Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria was the first Indian who got this prestigious award Param Vir Chakra from President of India for fighting in other country. He was born on Nov 29, 1935. He had an Army background. His father was in British Indian Army and mother was a homemaker. In his childhood he was told the tales of valor by his mother. All these, made a great impact on the mind of this child and he developed a strong urge to join the Army.

When partition took place, this family happened to be settled in a village of Gurdaspur district. He got his primary education in the village school and later he joined the esteemed King George Miliatary College at Bangalore, which is presently known as Banglore Miliatary School, at the tender age of 11. He had a sense of dignity, pride and righteousness. He couldn't tolerate injustice and this came in the light when he fought with one of his seniors who used to bull the junior boys. He came up as a well mannered, self centered and disciplined guy who joined the Joint Services Wing in 1953 and after spending three years of his graduation, he passed out in 1957. Then he was commissioned to the 2/3 Gorkha Rifles and later joined 3/1 Gorkha Rifles in 1960.

In 1961, a sudden change came in to his life when Indian Army dispatched one brigade to Congo as part of the United Nations Assignment to deal with troubled state of affairs in Congo. 3/1 Gorkha Rifles was one of the three battalions of the Indian contigent, which reached Congo.

For eliminating UN forces, mercenaries operating in Congo, erected some roadblocks in and around the UN forces. Mercenaries became merciless and UN officers were beaten up as well as some jawans were murdered by them. The hostile element was spreading like forest fire.

It was the day of 5th Dec 1961; when that Indian captain received the order to clear the road block near Elizabethville, which was hampering the movement of the UN forces. It was a task of clearing a roadblock of approximately 150 mercenaries near the airport. Captain made a plane of attack just after disorganized them. The platoon of Captain was accompanied with two Swedish armoured personnel carriers. But the enemies were superior both in numbers as well as in weapons then the UN force. There were round about 100 rebels but they didn't put off the Captain and his faithful Gurkha. They proceeded with full valor flashing their khukris.

The strong-minded force of Indians killed more then 40 rebels but some mishappening was rotating on the wheel of fortune when a rebel sergeant shot on the neck of young Captain but they became unable to deter him and the Captain was still fighting with all his courage. He finally collapsed on the last line of trenches. So violent was the attack that the rebels fled in the confusion leaving their dead and wounded behind.

Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria got Param Vir Chakra for showing his great valour . He paid his all attention only to his duties rather than land. He had a great devotion for his responsibilities.

Lets move on the story of another brave man "Subedar Joginder Singh" of 1 Sikh Regiment……