Ardeshir Tarapore

https://historyunderyourfeet.wordpress.com/2020/09/14/ardeshir-tarapore/

The 1965 India-Pakistan war, had one of the largest number of tank battles post World War II.  I think only other equivalent could be the Arab-Israel wars and the 1990 Gulf War. One of the most well known tank battles was the Battle of Asal Uttar, where Lt Havaldar Abdul Hamid showed utmost courage under fire, knocking out 6 Pakistani tanks, before falling to enemy fire. While we do know about Abdul Hamid, there was another equally famous tank buster, who was also awarded the Param Vir Chakra, Ardeshir Tarapore. Serving with the Poona Horse regiment, 17th Batallion, that saw action in the Sialkot sector,he led it in two crucial tank battles at Phillora and later Chawinda, where he was finally killed in action. But not before knocking out around sixty Pakistani tanks.

Ardeshir was born in Mumbai on August 18, 1923, his father Burzorzi Tarapore, was employed in the Customs Dept of Hyderabad State, under the Nizam, and was a scholar of Persian and Urdu. .One of his ancestors Ratanji Ba, had served in the army of Shivaji Maharaj, and as an acknowledgement of his bravery and loyalty, he was gifted a 100 villages by the Chattrapati. One of them was Tarapur, which became the family name too.

Nicknamed as Adi, he studied at the Sardar Dastur Boys School in Pune, where he showed himself to be a good athlete. Passing out from school, he got selected for a comission in the Hyderabad Army, and completed his initial training at the Officers Training School, Golkonda and later at Bangalore.He joined the 7th Hyderabad infantry as a second lieutnant on January 1, 1942. However he was more keen on joining the armored regiment.

He did get the opportunity, during an inspection by Major Gen Syed Ahmed El Edroos, then Commander in Chief of the Hyderabad State Army, when a live grenade fell accidentally into a bay area. Adi, picked it up swiftly and threw it away,as the grenade exploded mid-air, inflicting wounds on his chest. Edroos who witnessed the action was impressed and congratulated him. Adi took the opportunity to request for a transfer to an armored regiment. His request was granted as he was transferred to the Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers, and fought in the Middle East during World War II.

With Operation Polo resulting in Hyderabad acceding to the Indian Union in 1948, Adi ended up in the Indian Army. And in 1951, he joined the Poona Horse regiment, 17th Batallion. When India acquired Centurion tanks during the 1960s, he was one of the officers selected for training on them. With his hard work and due diligence, he was promoted to Major and later Lt-Colonel on June, 1958. He was married to Perin, and with whom he had a son Xerxes, daughter Zarine.

When the 1965 war broke out, the Indian Army drew up a plan to capture two strategic locations Phillora and Chawinda both in the Sialkot sector, which would witness some of the most intense tank battles after Asal Uttar. The Pakistani side had 2 regiments of 6th Armored Division, and couple of infantry units like the 4th Frontier Force. Tarapore was in charge of the 1st Armored Division at Phillora, had 3 regiments of the 1st Armored Brigade, the 62nd Cavalry and the 43rd Lorried Brigade, a motorised Infantry one. And a massive assault was launched on September 10, 1965.

It was one bloody battle at Phillora, as Tarapore led the assault, facing some stiff Pakistani resistance, and counter attacks from Wazir Ali. Holding his ground, he launched a counter offensive, on the Pakistani forces, knocking out 31 tanks of theirs, though it was believed to be even more higher. Phillora was captured by the Indian Army, in the wee hours of September 11, 1965.

Though badly injured in the course of action, Tarapore, refused to vacate battle field like a true soldier, and ordered his unit on to Chawinda. The Pakistani army having been routed at Asal Uttar, and losing Phillora, dug in for the final stand at Chawinda, leading to one of the most intense tank battles. With the Pakistani army, putting up a determined resistance, Chawinda proved to be one of the bloodiest battles of the ’65 war.

The Indian Army’s objective was to seize the Grand Trunk Road around Wazirabad, capture Jassoran, getting control of the Sialkot-Pasrur railway line, and completely cutting of the Pakistani supply lines. The Indian Army managed to destroy around 10 Pakistani tanks at Jassoran, managed to seize control of the critical Sialkot railway route. Realizing the threat, Pakistan rushed 2 regiments of the 6th Armored Division which had around 135 Tanks, that included 24 Pattons.

It was a bloody battle being fought at Chawinda, with both sides taking casualties. Tarapore launched an assault on Sept 13/14th, though badly injured, with the 17 Horse and 9 Garhwal, capturing Wazirali. Though bleeding profusely, Tarapore, still kept on pressing, to attack the Pakistanis hiding in Butur and Dograndi.In a lightning fast attack, he destroyed 6 Pakistani tanks, and managed to capture Jassoran, and by Sept 16 he was on Butur and Dograndi.His own tank, was hit several times, he himself was badly injured, but Ardeshir Tarapore, kept on supporting his unit, moving ahead. It was sheer courage under fire, that in turn fired up his unit, who launched an all out assault destroying 60 Pakistani tanks.

However a shell from a Pakistani tank hit his own,as it went up in flames. Ardeshir Tarapore, the tank Buster, died in the flames, laying down his life for the nation on September 1965 , fighting till the end like a true hero. The Battle of Chawinda, was an inconclusive stalemate, with Pakistan managing to hold off the Indian advance. Neither side really gained much, and with ceasefire it was called off. But shall always be remembered for the heroics of Tank Buster Lt. Col Ardeshir Tarapore.