Lt Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa

Born:10 April 1928

Died:5 September 2005

• He was an Indian Army officer, and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration. Thapa was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles in 1949.
• The Sino-Indian War began in October 1962; on 21 October, the Chinese advanced to north of Pangong Lake with the objective of capturing Sirijap and Yula.
• Srijap 1 was a post established on the northern bank of Pangong Lake by the 1st Battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles and commanded by Major Dhan Singh Thapa.
• Soon the post was surrounded by greatly superior Chinese forces.
• Major Thapa and his men held the post and repelled three attacks before eventually being overrun.
• The survivors, including Thapa, were taken as prisoners of war. For his gallant actions and his efforts to motivate his men under fire he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
• Thapa was released from captivity after the war ended. Following retirement from the Army, he worked for a brief period with Sahara Airlines.
• He was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles on 28 August 1949.

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