Sukhjit Singh (soldier)

Brigadier

Sukhjit Singh

MVC
Titular Maharaja of Kapurthala
Born
Sukhjit Singh

(1934-10-15) 15 October 1934
Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, British India (now Karnataka, India)
Allegiance India
Branch
 Indian Army
Service years
1954–1980
Rank
 Brigadier
Service numberIC-6704[1]
UnitScinde Horse
CommandsScinde Horse
Conflicts
Awards Maha Vir Chakra[2]
Education Indian Military Academy
The Doon School
Pretender information
Title(s)Maharaja of Kapurthala
Throne(s) claimedKapurthala
Pretend from19 July 1955 – 28 December 1971
Monarchy abolishedSovereign monarchy
1947 (Instrument of Accession)
Titular monarchy
1971 (26th Amendment of the Indian Constitution)
Royal HouseAhluwalia
FatherParamjit Singh
MotherPrincess Lilavati Devi (of Kangra)
Spouse
Gita Devi
​
​
(m. 1957; sep. 1977)​
Issue
  • Gayatri Devi
  • Priti Devi
  • Shatrujit Singh
  • Amanjit Singh
PredecessorParamjit Singh
SuccessorShatrujit Singh
ReligionSikhism

Brigadier Maharaja Sukhjit Singh, MVC (born 15 October 1934) is a former Indian Army officer who served with the Scinde Horse. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and bravery during the Battle of Basantar in the India–Pakistan war of 1971.

Early life, education, and family

Sukhjit Singh was born on 15 October 1934 in Bangalore to Paramjit Singh and his second wife, Lilavati Devi.[3][4] At the time of his birth, his father was still the Tikka Raja (heir-apparent) to Jagatjit Singh.[5] Singh had three paternal half-sisters, Indira Devi, Sushila Devi and Ourmilla Devi, by Brinda Devi, the first wife of his father, and an elder full-sister, Ash Kaur.[4] He was educated at the Doon School, and then received military training at the Indian Military Academy.[4][6] He married in 1957 at New Delhi to Gita Devi, the daughter of Ala Vajsur Khachar, the Darbar of Jasdan, by his second wife, Madhvi Devi.[4][7] Gita died in 2023, and he and she had together two sons, Shatrujit Singh and Amanjit Singh, and two daughters, Gayatri Devi and Preeti Devi.[4][8]

His fondest memory is of rides with his grandfather, Jagatjit Singh, "in a zebra-driven chariot in the zoological gardens of the palace", according to an interview he gave to The Tribune.[9]

Reign

Upon the death of his father on 19 July 1955, he succeeded him as the Maharaja of Kapurthala.[10][4] His succession was recognised by the President of India.[10][11] On 6 September 1970, the President of India, by the powers vested in him through article 366(22) in the Constitution of India, derecognised him.[12]

Military career

Singh was commissioned as an officer (second lieutenant) in the Scinde Horse on 6 June 1954.[3][4] During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the Battle of Basantar, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in Shakargarh. On the night of 8 December, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near Nainan Kot. On 10 December, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at Malakpur. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers.

Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.[13][14][15] Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier.

Titles

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Gazette of India: # 7" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 12 February 1972. p. 185.
  2. ↑ "LT COL SUKHJIT SINGH MAHA VIR CHAKRA". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
  3. 1 2 Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers. p. 342. ISBN 978-81-7023-516-3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Soszynski, Henry. "KAPURTHALA". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  5. ↑ Manger Of Publications Delhi. Memoranda On The Indian States 1939. p. 233.
  6. ↑ "Release of Prince, Patron and Patriarch: Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala".
  7. ↑ Soszynski, Henry. "JASDAN". members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Gita Devi of Kapurthala royal family dies at 86". The Tribune. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, the Maha Virs".
  10. 1 2 Directorate of Printing, Government of India (13 August 1955). Gazette of India, 1955, No. 266. p. 1540.
  11. ↑ India. Ministry of Home Affairs (1987). Report. McGill University Library. New Delhi : Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 16.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  12. ↑ Government of India (19 September 1970). Union Government, Weekly, 1970-09-19, Part II-Section 3-Sub-Section(i), Ref. 1342. p. 3371.
  13. ↑ "Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC". The War Decorated India & Trust.
  14. ↑ Bhat, Anil (21 December 2017). "India-Pak tank warfare and Pak military's drawbacks". Asian Age.
  15. ↑ Singh, Lt Gen Harwant (13 December 2013). "Rare case of courage of conviction". Hindustan Times.
  16. ↑ "Villa Buona Vista of Kapurthala; tale of loyal service to royalty". Archived from the original on 21 March 2021.
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