Ardeshir Tarapore

Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore PVC
Born	(1923-08-18)August 18, 1923 Mumbai, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died	Chawinda, Pakistan
Allegiance	Hyderabad State Republic of India
Service/branch	Hyderabad Army Indian Army
Years of service	1940-1951(Hyderabad Army) 1951-1965(Indian Army)
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	Hyderabad Lancers 17th Poona Horse
Battles/wars	Battle of Chawinda Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Awards	Param Vir Chakra

Lieutenant colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC (born August 18, 1923 in Mumbai), belongs to the family of General Ratanjiba. General Ratanjiba led the army of Shivaji, and was awarded 100 villages of which Tarapore was the main village. The name Tarapore comes from that village. Later his grandfather relocated to Hyderabad and started working under the Excise Department of Nizam of Hyderabad. After his death Burzonji took up his father's job and was comparatively successful.

Ardeshir was quite young when he saved his sister, Yadgar, from the family cow that had broken loose. By the time he was seven years old, he was sent to the Sardar Dastur Boys' Boarding School, Pune. He completed his matriculation in 1940. After school, he applied to the army and was selected. He did his initial training in the Officers' Training School at Golconda, and on completion was sent to Bangalore. He was commissioned in the 7th Hyderabad Infantry as a Second Lieutenant.

Hyderabad State Force

Popularly known as "Adi", Tarapore was not very happy joining the infantry, as he wanted to join an armored regiment. On one-fine day his battalion was inspected by Major General El Edroos, the Commander-in-Chief of the state forces. At the grenade throwing range, due to an accident, a grenade fell into the bay area. Adi was quick to pick it up and throw it. However the grenade exploded, which left him injured as the flying shrapnel hit his chest. Major General Edroos, was a witness to this event. He was impressed by the exemplary courage displayed by Ardeshir. Major General Edroos summoned Ardeshir to his office and congratulated him for his efforts. Ardeshir took the opportunity to request a transfer to an armored regiment. The General agreed, and Adi was transferred to the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers. Interestingly, 1st Hyderabad Lancers fought with The Poona Horse in Operation Polo.

He also saw active service in West Asia during World War II during this part of his career.

Indian Army

Hyderabad later merged with Union of India, and eventually amalgamated the Indian Army. Ardeshir was shifted to The Poona Horse and was commissioned in Poona Horse on 1 April 1951. He rose to become Commanding Officer (CO) and commanded his very own regiment in the Poona Horse in the 1965 war against Pakistan. While leading his regiment in securing a major objective in Pakistan, Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore went down fighting on board his Centurion tank in the highest tradition of the army. He was awarded Param Vir Chakra for his action in the battle. Legend holds that the Pakistani tanks held their fire during his cremation.

Military action

On September 11, 1965, the 17 Horse regiment launched attack on Phillora in the Sialkot sector at the Battle of Chawinda. The southern thrust of the attack, commanded by Tarapore advanced on the right flank. Between Phillora and Chawinda, the attack met with the Pakistani Army's heavy armour charge from Wazirwali. He held his ground and attacked Phillora under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire. When wounded, he refused to be evacuated. He led his regiment to capture Wazirwali on 13 September, and Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on 16 September 1965.

Though his own tank was hit several times, he maintained his pivots at both these places, supporting the infantry attacking Chawinda. Inspired by his leadership, the regiment attacked the enemy armor and destroyed approximately sixty Pakistani Army tanks, suffering only nine tank casualties. However, Tarapore was killed when his tank was hit and was enveloped in flames.

Param Vir Chakra Citation

The Param Vir Chakra citation on the Official Indian Army Website reads as follows:

CITATION

LIEUTENANT COLONEL A.B TARAPORE

POONA HORSE (17 HORSE) (IC-5565)

On 11 September 1965, the Poona Horse Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzarji Tarapore was assigned the task of delivering the main armored thrust for capturing Phillora in the Sialkot Sector in Pakistan. As a preliminary to making a surprise attack on Phillora from the rear, the regiment was thrusting between Phillora and Chawinda when it was suddenly counter attacked by the enemy’s heavy Armour from Wazirali. Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Tarapore who was then at the head of his regiment, defied the enemy’s charge, held his ground and gallantly attacked Philloira with one of his squadrons supported by an infantry battalion. Though under continuous enemy tank and artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore remained unperturbed throughout this action and when wounded refused to be evacuated.

On 14 September 1965, though still wounded he again led his regiment to capture Wazirali. Such was his grit and determination that unmindful of his injury, he again gallantly led regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on 16 September. His own tank was hit several times, but despite the odds he maintained his pivots in both these places and thereby allowed the supporting infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear.

Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fiercely attacked the enemy heavy armor destroying approximately 60 enemy tanks at a cost of only 9 tank casualties, and when lieutenant Colonel A. B Tara pore was mortally wounded the regiment continue to defy the enemy.

The valor displayed by lieutenant Colonel A.B. Tarapore in this heroic action, which lasted six days, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.

See also

• Abdul Hamid
• Arun Khetarpal
• Param Vir Chakra
• The Poona Horse

External links

• Indian Army Webpage