Brigadier
Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...
Amarjit Singh Bal,
MVC was an officer of the
Indian Army
The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...
, who served with the
17 Horse. He was awarded the
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) () is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the B ...
, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, during the
Battle of Basantar
The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind (December 4–16, 1971), was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won ...
in the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Military career
During the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Brigadier Amarjit Singh Bal held the rank of Major. Major Amarjit Singh Bal's, unit was deployed on the western front in the Shakargarh Sector. During the
Battle of Basantar
The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind (December 4–16, 1971), was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won ...
on 15 and 16 December 1971, he was commanding a tank
squadron of
17 Lancers and was tasked to defend a bridgehead on the Basantar river. Located at Jarpal, overlooking the river, his squadron was highly in a highly fortified position. His highly fortified position was attacked by Pakistani troops once but Maj. Amarjit Singh Bal inspired his men to successfully repel the Pakistani attacks.
In the battle, Major Amarjit Singh Bal displayed conspicuous gallantry and outstanding leadership and was awarded the
Maha Vir Chakra
The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) () is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the B ...
, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
Major Amarjit Singh Bal later rose to the rank of Brigadier.
See also
*
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
*
Battle of Basantar
The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind (December 4–16, 1971), was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bal, Amarjit Singh
Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra
Indian Army officers
Indian Sikhs
1940 births
2010 deaths