Harbaksh Singh Biography 
Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh was a three star General in the Indian Army who played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 in the role of Western Army Commander, Indian Armed Force. The general who saved Punjab in the 1965 War was honoured with the presigious Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Vir Chakra by government of India, for his outstanding contributions in civil service. He passed away on 14 November 1999 in New Delhi, aged 86.
He was born on 1 October 1913 in Badrukhan, Punjab, British India. He completed his graduation from Government College, Lahore before joining Indian Military Academy in 1933. He was commissioned on 15 July 1935 and was attached with 2nd battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at Rawalpindi. In 1936 he joined 5th battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment at Aurangabad. In 1942 he was seriously injured following a Japanese ambush. He was taken Prisoner of war as Singapore fell to the Japanese, and later repatriated in 1945. Once again he joined Indian Military force. This time he was posted as second-in-command of 4th battalion, Sikh Regiment at Campbelpur.
He was posted as GSO-1 (operations and training), Eastern Command in 1947. After independence, he rose to prominence in the role of a military officer. He conducted the main battle against the raiders at Shelatang Bridge on 7 November 1947. 1st battalion Sikh suffered with heavy casualties and he proceeded to Uri and took over the command of the battalion voluntarily, sacrificing a star of his rank. He brought back the battalion to Srinagar and began to rehabilitate it.
In 1948, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and took over the command of 163 Infantry Brigade. His team captured Tithawal after 6 days and he received Vir Chakra award. As a military officer, he is best remembered for the role he played in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He disobeyed the then army chief and took on a superior Pakistani armoured column. The Indian Centurion tanks outgunned the more modern Pakistani Patton tanks in the battle at Khem Karan. It proved to be the turning point of the 1965 War.
Published: September 12, 2018
Updated: September 12, 2018
