| Arun Khetarpal Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in |
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Date of Birth | October 14, 1950 |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Date of Death | December 16, 1971 |
Arun Khetarpal was an Indian Army officer who served as the 2nd Lieutenant in the 17 Poona Horse regiment, which fought valiantly in the crucial Battle of Basantar during the Indo-Pak War of 1971. His name has been immortalized in the history books for showing unflinching bravery in the face of death for the sake of his country. For his heroism, Khetarpal was posthumously honored with India’s highest military decoration: the Param Vir Chakra.
Born Name
Arun Khetarpal
Nick Name
Arun
Age
He was born on October 14, 1950.
Died
He passed away on December 16, 1971, at the Barapind Shakargarh Sector after getting shot during the Battle of Basantar. He was 21 years old at that time.
Sun Sign
Libra
Born Place
Pune, Bombay State, India
Nationality
Education
Arun went to St. Columba’s School in Delhi. Furthermore, he completed his schooling from The Lawrence School located in Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh.
Occupation
Indian Army Officer
Family
- Father – Brigadier M. L. Khetarpal (Corps of Engineers Officer in the Indian Army)
- Siblings – Mukesh Khetarpal (Younger Brother)
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 9 in or 175 cm
Weight
72 kg or 158.5 lbs
Race / Ethnicity
Asian (Indian)
He was of Hindu Punjabi Khatri descent.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Square-shaped face
- His bravado
Religion
Hinduism
Arun Khetarpal Facts
- His ancestors lived in Sargodha, which is part of present-day Pakistan. However, they migrated to India as refugees after the partition in 1947.
- Khetarpal came from a long line of military servicemen as his grandfather had served in the British Army during World War I and his great-grandfather had served in the Sikh Khalsa Army during the 19th century.
- After the war, his Centurion known as the Famagusta Jx 202 was restored and it is currently displayed at the Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar.
- Actor Allu Sirish’s character of Lt. Chinmay in the Malayalam film 1971: Beyond Borders (2017) was inspired by Khetarpal’s story and death during the Battle of Basantar. The film, which is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, also starred Mohanlal, Arunoday Singh, Renji Panicker, Deepak Jethi, etc. in important roles.
- After his death, he was honored by naming the parade ground at the National Defence Army (NDA) as Khetarpal Ground. Additionally, the auditorium at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) and one of its main gates were also named after him.
- At the age of 81 years, his father traveled to his birthplace in Sargodha, Pakistan in March 2001. There, he stayed at the home of Brigadier Khawja Mohammad Naser, who treated him very warmly. The martyr’s father later learned from Brigadier Naser that he had fired the fatal shot that killed his son. Naser, on his part, applauded the young man’s courage even though Arun was singlehandedly responsible for destroying Naser’s squadron and played a significant role in Pakistan’s defeat in the overall war.
- The acclaimed director Sriram Raghavan, who has helmed films like Andhadhun (2018), Badlapur (2015), and Johnny Gaddaar (2007) is set to make a biopic on Khetarpal’s life and death. Initially, actor Varun Dhawan was attached to the project. However, it was later announced that Agastya Nanda (Amitabh Bachchan‘s grandson) would be making his debut with the film, which was titled Ikkis (meaning 21 since it is the age when Arun lost his life).
Featured Image by Indian_History_Warrior / Instagram
