Saurabh Singh Shekhawat
Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM is one of the most decorated serving officers in the Indian Army who is also an accomplished mountaineer. He is a member of the 21st battalion of the Para. He has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his various acts of gallantry displayed in anti-terrorist operations, mountaineering and distinguished service.
Career
Shekhawat was commissioned in the Indian Army as a second lieutenant in 1994, from the prestigious Officers Training Academy, Chennai through UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination may 1992 and was promoted lieutenant on 11 June 1996 and captain on 11 June 1999. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 11 June 2007 and to colonel on 6 January 2010.He has ascended Mount Everest three times in 2001, 2003 and 2005. He has also climbed Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, and Mount Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. In October 2009 he led the joint Indo-Kazakh team to scale the Kazakhstan peak of Marble Wall peak in Kazakhstan.
Shekhawat has scaled 14 high peaks, some more than once.
Controversy
In 2017, he accused two former army chiefs, Gen. Bikram Singh and Gen. Dalbir Singh, and a senior serving officer, Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna of victimizing him. This was in relation to an operation in Jorhat in December 2011.Awards
| Kirti Chakra | Shaurya Chakra | Sena Medal | Vishisht Seva Medal |
| Samanya Seva Medal | Operation Vijay Star Medal | Special Service Medal | Siachen Glacier Medal |
| Operation Vijay Medal | Operation Parakram Medal | Sainya Seva Medal | Videsh Seva Medal |
| 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal | 20 Years Long Service Medal | 9 Years Long Service Medal | MONUSCO |
Brgd. Shekhawat has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, the Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal and the Samanya Seva Medal amongst other medals in his service with the Indian Army