Lucknow: The army has dedicated the indoor sports complex at Surya Khel Parisar in Lucknow Cantonment to Param Vir Chakra awardee Lt Col Dhan Singh Thapa, honouring his exemplary courage and service to the nation.The dedication ceremony was attended by Thapa’s daughters Pomela Chauhan and Poornima Thapa as chief guests, along with Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C, Surya Command, senior military officers and family members.A plaque naming the complex after the decorated war hero was unveiled during the ceremony.During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, then Major Dhan Singh Thapa commanded a contingent of 28 soldiers from 1/8 Gorkha Rifles at the strategically significant Sirijap-1 post, north of Pangong Lake. On Oct 20, 1962, Thapa and his men repelled repeated enemy assaults despite being heavily outnumbered before the post was eventually overrun.Thapa was taken prisoner during the battle and was initially presumed killed in action. In recognition of his exceptional bravery and leadership, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest wartime gallantry award.After being repatriated in May 1963, he continued serving in the army and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Following his retirement in 1980, he settled in Lucknow, where he spent his later years. He passed away in 2005.
