated in World War-II and served in Japan as part of Allied Forces. When he returned in Sep 1947 from WW-II Indian Army had undergone reorganization and consequently CHM Piru Singh was sent to 6 Raj Rif of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment.
J&K Ops (Indo-Pak War): 18th July 1948
During the Jammu & Kashmir operations in the summer of 1948, Pakistani raiders had captured the village of Tithwal in the hills of Kashmir and also pushed to seize control over the positions across the river Kishanganga. In order to strengthen the advance on the Tithwal sector, the British Indian Army dispatched the 6 Rajputana Rifles into Tithwal. The offensive began on 11th July and went on till 15th July. Two companies were sent to secure the features in this area. CHM Piru Singh was commanding the company ‘D’ which was to secure the first feature. The path to the enemy post, however, was a narrow ridge with deep ravines on either side and was overlooked by enemy bunkers, which put them in the direct line of fire of the enemy MMG posts. But he did not lose heart and inspired his men to push ahead crying, “Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai”, all the way.
Within half an hour of their advance, more than half of the company was down. CHM Piru Singh was leading the front sector. When the enemy fire rained heavily upon them, CHM Piru Singh advanced ahead to take out the MMG posts. Enemy grenade splinters ripped open his clothes and wounded several parts of his body. Yet, he advanced to eliminate the attackers from the hills. Rushing forward he bayoneted the crew of the enemy MMG and occupied the post. Most of his company had fallen by this time.
Injured and alone, he left the trench and pushed ahead to take out the second MMG post. Along the way, a grenade struck him and half his face was bleeding. His ammunition was spent and he was gravely injured, yet he did not back down. He threw a grenade into a trench of the second post. He bayoneted two men in another trench and thus secured the second MMG post. While emerging from the second post, he was struck in the head with a bullet and was seen dropping over the edge of the enemy trench. But a loud explosion could be heard in the third MMG post, affirming that CHM Piru Singh’s grenade had done its job. CHM Piru Singh fell to his injuries but had bravely and selflessly completed his mission.
For his profound bravery, extreme devotion and self-sacrifice to his motherland, CHM Piru Singh was given the nation’s highest gallantry award, “Param Vir Chakra” posthumously. The story of CHM Piru Singh continues to inspire millions of Indians and he will always be remembered for his lion-heart courage and love for his country.
Manoj Singh Shekhawat beri
2024 at 12:24 pmVpo beri
Dist jhunjhunu
JAIBHAWANI
2024 at 12:25 pmRampura village is situated in Churu district & Beri village is situated in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, both village are neighbouring villages.
Kindly resolve the matter of home district of H.M. PEERU SINGH SHEKHAWAT,
I & my friend debate many times on this matter.
BS Shekhawat
2024 at 12:25 pmThanks a lot for correction his fathers name and include mothers name.
Warm regards
BS Shekhawat
BS Shekhawat
2024 at 12:25 pmSir
With regards I appreciate your article on CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat (PVC).
I just want to draw your attention towards his fathers and grand fathers name which are wrongly written here.
His fathers name was Lal Singh and mother was Smt Jarav kanwar(jarav Devi).
Bhan Singh and Chhelu Singh has no relation with CHM Piru Singh in his parental history.
Hope you will make a correction in this article very soon.
BS Shekhawat
Prashant Dabral
2024 at 12:26 pmJai hind. Raja ram chandra ki jai.
Neeran Chhiber
2024 at 12:27 pmJai Hind !
Gautami R
2024 at 12:27 pmIndia is fortunate to have a son like you. Your story is truly inspirational. My salute to you and your family.
Jai hind..
Vishwa Vijay Singh
2024 at 12:28 pmPlease note that Hav Piru Singh’s place of birth and native village – Rampura Beri is in Churu district on the border of Jhunjhunu. But not in Jhunjhunu as mentioned in your blog.
Proof: the postal pincode of Rampura Beri is 331301 showing it as part of Churu district. And therefore, it fell in the former princely state of Bikaner of which Churu was a part of, at the time of his birth and in a way even till his martyrdom in 1948. Nothing at all to do with Jhunjhunu which was a part of Jaipur State.
Salutations to the legend.
Jai Hind.
Nripane Korpal
2024 at 12:27 pmJai Hind!