Decorated war veteran and famous hero of the ‘Battle of Longewala’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Brigadier (retd) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, died at a hospital in Mohali near here on Saturday. Brig Chandpuri was suffering from cancer. He is survived by his wife and three sons.
Brig Chandpuri was a recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra — the country’s second-highest gallantry award — for his role at Longewala, an outpost in the Thar desert of Rajasthan. He held off a Pakistani attack while leading a small group of Indian soldiers through the night in the 1971 war.
The 1997 Bollywood classic, Border, in which actor Sunny Deol played role of Brig Chandpuri, was made depicting Longewala battle. Cremation will take place on Monday with full military honours.
Born on November 22, 1940, Chandpuri would have turned 78 in five days time. Brig Chandpuri passed out from the Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai, in 1963 and was commissioned into the 23rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment. He took part in the 1965 war on the western sector and, thereafter, served in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) for about a year. He also served twice as an instructor at the Infantry School, Mhow.
Chandpuri was nominated as Councillor in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation where he served his term (2006-2011) with active participation
in proceedings inside and outside the house.
Punjab CM condoled the passing away of Chandpuri.
Recalling the “remarkable services” of Brig. Chandpuri, Amarinder, a former Army captain himself, said: “He was an astute and illustrious army officer who handled several military operations immaculately, besides a prolific writer on defence preparedness and military warfare strategies.”
“His exemplary and heroic leadership in the Battle of Longewala would be ever remembered by one and all and especially inspire the young soldiers and officers of the defence services to discharge their duties with utmost devotion, commitment and sincerity,” Amarinder added.
Describing Chandpuri’s demise “as a huge loss to military fraternity”, the CM said in death of a valiant soldier, nation has lost a great son of the soil.
Citation for his Mahavir Chakra Award reads: “Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was commanding a company battalion of the Punjab Regiment occupying a defended locality in the Rajasthan Sector.”
At Battle of Longewala, Chandpuri exhibited dynamic leadership, exceptional courage and determination in holding his command intact and steadfast. He inspired his men moving from bunker to bunker till the reinforcements arrived, the citation added.