Inderbal Singh Bawa, MVC

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Inderbal Singh Bawa was born on 25 May 1947 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the son of Dr H. S. Bawa. He completed his schooling at DAV Higher Secondary School, Shimla, and was commissioned into the 4/5 Gorkha Rifles on 11 June 1967. He played an active role in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, where he was a constant source of inspiration to his men, and was regarded by his comrades as a capable leader and a fine officer. In October 1987, during India's intervention against the LTTE in Sri Lanka, Lt Col Bawa landed with his battalion at Palai and was immediately committed to battle. His unit was tasked with clearing heavily fortified militant strongholds along the Vasavilan–Urumpirai–Jaffna Fort axis, where he personally led his troops and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. His battalion was later assigned to extricate elements of 12 Sikh Light Infantry and 10 Para Commando teams trapped at Kondavil. Leading his men through heavily fortified terrain, he successfully accomplished the extrication on 13 October 1987. During the operation a militant suicide squad opened a hail of fire on him, and Lt Col Bawa fell fighting valiantly in the line of duty. For his exceptional courage, unwavering leadership and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.