Voices for tributes to fallen heroes amplify in Dharamsala

Dharamsala, August 31

Voices are amplifying in Dharamsala town for local war heroes who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country. Kangra district, popularly known as ‘Veer Bhoomi’, feels proud for its brave soldiers who have brought laurels to the motherland. Among the highly decorated PVC and MVC recipients of Kangra, Capt Chander Narain Singh’s name is in absolute oblivion. Probably sensing this, various NGOs of the town have raised their concern for naming some government establishment in the memory of this braveheart forgotten in time.

Capt Chander Narain Singh MVC (Posthumous), 2 Garhwal Rifles, was a resident of Dharamsala town. People from all walks of life, joined by reputed institutions, have asked the administration that some prestigious institution must be christened in the name of the braveheart, born and brought up in the town. In the words of Maj Gen Raj Mehta (retd), “Capt CN Singh died fighting for the country, and in the finest traditions of the Army.”

The family, too, strongly feels that Capt CN Singh should get a befitting acknowledgement for the courage and sacrifice which, according to them, would inspire the present and future generations to emulate the inherent values and dedication. They have also demanded the Dharamsala Municipal Corporation to suitably mark the ‘Chander Marg’ named after him.

Capt CN Singh was born on July 2, 1939, to Capt Balwan Singh, who participated in the first Indo-Pak War of 1947-48. Educated at Government High School, Dharamsala, Capt CN Singh was commissioned into the Army in 1960, passing out first in the order of merit in his IMA course.

On August 5, 1965, Capt CN Singh volunteered to lead a patrol team to locate and liquidate a few “raiders” identified near HQ 120 Infantry Brigade. In that opening burst, Capt CN Singh lost one of his men, but did not deter from moving to a flank to get behind the enemy. After silencing two of the enemy’s automatic weapons in pitch dark, he executed his final attack.

Leading his patrol to within 50 m of the enemy and then his final, desperate charge ended 10 m away from the enemy, where he succumbed to a burst of machine gun fire. Wounded, he continued undeterred, rallying his men to go for the kill instead of withdrawing; a show of rare leadership under fire, courage and fortitude. Hugely inspired by their wounded leader, his men continued to register a win. Six dead mujahedeens, key documents and large quantities of arms and ammunition were recovered from the battlefield that saw Capt CN Singh attaining martyrdom in the prime of his youth.