Ranjit Singh Dyal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ranjit Singh Dyal
PVSM, MVC
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 15 November 1928 Teokar, Punjab, British India (Now in Haryana.) |
| Died | 29 January 2012 (aged 83) Panchkula, Haryana, India |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service/ |
 Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1946 - 1988 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Southern Command 1 Para (Special Forces) |
| Awards |  Param Vishisht Seva Medal Maha Vir Chakra |
| Spouse(s) | Barinder K. Dyal |
| Children | Parveen K. Dyal (daughter) |
| Other work | Governor of Puducherry (1988–90) and the Andaman & Nicobar (1990–93) |
Ranjit Singh Dyal (born November 15, 1928 – died January 29, 2012) was a brave Indian Army general. He was also an important government official. As a soldier, Ranjit Singh led the capture of the Haji Pir pass during the 1965 war with Pakistan. He also helped plan Operation Blue Star. Later, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ranjit Singh Dyal was born on November 15, 1928. His family was Sikh, living in Teokar village in Punjab, British India. This area is now part of Haryana. His father was Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Ram Singh Dyal. Ranjit Singh's brother, Rattan Singh Dyal, was also in the army. He received the Indian Distinguished Service Medal for his bravery. Ranjit Singh studied at the Rashtriya Military School, Chail.
Military Career
After finishing school in 1942, Dyal joined the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in 1946. He became an officer in the Punjab Regiment. His first unit, the 1st Battalion, fought in the first Indo-Pak War in 1948. From 1959 to 1962, he served in the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) area.
After more training, he became a brigade major in the 50 Independent Para Brigade. Later, he was second-in-command of the 1st Para (Special Forces) battalion. This was in the Uri sector. He then commanded this battalion from 1965 to 1968.
The 1965 War: Capturing Haji Pir Pass
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Ranjit Singh was a Major. He led his team, the 1st Para, to capture the important Haji Pir pass. This pass was later given back to Pakistan after the Tashkent Agreement.
The original plan was to capture Rustan and Badori first. Ranjit Singh's unit was supposed to capture Sank, Sar, and Ledwali Gali. This would stop enemy soldiers from sneaking in. However, their first attack on Sank on August 25-26 was not successful. Eighteen soldiers were hurt.
Ranjit Singh's paratroopers captured Sank the next night, August 26-27. They took Point 1033 the day after that. Other groups had tried and failed to capture Rustan and Badori four times. Ranjit Singh then offered to capture the Haji Pir pass himself. His battalion took over the mission on August 27.
His unit marched along a stream called Hyderabad nullah. They only had damp shakarparas (a sweet snack) and biscuits to eat. Pakistani soldiers shot at them, but a sudden rain shower helped them hide. They captured some Pakistani soldiers from a house. They took their weapons and made them carry supplies.
The unit launched their final attack on the pass on August 28. They walked 4,000 feet uphill. The attack worked, and the Pakistani troops left the pass. Ranjit Singh Dyal received the Maha Vir Chakra award for his bravery in this mission.
Government Service
After his military career, Ranjit Singh Dyal became a government official. He served as the 10th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. This was from June 1988 to February 1990. After that, Dyal became the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He held this position from 1990 to 1993.
Later Years
In his final years, General Singh was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He passed away on January 29, 2012. He died in the Command Hospital in Panchkula.
