Bana Singh Biography 
Bana Singh is a retired Indian soldier, Subedar Major and Honorary Captain – who is a winner of India’s highest military award, the Param Vir Chakra. He is one among the three living recipients of this bravery award. He was awarded Param Vir Chakra for capturing the most strategic post on the Saltoro range near the Siachen glacier in Ladakh. Thus Bana Singh has been credited as the winner at the highest battlefield on earth’s surface, after capturing the highest post on the Siachen glacier at 21,000 feet. He seized this highest point, after three unsuccessful attempts by Indian military force. The post till then known by Jinnah’s name was renamed as "Bana Top" in his honour, and this highest peak battle was given the name, Operation Rajiv, named after Second Lieutenant Rajiv Pande, who lost his life in an unsuccessful attempt earlier.
He was born at Kadyal in Jammu and Kashmir, on 6 January 1949 into a family of farmers. His uncles were soldiers in the Indian Army. He joined Indian military force in 1969 at the age of 20 and received military training from High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, followed by Sonamarg.
The Siachen area lies in a territory disputed by India and Pakistan. Also it is the highest battleground on earth. Though India captured the area during Operation Meghdoot in 1984, Pakistan gained control over the area later and also established a military post on the peak. They also renamed it "Quaid Post" in honour of their leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On 18 April 1987, the Pakistanis from Quaid Post fired on the Indian troops, resulting in the death of two Indian soldiers. So Indian Army decided to recapture the post.
Bana Singh was posted in Siachen on 20 April 1987, and he was given the task to capture the post. After the unsuccessful attempt of Rajiv Pande, who lost his life in this venture in May 1987, the task was given to Bana Singh. After initial failures, Bana Singh’s troupe with five members managed to recapture the highest military post on earth’s surface. But they lost one member. They killed six Pakistani militants in this attempt. Bana Singh was honoured with India’s highest military award in 1987 and he retired from service in year 2000. Singh's son Rajinder Singh joined the Indian Army in 2008, at the age of 18.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 20, 2016
