Service No : JC-13640H
Date of Birth : July 1, 1923
Place of birth : Kapurthala (Punjab)
Service : Army
Last Rank : Subedar
Unit : 2 Sikh
Arm/Regt : The Sikh Regiment
Operation : Indo-Pak War-1965
Martyrdom : September 7, 1965
Subedar Balwant Singh
Subedar Balwant Singh was born on 1 July 1923 in Aujla village, Kapurthala district, Punjab, into a humble and respected family. He was the eldest son of Late Sardar Aatma Singh and Late Sardarni Bishan Kaur. Raised in a close-knit and value-driven household, he imbibed strong principles of responsibility, honesty, perseverance, and patriotism from an early age. As the eldest among his siblings, he naturally took on a sense of leadership and duty, qualities that later shaped his character as a disciplined soldier and a dependable family member. His upbringing in rural Punjab played a significant role in instilling resilience, humility, and a deep commitment to serving others and the nation. As the eldest among his siblings, he played a vital role in supporting and guiding his family. He had four brothers and one sister and was widely known for his sincerity, hard work, leadership qualities, and compassionate nature. His disciplined upbringing and strong sense of duty inspired him to dedicate his life to the service of the nation.
Driven by a deep sense of patriotism and an unwavering commitment to serve the nation, Subedar Balwant Singh joined the Indian Army on 1 July 1941 at the young age of 18. He was enrolled in the 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, one of the oldest and most highly decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, renowned for its rich traditions, illustrious battle history, and exceptional soldiers. Beginning his military career in the lower ranks, he steadily rose through the ranks through hard work, discipline, and exemplary devotion to duty. His professionalism, leadership qualities, and dedication earned him the respect and admiration of both his superiors and fellow soldiers. During his distinguished military service, Subedar Balwant Singh served in several challenging operational areas and participated in important military campaigns, including service during the Second World War. Throughout his career, he displayed remarkable courage, resilience, and an unwavering sense of duty, often performing under demanding and adverse conditions. In recognition of his valuable service to the nation, he was awarded several prestigious medals, including the Germany Star, Burma Star, Africa Star with Clasps, Poorvi Star with Clasp, Videsh Sewa Medal, and the Sainya Sewa Medal J&K and Naga Hills. These honours reflected his contribution to military operations and his steadfast commitment to the defence of the country.
Known for his fearlessness, discipline, and dependability, Subedar Balwant Singh established a reputation as a dedicated and highly reliable soldier. He consistently placed the service of the nation above personal comfort and safety, embodying the finest traditions of the Indian Army throughout his military career. Apart from his distinguished military service, Subedar Balwant Singh was also a devoted family man who deeply valued his responsibilities toward his loved ones. He was married to Ms Joginder Kaur, and together they were blessed with a close-knit family comprising two sons, Jagwinder Singh (Born on 22 Apr 1954) and Harjit Singh (Born on 06 June 1960), and two daughters, Paramjit Kaur (Born on 07 Feb 1959) and Gurjeet Kaur (Born on 06 June 1960). Despite the demanding and challenging nature of military life, he remained deeply connected to his family, village, and community. Beyond his role as a brave soldier, Subedar Balwant Singh was remembered as a humble, kind-hearted, and compassionate individual who always helped the poor and needy. His generosity, simplicity, and willingness to support others earned him immense respect and affection among his family members, fellow villagers, and comrades.
Indo-Pak war – 06-07 Sep 1965
During the Indo-Pak War of 1965, Subedar Balwant Singh's unit, 2 Sikh (erstwhile XV Ludhiana Sikh), was deployed in the Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir under the command of Lt Col NN Khanna. The battalion was operating under the operational control of the 93 Infantry Brigade and had already earned distinction through a series of swift and daring actions in the Chhamb sector, where it captured ten enemy posts within a span of three days. As part of the brigade's plan to establish dominance in the Uri-Poonch bulge, 2 Sikh was assigned the formidable task of capturing the strategically important Raja Post (known as Chand Post by the Pakistan Army), located across the Cease Fire Line. The objective was heavily defended, protected by extensive minefields, wire obstacles, and well-entrenched enemy positions. Owing to the urgency of operations, the battalion had only a single night available for reconnaissance and preparation before launching the assault. Having assessed the situation, Lt Col Khanna devised an aggressive plan employing three companies to attack the enemy position. In the early hours of 6 September 1965, at about 0400 hours, the troops of 2 Sikh commenced their assault. As they advanced towards the objective over difficult mountainous terrain, they came under intense and concentrated enemy artillery, machine-gun, and small-arms fire. Despite suffering casualties, the soldiers pressed forward with remarkable determination and courage.
Subedar Balwant Singh, along with his comrades, fought with exceptional bravery as the battalion advanced through the heavily mined approaches and negotiated the wire obstacles under devastating enemy fire. Although the assaulting companies initially encountered fierce resistance and were temporarily checked, the troops regrouped and renewed their attack with unwavering resolve. The battle soon developed into fierce close-quarter combat, including hand-to-hand and bayonet fighting against the entrenched defenders. During the course of the battle, Lt Col NN Khanna was struck by enemy fire from a .50 calibre anti-aircraft gun. Despite being mortally wounded, he continued to inspire and motivate his men to press on with the attack. Drawing strength from the example of their commanding officer, the soldiers of 2 Sikh launched repeated assaults with characteristic Sikh courage and determination. After nearly three hours of intense fighting and overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, the battalion finally succeeded in capturing Raja Post. The success signal was transmitted at approximately 0900 hours on 6 September 1965, marking a significant victory for the battalion and the brigade. However, the victory came at a high cost.
During this fierce exchange, Subedar Balwant Singh was critically wounded after being hit by multiple bullets while advancing toward the higher point of the mountain. Even after sustaining severe injuries, his determination and courage remained unshaken. He was evacuated from the battlefield and rushed to the hospital by ambulance. During this time, his brother-in-law, Jagtar Singh, who was associated with ambulance service duties, came to know from fellow soldiers that Subedar Balwant Singh had been seriously injured. Despite all medical efforts, Subedar Balwant Singh succumbed to his injuries on 7 September 1965, making the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. The battalion lost many brave soldiers, including several outstanding sportsmen and members of its hockey team. Besides Subedar Balwant Singh, 39 other soldiers, including the Commanding Officer Lt Col NN Khanna, laid down their lives in the battle. Their courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice played a vital role in securing the objective and upholding the finest traditions of the Indian Army.
Subedar Balwant Singh continues to live on in the hearts and memories of his daughters, Smt Paramjit Kaur and Smt Gurjeet Kaur; his daughters-in-law, Smt Manjit Kaur and Smt Satwinder Kaur; and his grandchildren, Ms Barinderjit Kaur, Ms Tajinderjit Kaur, Prabhjit Singh, Ms Kuldeep Kaur, Ms Jaskiran Kaur, Jagjeet Singh, Ms Prabhjot Kaur, Ms Sukhman Kaur, Ms Rajbir Kaur, and Ms Jaskirat Kaur, who cherish his legacy of service, sacrifice, and devotion to the nation.
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