Remembering Martyr Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria on his birth anniversary, only United Nations Peacekeeper to receive the Param Vir Chakra

 

Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was an Indian Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration for his exceptional bravery and selflessness during the 1961 UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, displaying exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy.

 

Born on 29 November 1935, in Gurdaspur, Punjab, he was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the 1 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army, an infantry regiment known for it’s fearless soldiers and numerous battle exploits.

 

In 1961, as part of the UN peacekeeping mission, Salaria's battalion was deployed to Congo, a country facing political unrest. The mission involved not only maintaining peace but also addressing the internal conflicts within Congo. Salaria, a young officer, found himself in the midst of a challenging and volatile situation.

 

The critical moment occurred on December 5, 1961, 3/1 GORKHA RIFLES was ordered to clear a roadblock established by Katangese troops in Elizabethville, Katanga. When Captain Salaria tried to link up with the Gorkha Company to reinforce the roadblock, he met strong enemy opposition. The enemy brought down heavy automatic fire on his force. Captain Salaria's men charged the enemy with bayonets, khukris and hand grenades, killing 40 of the enemy and destroying two enemy cars.

 

Captain Salaria, despite being wounded in the neck, continued fighting, till he succumbed to his injuries. His bold and courageous action completely demoralised the enemy, who fled despite the numerical superiority, thus saving the UN Headquarters in Elizabethville.

 

 

Tragically, Gurbachan Singh Salaria succumbed to his injuries during the operation. However, his indomitable spirit and sacrifice did not go unnoticed. For his exceptional gallantry and selfless dedication beyond the call of duty, he became the first and only UN’s Peacekeeper to receive India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra.