Budh Singh — a Rajput warrior from M’garh

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

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In Mahendragarh district, there are about 50 villages inhabited by Tanwar or Gaur Rajputs whose men choose military as a career with pride. So was the Army a passion with young Budh Singh, son of Thakur Jaimal Singh, a Gaur Rajput from Aghyar Jagrauli village in Mahendragarh. He was born on February 14, 1944, and at the age of eighteen, he was enrolled in 4th Battalion of Rajput Regiment in February 1962.

Even before the 1965 war with Pakistan was formally declared, some fierce battles were fought in the Kargil sector. In a surprise attack on the night of May 14, 1965, the enemy captured Point 13,620 and Black Rock, the two heights that dominated the Srinagar-Leh highway, with observation and fire. To ensure that the enemy does not re-enforce the captured heights with a larger force, the re-capture of the heights at the earliest was the need of the hour.

4 Rajput Battalion, then under the command of 121 Independent Infantry Brigade Group, was deployed in the Kargil sector. On the morning of May 15, 1965, 4 Rajput was ordered to capture Point 13,620 and Black Rock heights at the earliest but not later than the first light on May 17. 

After detailed reconnaissance of the enemy defences, an attack plan was made with ‘B’ and ‘A’ companies tasked with capturing Point 13,620 and Black Rock, respectively, in phase 1 and 2 of the attack. ‘C’ Company was to mop up and secure the objectives and also beat back any immediate counter-attack by the enemy. A brief account of the bravery of Sepoy Budh Singh is available in the War Diary of 4 Rajput Battalion.

There is also a lighter side to Budh Singh’s daredevil exploit. Budh Singh, now a septuagenarian, retired as Havildar. He is a living legend and a man of few words. Budh Singh told this writer, “While crawling back carrying his own rifle and the captured machine gun, he took time to return. While supervising the mopping-up operation, Subedar Ram Singh, platoon commander, found Budh Singh missing from his section and was very annoyed. Just then Budh Singh emerged from the most unexpected direction, carrying a foreign-made machine gun. Seeing Budh Singh, Subedar sahab shouted at him. “Kit maran gayo tho”? Budh Singh showed the captured gun and coolly replied, “Eh nai lavan gayo tho. Bohat dukhi kar ri thi. Chaalti halat main sa”. The Subedar continued, “Thodi der aur na aato to tero court martial hono tho”. Budh Singh, while handing over the gun to Subedar Ram Singh, asked him coolly, “aur eeb”? The Subedar, relaxed by now, spoke reassuringly, “Eeb tanai inam milego”. 

Subedar Ram Singh, not devoid of humour, smilingly quipped, “Budh Singh, dushman ki gun to le aayo, thodi bhot goli bhi sath le aato”. Not to be outwitted and a cool cat that he was, Sepoy Budh Singh casually replied, “Sahab ji, agle attack mein saath me goli bhi le aaungo, batao kai magazine bhar ke laun?” Haryanvis are like that, never devoid of humour, even in the line of fire. 

When reminded about the risk he took, Budh Singh said with pride, “Sahab ji, jokhim liye bina ladai koni jiti ja”.  

The account of his gallantry in War Diary of 4 Rajput Battalion reads

During the mopping-up operation in the re-captured Black Rock area, Sepoy Budh Singh was with No. 9 platoon of ‘C’ Company. While the mopping-up operation was in progress at night, one enemy light machine gun suddenly started firing from the right flank, dangerously obstructing it. Sepoy Budh Singh waited for a while and then told his section mates to engage the machine gun while he, on his own initiative and without caring for his safety, crawled forward up the slope carrying two hand- grenades. He stealthily approached the machine gun bunker from the rear and lobbed a hand-grenade, killing the firers. After accomplishing the dangerous mission, Sepoy Budh Singh ran down the slope carrying his rifle as well as the captured machine gun in a firing condition. For his bold initiative and dauntless courage against all possible odds, Sepoy Budh Singh was awarded the Vir Chakra.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)