BrigadierSaurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM is an 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]
Shekhawat was born in a Hindu Rajput Family on 18 October 1970 in Alwar, Rajasthan. His Father's name is J.S. Shekhawat and his mother's name is Sreddha.[3]
Career
Military career
Shekhawat was commissioned in the Indian Army as a Second Lieutenant from Indian Military Academy , Dehradun on 11 June 1994 and was promoted lieutenant on 11 June 1996 and captain on 11 June 1999 and major on 11 June 2004.[4][5] He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 11 June 2007 and to colonel on 6 January 2010 (seniority from 1 January).[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 23rd 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 March 14, 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]
^ ab. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
^"Rashtriya Rifles pick up lion's share of gallantry awards". The Tribune. India. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
^"Karkare, Sharma among 11 to get Ashok Chakra". Rediff News. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
^"President confers gallantry and distinguished service awards". Thaindian News. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
^"Gallantry awards for Servicesmen". The Times of India. 23 August 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
^"Indian Army's top officer claims of 'systematic victimisation' by ex-Army chiefs: report". India TV. 16 July 2017.
^"Indian Women- Acing the ageing …Like never before!".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
January 07, 2023
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Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat KC SC SM VSM is an 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 BrigadierSaurabh Singh ShekhawatKC SC SM VSMShekhawat during an interview pictured as a Colonel Born 1970 10 18 18 October 1970 age 52 Alwar Rajasthan IndiaAllegiance IndiaService wbr branch Indian ArmyYears of service1994 PresentRankBrigadierService numberIC 52871Unit17 Maratha Li 21 Para SF Commands held21 Para SF 9 Para SF Battles warsOperation VijayAwardsKirti Chakra Shaurya Chakra Sena Medal Gallantry Vishisht Seva MedalSpouse s Renuka ShekhawatRelationsJ S Shekhawat Father Sreddha Mother Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Controversies 3 1 Victimization claim 3 2 Dispute with The Week 4 Awards 5 Personal life 6 See also 7 ReferencesEarly life EditShekhawat was born in a Hindu Rajput Family on 18 October 1970 in Alwar Rajasthan His Father s name is J S Shekhawat and his mother s name is Sreddha 3 Career EditMilitary careerShekhawat was commissioned in the Indian Army as a Second Lieutenant from Indian Military Academy Dehradun on 11 June 1994 and was promoted lieutenant on 11 June 1996 and captain on 11 June 1999 and major on 11 June 2004 4 5 He was promoted lieutenant colonel on 11 June 2007 and to colonel on 6 January 2010 seniority from 1 January 6 7 He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in March 2020 8 Mountaineering CareerShekhawat 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 23rd June 2022 a 55 men Indian Army expedition team led by Shekhawat successfully scaled the climb to Shahi Kangri 11 Controversies EditVictimization claim Edit 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 Edit On March 14 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 Edit Kirti Chakra Shaurya ChakraSena Medal Vishisht Seva Medal Samanya Seva MedalOperation Vijay Star Special Service Medal Siachen Glacier Medal Operation Vijay MedalOperation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal50th Anniversary of Independence Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal MONUSCOShekhawat 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 EditShekhawat is married to Renuka Shekhawat a professor of Sanskrit at Rajasthan University 25 See also EditIndian summiters of Mount Everest Year wise List of Mount Everest summiters by number of times to the summit List of Mount Everest records of India List of Mount Everest recordsReferences Edit Special Forces My Religion Says Decorated Army Officer In Viral Clip NDTV com Retrieved 20 July 2021 SSBCrackExams 5 March 2021 5 Inspiring Facts About Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat 21 PARA SF Kirti Chakra SSBCrackExams Retrieved 20 July 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Capt Saurabh Singh Shekhawat Gallantry Awards a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 7 September 1996 p 1290 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 11 September 1999 p 1249 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 8 December 2007 p 1893 Part I Section 4 Ministry of Defence Army Branch The Gazette of India 3 March 2012 p 223 R Sagar Pradeep 14 March 2020 Victimised decorated officer Colonel Saurabh Shekhawat gets promoted after years of wait The Week a b Official Website of Indian Army Peak performance Cite web date 2022 06 22 title Indian expedition scales Shahi kangri plateue url https twitter com firefurycorps status 1539838478472859654 7Cwebsite Twitter com Victimised decorated officer Colonel Saurabh Shekhawat gets promoted after years of wait The Week 14 March 2020 I have been victimised says army s most decorated officer Hindustan Times 16 July 2017 Retrieved 19 July 2017 a b c d Jorhat robbery case echo Colonel claims victimisation Indian Express 17 July 2011 Army officer seeks apology over article THE WEEK responds The Week 3 August 2020 Untitled Document Lt Col Saurabh Singh Shekhawat SC SM VSM Gallantry Awards a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Untitled Page 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 Rashtriya Rifles pick up lion s share of gallantry awards The Tribune India 25 January 2006 Retrieved 14 December 2018 Karkare Sharma among 11 to get Ashok Chakra Rediff News 26 January 2009 Retrieved 3 August 2009 President confers gallantry and distinguished service awards Thaindian News 19 March 2009 Retrieved 3 August 2009 Gallantry awards for Servicesmen The Times of India 23 August 2001 Retrieved 3 August 2009 Indian Army s top officer claims of systematic victimisation by ex Army chiefs report India TV 16 July 2017 Indian Women Acing the ageing Like never before a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saurabh Singh Shekhawat amp oldid 1127386739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
