Lt Col Dharam Singh, MVC hailed from Badesara village in  Bhiwani district of Haryana. He was born on 10th July 1910,  he is the only son of his parents, his father Chaudhary Ujala Singh was also an retired Subedar Major from the Indian Army. Dharam Singh after finishing his schooling, joined the  Indian Army in 1932. He was commissioned as an officer in the Indian Army on 15th May, 1941.  L. Col Dharam Singh has six sons. Five of them are serving in the Army as regular officers. His sixth son lives in the New Zealand. His only daughter is married to a Brigadier in the Indian Army.

Military Career

 Lt Col Dharam Singh, enlisted in the British Indian Army (1/19th Hyderabad Regiment) on 08 Feb 1933 and was commissioned on 15 May 1941. He saw active service in the North West Frontier Province (Razmak- South of Bannu) (Feb 1940-Mar 1941) Middle East (Iraq, Palestine and Egypt)(Oct 1941- 1944) as part of the PAI Force (Persia and Iraq Force) and Burma(July 1944-Aug 1945) Post World War II he served in Indo-China (now Vietnam) in Saigon (Sep1945- Jan 1946) and Indonesia (Jan 1946- Jun 1946) in Sulawesi, Borneo and East Java.

After Independence 1/19th Hyderabad Regiment was re-designated I Para (Kumaon) and he assumed command of the unit in Feb 1948. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra during the Jammu and Kashmir Operations on 08 Nov 1948 during the second Poonch link up (Operation Easy) for the capture of Point 6307 in Bhimbar Gali and was wounded in action. He was awarded with Mahavir Chakra for his act of bravery and military acumen.

Besides the Maha Vir Chakra, during his service he was awarded the Parakram Padak (wound medal),General Service Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, Indian Independence Medal, Africa Star, Burma Star,1939- 45 Star ,War Medal 1939-1945, Defence Medal and General Service Medal. He retired from service in Jul 1962.

 Lt Col Dharam Singh,  led a very active life after his retirement. After retirement he was the Vice-President of the Zila Sainik Board, Bhiwani for many years. He lived a long and happy life and left for his heavenly abode on 18 Aug 1984 at the ripe old age of 74 years.

 Lt Col Dharam Singh is survived by his Children and grand children.

The Citation for Maha Vir Chakra Reads him to:

“On the night of 7 November 1948, during the attack on a feature, Lieutenant Colonel Dharam Singh led his battalion extremely well over a difficult country and against a determined enemy To capture the feature, he fought five actions in pitch darkness without artillery support. This officer was always with his forward company and did not care for his personal safety. His conduct in carrying out this attack was an inspiration to all his men, which eventually led to the capture of the feature at dawn. But for his personal bravery, initiative and strong leadership this attack would not have succeeded jeopardising the entire operation.”

Besides the Maha Vir Chakra, during his service he was awarded :

• Parakram Padak (wound medal),
• General Service Medal, Sainya Seva Medal,
• Indian Independence Medal, 
•  Africa Star,
• Burma Star,1939- 45, 
• Star War Medal 1939-1945, 
•  Defence Medal
• ,  General Service Medal