The Tiger Division of the Indian Army celebrated the 100th birthday of Lieutenant Colonel Sharad Dev Singh Jamwal, a distinguished veteran known for his bravery. Lt. Col. Jamwal, a World War II hero, notably took part in the 1961 Goa Liberation campaign, the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and the Indo-Pakistani Wars.
Colonel Jamwal, born in Jammu on August 13, 1926, carries a legacy of national service, with his father, Prabhat Singh, serving as a Colonel in World War I. His early education took place at The Doon School, and he later attended the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College in Dehradun.
Lt. Col. Jamwal’s military service, which began in 1946 with the 7th Light Cavalry during the close of World War II, encompassed the Burma campaign, the 1947-48 Indo-Pakistani War, the 1961 Goa Liberation, and the 1962 India-China War.
World War II, a global conflict from 1939 to 1945, resulted in approximately 70 million fatalities. This war involved two main groups: the Allied forces, which included Britain, France, the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, and the Axis powers, comprising Germany, Italy, and Japan.
The 1961 Goa Liberation campaign, or Operation Vijay, was aimed at removing the Portuguese from Goa, Daman, and Diu. The operation began on December 17, 1961, with approximately 30,000 Indian soldiers involved. The Portuguese initially planned to resist but ultimately surrendered and withdrew.