A Special Tribute on His 77th Birthday (6 January 2026)
By Ravi Rohmetra
Captain Bana Singh is a distinguished Indian Army veteran and a proud recipient of the nation’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. He was honoured in 1987 for displaying extraordinary courage and leadership during the mission to evict Pakistani intruders from the Siachen Glacier.
At the time of the gallant action, he was serving as a Naib Subedar in the 8th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. Over the years, he rose through the ranks to become Subedar, Subedar Major, and finally Captain. As a Param Vir Chakra awardee, he also earned the rare honour of leading the Republic Day Parade and being the first to salute the President of India.
Not only were four major face-offs between the Indian and Pakistani armies fought on the battlefield, but several other strategic fronts also witnessed heroic resistance by Indian soldiers. The Siachen Front remains one of the most formidable theatres of war, where Naib Subedar Bana Singh’s courage and determination etched an everlasting chapter in military history.
The Battlefield of Ice
Siachen is beyond imagination. Located at a staggering height of 21,153 feet above sea level, it endures bone-chilling temperatures plunging to –35°C, with winds raging at 40 to 60 km per hour. Breathing itself becomes an ordeal, and survival is a constant battle. Yet, the region holds immense strategic importance as it lies at the confluence of the borders of India, Pakistan, and China.
Following the Karachi Agreement of 1949, the ceasefire line was drawn from Khor in the north to Manawar in the south, extending towards the glaciers near NJ9842. Despite the inhospitable terrain where not even a blade of grass grows, Pakistan continued provocative actions, including shifting nearly 5,180 square kilometres of territory that rightfully belonged to India towards China and allowing foreign expeditions in the area.
The 1987 Siachen Operation
In 1987, Pakistan violated the sanctity of the region by constructing a fortified post inside Indian territory on the Siachen Glacier, naming it “Quaid Post” after Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Built like a fortress atop the glacier, it was protected by towering ice walls nearly 1,500 feet high.
The Indian Army resolved to reclaim the post. When volunteers were called, Naib Subedar Bana Singh stepped forward without hesitation.
Accompanied by four soldiers, he began the perilous ascent under extreme conditions—biting cold, howling winds, and relentless snowfall. Weapons malfunctioned in the freezing temperatures. Along the climb, they encountered the frozen bodies of fellow soldiers who had earlier sacrificed their lives attempting the same mission.
Defying all odds, Bana Singh and his team reached the summit under cover of darkness. He divided his men into two groups, launched a fierce grenade assault on the enemy bunkers, and engaged the Pakistani SSG commandos in close combat. The enemy was taken by complete surprise and fled the post, leaving behind their positions.
Within a short span, Quaid Post was firmly under Indian control. The victory was decisive, and the mission was accomplished with exceptional bravery.
A Nation’s Salute
Captain Bana Singh’s life and courage continue to inspire generations. His birthday is not merely a date on the calendar — it is a festival of national pride for every Indian.
Happy Birthday to our Param Vir Chakra hero.
(Ravi Rohmetra is a freelance writer and social activist and can be reached at Mob. No. 9419652999)
