Hanut Singh Rathore

Hanut Singh Rathore (6 July 1933 - 11 April 2015), also referred as Hanut Singh (not to be confused with Maharaja Hanut Singhji of Jodhpur) was a former Lt. General of Indian army. He was decorated with the Mahavir Chakra for his role in the battle of Basantar in 1971 war.
Lt. Gen. (PVSM, MVC) Hanut Singh Rathore was born in Jasol in Pachpadra, Barmer District, to Lt. Col Arjun Singh. He attended the Colonel Brown Cambridge School in Dehradun and the Joint Services Wing academy.
In Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, then Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh commanded the 47 Infantry Brigade. The bridage was deployed to establish a bridgehead across the river Basantar in the Shakargarh sector and to extend support to the infantry battalions. On 16 December 1971, the Lt. Colonel led his forces across the heavily mined river to successfully take position before advance by the infantry battalions. Pakistanis made repeated attacks to dislodge the Indians, but the Lt. Colonel displayed moved from one threatened sector to the other and inspired his men to repulse the armour attack. His unit destroyed 48 Pakistani tanks in the battle and earned him the name 'Hero of Battle of Basantar'.

IC-6126 Lt Gen Hanut Singh Rathore was born on 6 July 1933 to Lt Col Arjun Singh, who famously commanded The Kacchhawa Horse. Hanut comes from Jasol, a village in Pachpadra tehsil, Barmer District. It was established by Rathore rulers who are descendents of the 13th century Rawal Mallinath, a Rajput warrior-saint who was the eldest amongst all houses of Rathores in Rajasthan. The royal houses of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ratlam, Sitamau, Sailana, Idar and Alirajpur trace their lineage to Rathore Rajputs. Jasol Rajputs have been historically fiercely independent, chivalrous, brave and proud.

Hanut studied in Colonel Brown's School at Dehradun and was brilliant at studies; reading up on Rajput history as a hobby. He joined the first course Joint Services Wing (JSW), which, later, became the NDA. Introspected, he stood out for his Spartan outlook, mental grooming, discipline, intellect and character; unusual qualities in a cadet. He was a Polo 'Blue'. In December 1952, he was commissioned into The Poona Horse, a distinguished Cavalry Regiment which had won four Victoria Crosses since its raising in July 1817. Hanut's father had also served in it on attachment. In a delightful, fascinating biography of Hanut in his book, “Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers” Maj Gen VK Singh, Signals, writes about how Hanut modeled himself after the “German General Staff, particularly their total dedication to the profession of arms, and their unmatched expertise in the art of war. He sought to emulate these qualities himself, and motivated other officers in the Regiment to do the same.” He adds that, “as a result, qualities like professionalism, personal rectitude and total dedication to the Regiment and the service became distinctive hallmarks of its officers…” During his time, The Poona Horse, as Hanut himself writes in his wonderfully descriptive and elegant book on its history, developed a spirit over and above its professionalism and élan, which can be described in one word camaraderie a spirit of brotherhood, caring, feeling, and belief that soldiers seek above all.

A diehard bachelor by choice, “Gurudev” Hanut's commitment to soldiers and soldiering was total. Selected for a Centurion tank gunnery course in 1958 in the UK, he topped the course and, on return, rewrote the gunnery instruction manuals at the Armoured Corps Centre and School, Ahmadnagar. It was our superior tank gunnery in 1965 and 1971 that helped turn the scales against Pakistan. A few years later, he was to write our tank war fighting manuals for the Armoured Corps, their value being validated by the fact that these remain standard Army teaching till date. On staff during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, Hanut served as Brigade Major and later in Military Operations Directorate before he was posted to teach tactics at Ahmadnagar before assuming command of The Poona Horse.

The Indian forces fought some of its toughest battles in the Shakargarh sector against Pakistani forces during the 1971 war. Lt. Colonel Hanut Singh commanded the 47 Infantry Brigade which was deployed to establish a bridgehead across the river Basantar, and extend support to the infantry battalions in the ensuing offensive operations.

On the 16th December Lt. Colonel Singh led his forces across the heavily mined river, to successfully take up positions ahead of the infantry advance. The Pakistani army retaliated almost immediately and made repeated attacks on the Indians, but the Colonel displayed remarkable courage in this grave situation and moved from one threatened sector to the other, inspiring his men to remain steadfast. Not only was the enemy Armour attack repulsed, but 48 of their tanks were destroyed.

Lt. Colonel Singh was decorated with the Mahavir Chakra for his role in the battle of Basantar. Lt. Arun Khetrapal was awarded the Paramvir Chakra.

Lieutenant General Surrinder Singh mentions Hanut in book Fakhr-e-Hind - The Story of the Poona Horse:

"Amongst this lot, the officer who was to have the most profound influence was Hanut Singh, who had joined the Regiment in January 1953. A tall, lean and ascetic figure, uncompromising in his beliefs and convictions yet gentle and considerate to his juniors and subordinates, possessed with an exuberant sense of humour and a pungent, ready wit, he was an extremely dedicated and devoted professional. His forte was instruction, delivered in a modulated and compelling tone which carried conviction and understanding. A man of sterling character combined with a forceful personality, he had no time for fools - a fact which was soon apparent to those in this category"

After General Sundharji, when General V.N. Sharma, who was also from the Armoured Corps, was appointed as COAS, Hanut was in all likelihood of being appointed as Army Commander but was sidelined. Having a faultless service record, there was no reason for Hanut not being considered suitable for command of a field army, though was not appointed. When Hanut was informed of his having been passed over by a junior, who conveyed his sorrow, his reply was "Why should you be sorry. It is the Army which should be sorry. If they don't want me, the loss is theirs".

It is believed that when the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi called him up during operation Brasstracks, Lt. Gen. Hanut was in meditation (pooja) and asked the operator to convey the message, the Prime minister then decided that although a hard task master and best man for the job, religious bent of mind may not be suitable to become Chief of the Army and hence later a junior officer was chosen instead.

Hanut Singh never married and was inclined towards ascetic living, he was completed devoted to this way of life after retirement. He lived in an ashram in Dehradun and took samadhi (yoga, meditation until death) on April 10th, a day later his mortal remains were allowed to be visited by ashram devotees. He was cremated at Haridwar.