Dhan Singh Thapa

Thapa Magar was released from captivity after the war ended. Following retirement from the Army, he worked for a brief period with Sahara Airlines. He died on 6 September 2005.

In 1980s, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of its crude oil tankers in honour of the PVC recipients. The tanker MT Major Dhan Singh Thapa, PVC was delivered to SCI in 1984, and served for 25 years before being phased out.

Thapa was promoted to the substantive rank of major on 21 February 1964, and to lieutenant-colonel on 28 February 1970. He retired from the Army on 30 April 1980. Post-retirement, Thapa settled down in Lucknow, and served for a brief period as a director with Sahara Airlines. On 6 September 2005, Thapa died. He was survived by his wife, Shukla Thapa, and three children.

The Sino-Indian War began in October 1962; on 21 October, the Chinese advanced to north of Pangong Lake with the objective of capturing Sirijap and Yula. Srijap 1 was a post established on the northern bank of Pangong Lake by the 1st Battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles and commanded by Major Dhan Singh Thapa Magar Soon the post was surrounded by better armed Chinese forces. Major Thapa Magar and his men held the post and repelled three attacks before eventually being overrun. The survivors, including Thapa Magar, were taken as prisoners of war. For his gallant actions and his efforts to motivate his men under fire he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

On the night of 19–20 October 1962, they attacked the eastern sector of the Indian defences. The same night they assaulted and overran the posts at Galwan, Chip Chap, and Pangong areas of Ladakh. On 21 October, they advanced to north of Pangong Lake, with the objective of capturing Sirijap and Yula.

On 19 October 1962, with the arrival of heavy infantry troops, the strength of Chinese forces around Srijap 1 witnessed a drastic increase. This caused Major Thapa to anticipate an attack; he ordered his troops to "dig fast and dig deep". As expected, the Chinese launched their first attack with artillery and mortar fire at 4:30 am on 20 October. This lasted for two-and-a-half hours providing good cover for their infantry, who moved towards the post. By the time shelling ended, around 600 Chinese troops had closed to within 150 yards (140 m) of the rear of the post. On the sight of the Chinese, the Gorkhas immediately started firing with light machine guns (LMG) and rifles, killing a large number of Chinese. The attack broke up 100 yards (91 m) from the post. The Chinese artillery caused many casualties on the Indian side. It also destroyed the communications of D Company with the rest of the battalion.

Major Thapa was treated poorly as a prisoner of war. Against military convention he was forced to undergo a series of punishments: firstly for killing Chinese troops; and secondly for refusing to make statements against the Indian Army and the Indian government. He was released after the war ended in November 1962.

For his gallantry actions on 20 October 1962, Major Thapa was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The award citation read:

The post Srijap 1 was established on the northern bank of Pangong lake by the 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles. It was part of the series of posts created to the implement the "Forward Policy". The post was strategically important for the defence of Chusul airfield. D Company of the 1st Battalion, under the command of Major Dhan Singh Thapa, was tasked to man the post, and was responsible for an area of 48 square kilometres (19 square miles). As there were a number of other posts to be established, only 28 men of D company were present to hold Srijap 1. Meanwhile, the Chinese set up three posts around it.

Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa Magar, PVC (10 April 1928 – 6 September 2005) was an Indian Army officer, and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration. Thapa Magar was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles in 1949.

Dhan Singh Thapa was born to Padam Singh Thapa Magar ( Magar) on 10 April 1928, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. He joined the 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles on 28 August 1949, and received a temporary commission as a second lieutenant on 21 February 1951, with promotion to lieutenant on 21 February 1953. He received a permanent commission as a lieutenant on 29 September 1956, and was promoted captain on 21 February 1957.