Sagat Singh


Sagat Singh, PVSM was a General Officer in the Indian Army notable for his participation in invasion of Goa and later in Bangladesh. He held many prestigious command and staff appointments throughout his military career.

Early life and education

Singh was born in the village of Kusumdesar in Churu district of Rajasthan on 14 July 1919 to Brijlal Singh Rathore of Kusumdesar and Jadao Kanwar of Hadla. The oldest of three brothers and six sisters, he completed his schooling from Walter Nobles High School at Bikaner in 1936.

Military Career

Bikaner Ganga Risala

He joined Dungar College at Bikaner but was enrolled as a Naik in Bikaner Ganga Risala after his intermediate exam in 1938. Later, he was promoted to Jemadar and commissioned as a Second lieutenant in Bikaner Ganga Risala which was sent to Sind in 1941 to deal with the Hoor rebellion. Later it was sent to Jubair in Iraq and Ahwaz in Iran during the war. He was selected for the 12th War Staff course at Quetta from May to November 1945.
under the gaze of Lt Gen J S Aurora. Standing immediately behind VAdm Nilakanta Krishnan, Air Mshl Hari Chand Dewan, Lt Gen Sagat Singh and Maj Gen J. F. R. Jacob.

Indian Army

On amalgamation of the State Forces in 1950, he joined Third Gorkha Rifles. He commanded the Second and Third Battalions of the Third Gorkha Rifles. In September 1961, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier and posted as the brigade commander of India's only parachute brigade, the 50th Parachute Brigade. The parachute brigade led by him played a prominent part in liberation of Goa, and his men were the first to enter Panjim on 19 December 1961.
As a Major General, he was the General Officer Commanding 17 Mountain Division and later a communication zone. While he was the GOC of the mountain division, the Nathu La and Cho La clashes took place, where 17 Mountain Division achieved "decisive tactical advantage" and defeated the Chinese forces in these clashes.
He also played a pivotal role in counter-insurgency operations in Mizoram. For his distinguished services, the general officer was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. In December 1970, he took over the command of HQ IV Corps as a lieutenant general.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the corps made the famous advance to Dhaka over the River Meghna.
Lt Gen Sagat Singh also conceptualised the Indian Army's first heliborne operation in the Battle of Sylhet
He witnessed in Dhaka the signing of the surrender instrument by General Niazi.
For his leadership and command for the race to Dhaka, the Government of India honored Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh with the third highest civilian award of Padma Bhushan. Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh is the only other Corps commander besides Lt. Gen. T N Raina and Lt. Gen. Sartaj Singh to be so awarded in 1971.
Lt. Gen. Sagat Singh died at the Army Hospital Research & Referral, New Delhi on 26 September 2001.

Personal life

He married Kamla Kumari on 27 January 1947; Kamla was daughter of the Chief Justice of J&K, Richhpal Singh. They had four sons, two of whom joined the army. Their eldest son, Ranvijay, was born in February 1949. He was commissioned into 1 Garhwal, which was later mechanised, and re-designated as 6 MECH. He retired a Colonel. The second son, Digvijay, was born in October 1950, and was commissioned into 2/3 Gorkha Rifles, the battalion his father had commanded. Unfortunately, he died an untimely death while serving with the battalion in Poonch as a Captain on 4 March 1976, when the jeep in which he was travelling met with an accident. Their third son, Vir Vijay was born in August 1954. An ill-fated scooter accident in Delhi claimed his life just eight months before that of his elder brother. The loss of two sons in the prime of their lives within a short span of eight months was a terrible loss to Sagat and his wife. Their youngest son Chandra Vijay was born in April 1956. He became a business executive.

In Popular Culture

Lt Gen Sagat Singh's character was played by Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff in the 2018 Indian Hindi-language film Paltan .