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Saurabh Singh Shekhawat

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Brigadier

Saurabh Singh Shekhawat

KC, SC, SM, VSM
Shekhawat during an interview (pictured as a Colonel).
Born (1970-10-18) 18 October 1970 (age 54)
Alwar, Rajasthan, India
Allegiance India
Service / branch Indian Army
Years of service11 June 1994 – 31 August 2024
Rank Brigadier
Service numberIC - 52871
Unit21 Para (SF)
17 Maratha LI
Commands9 Para (SF)
21 Para (SF)
Battles / wars
Awards Kirti Chakra
Shaurya Chakra
Sena Medal (Gallantry)
Vishisht Seva Medal
Alma materIndian Military Academy, Dehradun
Spouse(s)Dr. Renuka Shekhawat
RelationsDr. Jaswant Singh Shekhawat (Father)
Dr. Shraddha Chauhan (Mother)

Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM is a former Indian Army officer of the 21 Para (SF) and an avid mountaineer. He is one of Indian Army's most decorated officers, with one war-time gallantry award and two peace-time gallantry awards to his name.[1][2]

Early life

Shekhawat was born in a Hindu Rajput Family on 18 October 1970 in Alwar, Rajasthan. His Father's name is Dr Jaswant Singh Shekhawat and his mother's name is Dr Shraddha Chauhan, a DLit and PhD.[3]

Career

Military career

Shekhawat was commissioned in the 17 battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry as a Second Lieutenant from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on 11 June 1994. Later he opted for 21 Maratha LI which was being converted to Special Forces and it was made 21 Para SF, so he became part of Elite Para SF. Later he got promoted to lieutenant on 11 June 1996, captain on 11 June 1999 and major on 16 Dec 2004.[4][5][2] He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 11 June 2007 and to colonel on 6 January 2010 (seniority from 1 January). He Commanded 21 Para Special Forces as it's Commanding Officer. [6][7] He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in March 2020.[8]

Mountaineering Career

Shekhawat has ascended Mount Everest three times in 2001, 2003 and 2005. He has also climbed Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, and Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe.[9] In October 2009 he led the joint Indo-Kazakh team to scale the Kazakhstan peak of Marble Wall peak in Kazakhstan [10] He has climbed 14 peaks in the world till date. On 23 June 2022, a 55 men Indian Army expedition team, led by Shekhawat, successfully scaled the climb to Shahi Kangri.[11]

Controversies

Victimization claim

In 2017, Shekhawat filed a complaint to the Ministry of Defence accusing two former army chiefs, Gen. Bikram Singh and Gen. Dalbir Singh, and a senior serving officer, Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna of victimizing him. Shekhawat claimed he was denied promotion because of lackluster reviews in annual confidential reports given to him as retaliation.[12] Shekhawat claimed the trigger for the victimization was his report made officially to the Army about a dacoity in Jorhat of a private citizen's residence involving personnel of the 3 Corps Counter Intelligence and Surveillance Unit in December 2011.[13][14] At the time of the robbery, Gen. Dalbir Singh was then Corps Commander of 3 Corps and Lt. Gen. Abhay Krishna was then Shekhawat's brigadier general staff (operations). Shekhawat claimed Krihsna acted on Gen. Dalbir Singh's behalf to give him poor performance reviews.[14] When Gen. Bikram Singh became Army Chief, the Discipline and Vigilance Ban imposed on Gen. Dalbir Singh by the previous Army Chief for inaction over the robbery was lifted and Gen. Dalbir Singh was further promoted.[14]

Shekhawat also alleged that Gen. Dalbir Singh tried to harm his career by preventing him from taking the Higher Command Course, a qualification for promotion. But since the weightage for the course selection took into account medals and field service, he qualified for the course to the alleged chagrin of Gen. Dalbir Singh. Shekhawat speculated that Gen. Dalbir Singh in reaction was able to get weightage of medals and field service removed from consideration for higher command courses from 2014 onwards.[14]

Dispute with The Week

On 14 March 2020, the current affairs magazine The Week published a story on Shekhawat titled ‘ decorated Colonel Saurabh Singh Shekhawat promoted after years of wait’ regarding the claims by Shekhawat of victimization at the hands of senior officers. Shekhawat in response wrote a letter to The Week claiming the story was inaccurate and said such stories "hurt the sentiment" of soldiers who serve and create doubts in the minds of the general public about the Army. The reporter Pradip R. Sagar provided a rebuttal by pointing out the story was not meant to "cast aspersions" on the Army but highlight accusations made against top Army brass.[15]

Awards

Kirti Chakra Shaurya Chakra
Sena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva Medal
Operation Vijay Star Special Service Medal Siachen Glacier Medal Operation Vijay Medal
Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal
50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal MONUSCO

Shekhawat has been awarded the Kirti Chakra,[9][16][17] the Shaurya Chakra,[18] Sena Medal (Gallantry),[19] Vishisht Seva Medal[20] and the Samanya Seva Medal[19] amongst other medals for anti-terrorist operations, mountaineering and distinguished service.[21][22][23] Shekhawat in a letter to Army headquarters in 2017 referred to himself as the "highest decorated serving officer in the army with an unblemished operational profile."[24]

Personal life

Shekhawat is married to Dr Renuka Shekhawat, a professor of Sanskrit at Rajasthan University.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "'Special Forces My Religion,' Says Decorated Army Officer In Viral Clip". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b SSBCrackExams (5 March 2021). "5 Inspiring Facts About Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, 21 PARA SF, Kirti Chakra". SSBCrackExams. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Capt Saurabh Singh Shekhawat". Gallantry Awards.
  4. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 7 September 1996. p. 1290.
  5. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 September 1999. p. 1249.
  6. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 8 December 2007. p. 1893.
  7. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 3 March 2012. p. 223.
  8. ^ R Sagar, Pradeep (14 March 2020). "'Victimised' decorated officer Colonel Saurabh Shekhawat gets promoted after years of wait". The Week.
  9. ^ a b "Official Website of Indian Army".
  10. ^ Unnithan, Sandeep (8 November 2009). "Peak performance". India Today. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Indian expedition scales Shahi kangri plateue". Twitter.com. 22 June 2022.
  12. ^ "'Victimised' decorated officer Colonel Saurabh Shekhawat gets promoted after years of wait". The Week. 14 March 2020.
  13. ^ "'I have been victimised,' says army's most decorated officer". Hindustan Times. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d "Jorhat robbery case echo: Colonel claims victimisation". Indian Express. 17 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Army officer seeks apology over article; THE WEEK responds". The Week. 3 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Untitled Document".
  17. ^ "Lt Col Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, SC, SM, VSM". Gallantry Awards.
  18. ^ "Untitled Page".
  19. ^ a b "Tribute to men who fight for the nation - Part 2-Heroes-Weekend Shows -TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos". Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Rashtriya Rifles pick up lion's share of gallantry awards". The Tribune. India. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Karkare, Sharma among 11 to get Ashok Chakra". Rediff News. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  22. ^ "President confers gallantry and distinguished service awards". Thaindian News. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  23. ^ "Gallantry awards for Servicesmen". The Times of India. 23 August 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  24. ^ "Indian Army's top officer claims of 'systematic victimisation' by ex-Army chiefs: report". India TV. 16 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Indian Women- Acing the ageing …Like never before!".
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