1971 war hero Col. Dharam Vir passes away
Colonel Dharam Vir, 76, war hero of 1971 Battle of Longewala with Pakistan, whose role was portrayed by actor Akshaye Khanna in the Bollywood blockbuster “Border”, passed away on Monday in Gurgaon.
Colonel Dharam Vir had first detected the massive Pakistani formation which included tanks moving towards Longewala post and had sent alert about it.
He was suffering from age related ailments. “He was suffering from diabetes related complications from last two years. He also suffered brain strokes twice in last one and a half month. He passed away on Monday morning around 10 am,” Lt. Col. Gaurav Bhakhri, youngest son of Colonel Dharam Vir told this newspaper.
He played a crucial role in the famous Battle of Longewala, which was one of the first major battles in the Western sector, in the Thar Desert of
Rajasthan during IndiaPakistan 1971 War. The battle is famous as a company of around 120 soldiers of 23 Punjab led by Major (later Brigadier) Kuldip Singh Chandpuri successfully fought back a surprise attack by 2000
Pakistani soldiers who were backed by over 40 tanks.
Lt. Dharam Vir, on December 4, along with a platoon, was on patrol to the border to detect any ingress by enemy into Indian territory. The patrol took position around a Border Post.
At night Lt. Dharam Vir heard, the thundering sound of Pakistani tanks across the border that in all probability were heading towards Longewala post. While, this information was relayed back, no one initially believed it. However, past midnight Lt Dharam Vir was able to see the tanks and other formation moving towards Longewala. He shadowed the Pakistanis and relayed back information about its composition and numbers.
Born on 20 August 1945, in Ghudani Kalan village of Ludhiana District, Colonel Dharam Vir was commissioned in June 1969 in the Punjab Regiment. He commanded 23 Punjab from May 1992 to December 1994 and retired from active service in 1997.