A large number of people paid obeisance to ‘Saint General’ Hanut Singh who left for had left for heavenly abode on Saturday at Shiv Balayogi Maharaj Ashram Trust located at Rajpur Road.
Commissioned in the Indian Army in the year 1952, Singh was a war veteran and highly decorated soldier. The general had a spiritual inclination from his days in the Indian Army. He started living at Shiv Balayogi Maharaj Ashram and led an ascetic life totally immersing him in meditation and spirituality. His spiritual forays earned him a sobriquet of Saint General.
As the news of his passing away spread many people visited the Ashram to pay their last respects. One of the disciples of ‘Saint General’ Nripendra Singh told The Pioneer that he expressed his wish to sit in a Samadhi on Friday morning.
He informed that the mortal remains of Singh would be consigned to flames at Haridwar on Monday. The people who arrived in the ashram included many from his native place Jassol in Barmer district. Digvijay Singh, a resident of the village and his relative told The Pioneer that Singh was a reverential figure for the area. A resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan Pranveer Singh Bhinder said that Singh was his local guardian and used to inspire him a lot.
Singh was known for his exploits in the Indo- Pak war of 1971. Commanding the troops of 47 Infantry brigade Singh showed exemplary bravery in the war which is now famous as ‘Battle of Basantar’ in the annals of Indian Army. He received Mahavir Chakra for his exploits.
Captain Arun Kheterpal received Param Vir Chakra (PVC) for the supreme sacrifice he made in this battle. Considered as one of the finest armour commanders the Indian Army ever had, the Saint General was an alumnus of the Col Brown School in Dehradun. As a mark of respect the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) decided to transfer the ownership of piece of plot of land on which his ashram was built, to the war hero.
Governor, CM condole demise of Hanut Singh
The Governor of Uttarakhand Krishnakant Pal and Chief Minister Harish Rawat paid their homage on the demise of ‘Saint General’ Hanut Singh. In their condolence message, the Governor and CM remembered him as a recipient of Mahavir Chakra and the important role he played in Indo PaK war of 1971 and on the other side he showed a new path to the society by living a holy life with meditation and spirituality.