Lance Naik Karam Singh was the first Sikh and non-posthumous receiver of Param Vir Chakra that was awarded to him by the first President of India; Dr. Rajindra Prasad. Karam Singh was born on 15th September 1915 in Barnala, Punjab. He established as a hero in the Indian Military and for his bravery and heroic spirit he recieved the highest gallantry accolade; the Param Vir Chakra. He was also one among the four members who hoisted the national flag of Independent India on 15th August 1947. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru himself selected these four members for this honour. His life was entirely devoted to the service of motherland, that he also proved during the World War 2nd in which he fought for India. For his commendable bravery acts in this this war he was awarded with the Military Medal on 14th March 1944 his life was spent in Indian Army later in which he retired as the Honorary Captain. Lance Naik Karam Singh died on 20th January 1993.
Military Career & the Battle of Tithwal
Karam Singh was initially commissioned in the 1st Batallion of Sikh Regiment on 15th September 1941. It was the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 for grabbing the hold on the Tithwal sector; that earned Lance Naik Karam Singh; the Param Vir Chakra. It was India to capture the Tithwal sector in Jammu and Kashmir on 23rd May 1948 but soon it lost that hold due to the constant multiple battles and attacks from the side of Pakistan. Karam Singh showed his invincible heroic spirit in this war and fought so bravely that even the enemy had to broke off the attack.
On 13th October 1948 the Pakistani attackers tried to recapture the Richhmar Gali of the South and Nastachur Pass of the East of Tithwal respectively and they planned to reattack and capture the Richmar Gali. Lance Naik Karam Singh at that time was commanding the a section of Richmar Gali. The fight began with an initial attack of howitzers and guns. All the bunkers got destroyed by the heavy firing and fire from the enemy’s side. All the commincation links and lines got damaged and there were no ways for Karam Singh to communicate with the commander in order to ask for any assistance and updating the situation. But Lance Naik Karam Singh did not give up his high morale and went bunker to bunker to give aid to the wonded crew men, he was himself badly injured but he showed the attitude of a lion (Singh) and rescued two injurged comarades and brought them back to the main company position.
The enemy was not tired and they attacked for eight times on that single day. In the fifth attack by the enemy, Lance Naik Karam Singh got badly injured but he refused to set back and continued his high spirited battle with the enemy. The enemy got to grab its positions near the frontline but Karam Singh being completely fearless step forward in front of the enemy and bayoneted the invader to death. Singh overpowered the enemy so much that the enemy became clueless and they finally decided to set back. The battle of Tithwal would always be remembered for the great actions of Lance Naik Karam Singh; his daring spirit had been commendable that made him a true deserver of the Param Vir Chakra.
