Sagat Singh
Encyclopedia
Sagat Singh (14 July 1918 – 26 September 2001) was a General in the Indian army
notable for his participation in liberation of Goa
and later in Bangladesh. He held man prestigious command and staff appointments throughout his military career.
He was born at a small Village - Kusumdesar (Moda) in Churu district
of Rajasthan
in 1918. He was commissioned in the Jaipur State Forces. On amalgamation of the State Forces in 1950 he joined Third Gorkha Rifles. He commanded the Second and Third Battalions of the Third Gorkha Rifles. In September 1961 He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and posted as the Brigade Commander of India’s only Parachute Brigade, the 50th. The Parachute Brigade led by him played a prominent part in liberation of Goa and his men were the first to enter Panjim on 19 December 1961.
As a Major General he commanded a Mountain Division and later a Communication Zone where he played a pivotal role in taking counter insurgency operations in Mizoram
. For his distinguished services he was awarded the PVSM . In December 1970 he took over the command of HQ 4 Corps as a Lieutenant General.The Corps made the famous advance to Dacca over the River Meghna during Bangladesh Liberation War
in 1971. He witnessed in Dacca the signing of the surrender instrument by General Niazi.
For his leadership and command for the race to Dacca the Government of India
honored Sagat Singh through an award of Padma Bhushan
, Sagat Singh being the only other corps commander besides T N Raina and Sartaj Singh to be so awarded in 1971.
Sagat Singh retired from the army on 30 November 1976. He had a personal tragedy in 1976. His son Captain Digvijay Singh died in a jeep accident in Poonch
in May 1976.
He died at Army Hospital Research & Referral, New Delhi
on 26 September 2001.
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
notable for his participation in liberation of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and later in Bangladesh. He held man prestigious command and staff appointments throughout his military career.
He was born at a small Village - Kusumdesar (Moda) in Churu district
Churu district
Churu is a district of Rajasthan state of western India. The town of Churu is the administrative headquarters of the district.Churu lies in the Jangladesh region of northern Rajasthan...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
in 1918. He was commissioned in the Jaipur State Forces. On amalgamation of the State Forces in 1950 he joined Third Gorkha Rifles. He commanded the Second and Third Battalions of the Third Gorkha Rifles. In September 1961 He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and posted as the Brigade Commander of India’s only Parachute Brigade, the 50th. The Parachute Brigade led by him played a prominent part in liberation of Goa and his men were the first to enter Panjim on 19 December 1961.
As a Major General he commanded a Mountain Division and later a Communication Zone where he played a pivotal role in taking counter insurgency operations in Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
. For his distinguished services he was awarded the PVSM . In December 1970 he took over the command of HQ 4 Corps as a Lieutenant General.The Corps made the famous advance to Dacca over the River Meghna during Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in 1971. He witnessed in Dacca the signing of the surrender instrument by General Niazi.
For his leadership and command for the race to Dacca the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
honored Sagat Singh through an award of Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, Sagat Singh being the only other corps commander besides T N Raina and Sartaj Singh to be so awarded in 1971.
Sagat Singh retired from the army on 30 November 1976. He had a personal tragedy in 1976. His son Captain Digvijay Singh died in a jeep accident in Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...
in May 1976.
He died at Army Hospital Research & Referral, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
on 26 September 2001.
Further reading
- Col. C L Proudfoot Flash of the Khukri : History of the 3rd Gorkha Rifles Regiment,Vision Books
- Air Chief Marshal P C LalPratap Chandra LalAir Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal was the Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He served in the IAF from 1939 until his retirement in 1973. He served as CO of No. 7 Squadron, AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, VCAS and Managing Director of Hindustan...
, My Years with the IAFMy Years with the IAFMy Years with the IAF is the title of the autobiography of Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal. ACM Lal was the chief of the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is considered one of the best chiefs the IAF ever had...
, Lancer International - Maj. Gen. Afsir Karim The Story of India’s Airborne Troops Lancer International
- Siddiq Salik Witness to Surrender Vikas Publications
- Maj. Gen. Sukhwant Singh The liberation of Bangladesh Vikas Publications
- Maj. Gen. Lachman Singh Lehl Victory in Bangladesh Natraj Publications
External links
- Remembering Sagat Singh (1918-2001) by P.V.S.Jagan Mohan - www.bharat-rakshak.com
- Memorial Service for General Sagat Singh - Press Information Bureau