Hanut Singh Rathore

Who is Hanut Singh Rathore?

Hanut Singh Rathore, also referred as Hanut Singh is 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.

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'.

Hanut Singh is the elder brother of former Finance minister of India Jaswant Singh.