Arun Khetarpal

Indian Army decorated Second Lieutenant (1950–1971)

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal PVC (14 October 1950 – 16 December 1971) was an Indian military officer and a posthumous recipient of India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, which he was awarded for his valour in face of the enemy. He was killed in action in the Battle of Basantar during the Indo Pakistan War of 1971 where his actions earned him his honour.

Arun Khetarpal was born in Pune, Maharashtra on 14 October 1950 into a Punjabi Hindu Arora family. His family belonged to Sargodha, in present day Pakistan, and had migrated to India after partition as refugees. His father Lt Col (later Brigadier) M. L. Khetarpal was a Corps of Engineers officer serving in the Indian Army Khetarpal joined the National Defence Academy in June 1967. Khetarpal was commissioned into the 17 Poona Horse.

During the Indo Pakistan War of 1971, the 17 Poona Horse was assigned to the command of the 47th Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army. Through the duration of the conflict, the 47th Brigade saw action in the Shakargarh sector in the Battle of Basantar.

Among the tasks set for the 47th Brigade was to establish a bridgehead across the River Basantar. By 21:00 hours of 15 December, the brigade had captured its objectives. However, the place was extensively mined, which prevented the deployment of the tanks of the Poona Horse, and the engineers clearing the mines were halfway through their tasks when Indian troops at the bridge head reported alarming enemy armour activity, asking for immediate armour support. It was at this critical juncture that the 17 Poona Horse decided to push through the mine field. The regiment was able to link up with the infantry at the bridge head by first light the next day.

At 08:00 hours on 16th December, Pakistani armour launched the first of their counter attacks under the cover of a smokescreen at the pivot of the 17th Poona Horse at Jarpal. At 08:00 hours, the Pakistani 13th Lancers, equipped with the then state of the art US made 50 ton Patton tanks, launched the first of their counter attacks under the cover of a smokescreen at 'B' Squadron, The Poona Horse, at Jarpal. Its squadron commander urgently called for reinforcements. Arun Khetarpal, who was in 'A' squadron and was stationed close by with his Centurion tank troop, responded with alacrity, as did the rest of his regiment. The first counter attack was decimated by accurate gunnery, coolness by Indian tank troop and individual tank commanders from the CO, Lt Col Hanut Singh down to its troop leader, Arun Khetarpal. The 13th Lancers desperately launched two more squadron level counter attacks and managed to achieve a breakthrough. Khetarpal rushed to meet the Pakistani armour and launched right into the Pakistani attack. With his troop, he was able to run over the enemy advance with his tanks. However, the commander of the second tank was killed in this attack. Alone in charge, Khetarpal continued his attack on the enemy strongholds. The enemy fought very bravely and did not retreat even after taking losses. Disappointed by his failure so far, he desperately attacked the incoming Pakistani troops and tanks, knocking out a Pakistani tank in the process. However Pakistani forces regrouped and counter attacked. In the ensuing tank battle, Lt. Arun Khetarpal with his 2 remaining tanks fought off and destroyed 10 tanks before he was killed in action.

The skirmish however took its toll on the lieutenant as he was hit by enemy fire, but instead of abandoning the tank he fought on destroying one final tank before he was finally overwhelmed. However, his actions had denied a vital breakthrough for Pakistani forces and instead put the Indians in a stronger position in the Shakargarh bulge. His final words over the radio to a superior officer who had ordered him to abandon his burning tank were,

Khetrapal is an iconic figure in the ethos of the Indian Army with prominent constructions being named after him. The parade ground at NDA is named Khetarpal Ground while the auditorium and one of the main gates bear his name at the IMA. Arun Khetarpal's Centurion was called Famagusta Jx 202. It was restored after the war and is presently preserved in the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar.

quote = "The only occasion when a breakthrough could have occurred was when two squadrons of 13 Lancers attacked together in the afternoon, but a gallant last ditch lone stand by 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal of Poona Horse averted the danger. "The Commander of the Pakistan tank battalion is said to have met the Indian battalion commander after the battle and made enquiries about 2nd Lieutenant Khetarpal's tank since he was very impressed with the gallantry of this particular tank's commander. In 2001, Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal – then 81 years old – felt a strong desire to visit his birthplace at Sargodha, now in Pakistan. At Lahore airport, Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal was met by Brigadier Khawja Mohammad Naser, who took it upon himself to be Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal host and guide. Brigadier Naser really went out of way to ensure that Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal had a satisfying and nostalgic visit to his old house in Sargodha. Upon his return to Lahore he was once again the guest of Brigadier Naser for three days. Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal was overwhelmed by the extreme kindness, deference, courtesy and respect bestowed upon him by Brigadier Naser and by all the members of his family and his many servants. However Brigadier Khetarpal felt that something was amiss but could not make out what it was. Was it the long silences that punctuated their animated conversation or was it the look of compassion in the eyes of the women in the family? He could not make out but was sure he was being treated as someone very special. Finally, on the last night before Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal's departure, Brigadier Naser said

Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal was silent as he did not know how to react. To be enjoying the hospitality of the person who had killed his son was a confusing feeling. However being a soldier himself he genuinely admired the chivalry of an officer whose complete squadron was decimated by his son. Both the Brigadiers retired for the night deep in thought. The next day photographs were taken and Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal returned to Delhi. Later the photos reached Delhi along with a note from Brigadier Naser that said:

quote="With Warmest regards and utmost sincerity, To: Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal, father of Shaheed Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC, who stood like an unsurmountable rock, between the victory and failure, of the counterattack by the 'SPEARHEADS' 13 LANCERS on 16 December 1971 in the battle of "Bara Pind' as we call it and battle of "Basantar" as 17 Poona Horse remembers.

Allu Sirish reprised Arun Khetarpal's character as Lt Chinmay in the 2017 Malayalam film 1971: Beyond Borders. A biopic on Arun Khetarpal is being directed by Sriram Raghavan displaying his courage in the 1971 Battle of Basantar. Actor Varun Dhawan was slated to play the lead role in the film but was no longer a part of it by 2022. It was later announced that Agastya Nanda of Bachchan family would be making his debut in the role of the protagonist and the film would be titled Ikkis (the Hindi word for 21, the age at which Khetarpal achieved martyrdom), with Dharmendra co starring.