• Know about the Lion of Richhmar Gali – Karam Singh (PVC recipient), his contribution during the 1948 war with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir and Lessons from his life. 

This is fourth in a series of PVC awardees, the first three being on Major Somnath Sharma, Piru Singh Shekhawat and Rama Raghoba Rane.

This article was first published in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Journal.

In the golden fields of Punjab, a boy was born who would one day stand like an unshakable wall between his country and danger. His name was Karam Singh. This is the story of how a farmer’s son became a soldier whose courage roared louder than the enemy’s guns, inspiring generations with steadfast bravery, sacrifice, and love for the motherland.

Early Life and Inspirations

Karam Singh was born on September 15, 1915, in Sehna village in Punjab’s Barnala district. The open fields were his playground, and the sky seemed to set no limits. He ran barefoot across farmland, raced friends, and leapt over hedges with the ease of a natural athlete. Mornings spent outdoors and afternoons on the playground built his strength, balance, and resilience. 

Formal lessons could not contain his restless energy, but sports did. He excelled in the high jump and pole vault, showing early that patience, timing, and physical courage came naturally to him.

From his father, Sardar Uttam Singh, he absorbed quiet but firm values—honesty, hard work, and loyalty—that would guide every decision he later made.

As a child, Karam Singh listened intently to stories told by World War I veterans in his village. Their tales of service and sacrifice planted a lasting seed. Long before he wore a uniform, the idea of serving his country had taken root in his heart.

School Adventures and Big Dreams

At the village school, Karam Singh was known for quick thinking and a helpful nature. He loved outdoor games that tested strength and skill, often leading mock battles in the fields. Friends remembered how he instinctively protected the youngest children, placing himself at the front. His ambition was simple and unwavering: to join the Indian Army and make his village proud.

Soldier, Sportsman, and Leader

On September 15, 1941—his 26th birthday—Karam Singh was enrolled in the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment. What began as a childhood dream became a life of disciplined service. Army life suited him. Training at Ranchi refined the athletic skills he already possessed—speed, balance, and timing—and gave them purpose.

He was posted to the Burma front during World War II, where years of hardship taught him leadership under pressure. He learned how to steady frightened men, act decisively, and lead from the front. He fought in the Battle of the Admin Box in 1944 against Japanese forces, earning the Military Medal for his fearless conduct.

By the time India gained independence in 1947, Karam Singh was already a decorated war veteran. He was among the five soldiers chosen by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to hoist the national flag on August 15, 1947.

Quiet and conscientious, he rose through the ranks not by seeking glory but by earning trust. He married Gurdial Kaur and had two children. Yet even as a family man, his deepest responsibility remained with the men under his command and the nation he served.

The Battle at Richhmar Gali 

During the 1947–48 war over Jammu and Kashmir, the Tithwal sector became a crucial battleground. On May 23, 1948, Indian forces captured Tithwal, but the enemy launched repeated efforts to reclaim it.

On October 13, 1948, at Richhmar Gali, Lance Naik Karam Singh commanded a forward post facing enemy troops outnumbering his section ten to one. At dawn,

heavy shelling smashed bunkers and collapsed trenches. Ammunition was scarce, and many soldiers were wounded. Through smoke and flying rock fragments, Karam Singh moved across the position, distributing ammunition, tending to the injured, and urging his men to stand firm.

Despite being wounded he refused to withdraw.

The enemy launched eight determined assaults throughout the day. Each time, he met them calmly—throwing grenades, directing fire, and refusing to allow panic to take hold. When the attackers briefly gained a foothold inside the platoon area, Karam Singh fixed a bayonet, leapt from his trench, and led a fierce close-quarter counterattack that drove them back. 

By nightfall, his section—though badly battered—had held every position. Not a single bunker was lost. For his extraordinary courage, leadership, and devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds, Lance Naik Karam Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest wartime gallantry honour.

Unshakable Resolve

During the fighting, Karam Singh repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades, crawling them to safety with the help of another soldier. Though twice wounded in the hands, he refused evacuation.

When a weary comrade whispered that only four men remained against a growing enemy, Karam Singh answered with action. He picked up a grenade, shouted “Jo bole so nihaal, Sat Sri Akaal,” and hurled it with the precision of a sportsman. The blast broke the enemy’s momentum.

When another soldier feared their sacrifice would be meaningless, Karam Singh replied firmly, “If we give our lives here, then our value will increase.” His words were not boastful but resolute. Hearing him, the wounded found strength, the fearful found resolve, and the defence held until the enemy finally withdrew.

Courage That Chose Justice

Karam Singh’s bravery extended beyond the battlefield. 

While posted at the Sikh Regimental Centre in Meerut, he discovered that sacks of sugar meant for soldiers were being soaked with water to increase weight and profits. Refusing to tolerate the dishonesty, he confronted those responsible. When a powerful mill owner retaliated, Karam Singh was wrongfully dismissed from service. He did not accept the injustice. Carrying his medals, he walked to Delhi, met the President, and spoke the truth. His service was restored.

The episode proved that true courage also means standing up for what is right, even when the odds are against you.

Awards, Legacy, and Influence 

On June 21, 1950, the Param Vir Chakra formally recognised Karam Singh’s dauntless leadership and devotion to duty. He became the first living recipient of the honour and the only soldier to receive both the Military Medal and the Param Vir Chakra.

He retired as an Honorary Captain in 1969 and passed away on January 20, 1993. His life bridged eras—from colonial battlefields in Burma to the icy ridges of Kashmir—showing how determination and integrity can shape history.

His actions at Tithwal are studied in Indian military academies as a textbook example of command under extreme pressure. Recruits from rural India see in him proof that humble beginnings are no barrier to extraordinary service. Within the Sikh Regiment, his stand at Richhmar Gali remains a defining legend, retold

to every new jawan as a reminder that holding the line is a sacred duty.

Lessons for Young Hearts

Karam Singh lived a life where honour matched action. His story is not of a single day’s glory but of steady courage, loyalty, and fairness.

His life teaches simple but enduring lessons:

1. Courage is not the absence of fear, but action despite it.

2. Leadership means protecting your team, even at great personal risk.

3. Love for one’s country can give ordinary people extraordinary strength.

4. Speaking up against injustice is a form of bravery.

5. Sacrifice leaves a legacy that inspires generations.

A Promise to Remember

The story of Lance Naik Karam Singh is not only about medals or battles. It is about choosing right over wrong, standing firm when everything seems to collapse, and putting others before oneself.

His courage continues to echo—in classrooms, playgrounds, and everyday choices—reminding children and adults alike that bravery is not limited to battlefields. Like the lion he was named after, his roar still lives on in the values of honour, loyalty and selfless service. 

This article was first published in the Bhavan’s Journal, March 16-31, 2026 issue. This article is courtesy and copyright Bhavan’s Journal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai-400007. eSamskriti has obtained permission from Bhavan’s Journal to share. Do subscribe to the Bhavan’s Journal – it is very good.

Also read

1. The Battle of SHALTENG-Story of How Srinagar was saved in 1947

2. All about Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India

3. Why India must Remember Brig RAJINDER SINGH of Jammu and Kashmir