Lt Gen Khem Karan Singh: An outstanding military leader

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)  

Khem Karan Singh, a third generation Cavalry Officer, affectionately known to all as ‘KK’, was born at Bhadani village in Rohtak district of then undivided Punjab. KK’s grandfather Risaldar Major Ram Singh and father, Honorary Major Bharat Singh, had served together in 14th Murray’s Jat Lancers of the British Indian army with distinction. After Independence, 14th Murray’s Jat Lancers was demobilised and amalgamated with 20 Lancers.

In 1940, ‘KK’ graduated from prestigious St Stephens College, Delhi. He continued his family tradition of soldiering with the Indian Cavalry, and was commissioned into 16th Light Cavalry (the oldest Indian Army Regiment) in 1941, and the Regiment he later commanded. ‘KK’ assured his place in the annals of ‘Great Military Leaders’ by his near annihilation of Pakistan’s 6 Armoured Division in the Sialkot sector during the 1965 war. For gallantly commanding Indian 1 Armoured Brigade during the 1965 war, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his conspicuous acts of bravery.  

In 1966, ‘KK’, on promotion, went on to command a Division. Subsequently, after a short tenure as the Chief of Staff Western Command, he was appointed Director of Military Operations where his brilliant strategic tour-de-force in the initial planning of the 1971 operations under General (later Field Marshal) SHFJ Manekshaw, contributed greatly to the final outcome of the victory over Pakistan forces, and the creation of Bangladesh. For his meritorious service to the nation, KK was conferred with the Padma Bhushan by the then President, VV Giri. 

In October 1971, ‘KK’ was promoted as Lieutenant General to command India’s only offensive Corps at that time — 1 Corps. To Pakistan’s ill-luck, it was once again faced with this plucky and gallant soldier during the 1971 war, this time in the Shakargarh sector. ‘KK’ was tasked with defending some 120 km of the territory from Pathankot to Jammu with the directive of “no loss of territory”, whilst simultaneously undertaking offensive operations into Pakistan for maximum destruction of enemy forces and gain of territory. Being a dutiful soldier, he undertook this task as best as possible, once again (as in 1965) ensuring severe destruction of Pakistan forces in the Shakargarh-Zafarwal salient. 

After two years as Army Commander, Central Command, ‘KK’ retired from the service in 1975 after a distinguished military career, spanning some three and a half decades. 

On retirement, the first thing ‘KK’ did was to donate his Maha Vir Chakra to 20 Lancers; the regiment his father as well as his grandfather gallantly served. In subsequent years after retirement, he was often asked to write his memoirs and throw light on the seemingly sluggish advance of his Corps and shallow territorial gains. True to his calling, and honour bound as a soldier, he never once ascribed blame to anyone in the hierarchy, and shouldered the blame himself, even though contemporaries, and students of military history knew that the offensive-defensive tasks assigned to him by the COAS, and Army Commander, were by any military logic, dichotomous and unachievable. But ‘KK’ was never known to tell tales or indulge in any such act, what might be considered dishonourable for a soldier, and kept his counsel to himself. The secret has now gone to the grave with him; a great loss to students of military history and those studying higher strategy. 

Chhatar Singh Karan, octogenarian son of ‘KK’, recalls, “After Papa retired from service, I told him that we should make a house in Delhi. He said that he did not have enough money to buy land in Delhi and construct a house. He also said that being from Jat yeomanry he would rather buy agricultural land away from the city with the money he had saved during his service, construct a small farmhouse and do farming instead. Together with my and his savings, we bought 25 acres near Amarpur village in Faridabad district”. 

‘KK’, an ardent admirer of Lal Bahadur Shastri, passionately believed in the creed of the two most noble professions, namely the Jawan and the Kisan, almost in equal measure.  Those, including many senior Generals well known in their own rights, who knew him intimately, held him in high regards as one of the “tallest Generals who walked this earth”.

Lt Gen Khem Karan Singh died on July 26, 2016, and was given a military send off at the Military Cremation ground in Delhi Cantt.

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