There are war stories that inspire. There are war stories that shock. And then there are stories like that of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, where every minute leading to his final breath feels almost unreal, as if destiny hand-picked a 21-year-old to change the direction of an entire battle. This is not just another tale from 1971. This is the story of a young officer who looked death in the eye, and refused to step back. Corporate Soldiers brings you the story of a legend who will be remembered years after years for his never-ending bravery!
A Legacy Written Long Before He Was Born
To understand Arun Khetarpal’s courage, you must first understand where he came from. His family didn’t just serve the nation; they breathed soldiering.
- A great-grandfather who fought the British with the Sikh Army.
- A grandfather who served in World War I under the British.
- A father who grew into a Brigadier in the Indian Army.
Courage was not taught to him, it was inherited. He was born on 14 October 1950 in Pune, young Arun grew up watching the disciplined life of an Army household. With the Himalayas as his early companions at Lawrence School, Sanawar, he shaped himself into a boy who led with quiet strength and carried an unmistakable fire in his eyes. Those who studied with him still describe him with one sentence:
“If Arun stood for something, he stood with his whole heart.”
From Sanawar to NDA: The Making of a Leader
June 1967, he entered the National Defence Academy (NDA). Most cadets learn to follow first. Arun learned to lead. He joined Foxtrot Squadron and rose to become Squadron Cadet Captain of the 38th Course, a position held only by those who command respect effortlessly. Friends often said that he was never the loudest in a room, but always the calmest in a crisis. Later, at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), he was commissioned into one of the most decorated Armoured Regiments of India.
17 Poona Horse
A regiment known for steel discipline, unmatched tank warfare skills, and a history of producing warriors who shaped India’s borders. Arun joined them on 13 June 1971. Nobody knew he had just six months before destiny would call him.
December 1971: A War That Would Test Everything
The war with Pakistan broke out on 3 December 1971. Arun was still undergoing the Young Officers’ Course at Ahmednagar, but the moment the message came, he didn’t think twice. He reported to his unit in the Shakargarh Sector, unaware that the next 13 days would etch his name in history. The Battle of Basantar wasn’t just another clash. It was one of the most decisive armoured battles fought on Indian soil, where every inch of land was contested fiercely.
16 December 1971: The Day a 21-Year-Old Became an Iron Wall
At Jarpal, Pakistani forces launched a massive counter-attack using the much-talked-about US-supplied Patton tanks, considered technologically superior and numerically stronger. Their target was clear: ‘Break India’s defensive line. Open the route. Push through.’ The Indian ‘B’ Squadron was under severe pressure and urgently called for reinforcements. Arun heard the call. He wasn’t required to respond. He wasn’t even in that squadron. But he charged. What happened next feels almost cinematic, except that every word is true.
The Counterattack That Shook the Enemy
Arun’s arrival turned the momentum instantly. He didn’t wait for orders.
He didn’t wait for support. He simply advanced, with a determination that seemed far bigger than his age. He destroyed enemy tanks one after another. He rallied his fellow soldiers. And when Lt Ahlawat, the commander of the supporting tank, was wounded, Arun took full charge. Pakistani forces regrouped and launched another heavy assault. Arun did not move back an inch. With just two remaining tanks, he took on an entire column of enemy armour, and destroyed 10 Patton tanks in one of the most daring tank battles ever recorded. Even the enemy acknowledged later: ‘That Indian officer fought like a man possessed.’
A Burning Tank. A Final Order. A Response That Became Immortal.
During the battle, Arun’s tank was hit. Flames rose. Ammunition inside heated dangerously. A senior officer ordered him to abandon his tank. But Arun’s reply is the kind that lives forever.
‘No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working… and I will get them.’
Those words were not spoken by a general. Not by a veteran soldier. But by a 21-year-old lieutenant who knew exactly what staying back meant. He fired at the last enemy tank, barely 100 meters away, and destroyed it. A second shell from the enemy pierced through the cupola, causing fatal injuries. Arun Khetarpal did not step out. He did not surrender. He fought till his last breath, ensuring not a single enemy tank crossed his line.
Why Arun Khetarpal’s Story Matters Even Today?
Because bravery is timeless. Because leadership has nothing to do with age.
Because nations remain safe when there are warriors who choose duty over life. Arun Khetarpal was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, but his legacy is bigger than a medal. He proved something profound: When one soldier stands firm, an entire army stands taller.
The Man Who Became a Mountain at 21
In war archives, there are many battles. In history books, there are many heroes. But there will always be only one Arun Khetarpal, the young officer who turned his tank into a fortress and himself into a legend. Even today, at 21, he teaches us the meaning of courage, conviction, and the promise a soldier makes to his nation:
‘As long as I stand, nothing will pass.’
