1971 War Hero Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri Is No More

1971 India-Pakistan war hero Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri expired in Mohali on Saturday, reports India Today. Brigadier Chandpuri was battling cancer when he died at Fortis Hospital in Mohali, Punjab, at the age of 78.

During the Battle of Longewala, Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was a Major in the Indian Army. The war ended in a victory for India and led to the liberation of Bangladesh. During the early days of the war, Major Chandpuri was posted in the western sector, commanding a little over a hundred soldiers. Under his command, the soldiers successfully defended the Rajasthan’s Longewala border post, against 2,000 Pakistani soldiers.

Chandpuri’s unit frustrated Pakistan's attempt to proceed further from the Longewala post for an entire night of December 4-5, until the Indian Air Force sent fighter aircraft to assist the hundred Indian soldiers. For his exceptional leadership during the Battle of Longewala, Kuldip Singh Chandpuri received India’s second highest gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra.

Sunny Deol played the role of Chandpuri in the JP Dutta's 1997 hit film, Border. The story was based on the events of the Battle of Longewala.

Chandpuri retired from the Indian Army as a Brigadier. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, condoling Kuldip Singh Chandpuri's death, called him “a very brave and distinguished soldier" and said that the "nation is poorer" with his death. His wife and three sons survive him.