India’s Youngest Tank Legend: The Heroic Life and Sacrifice of Arun Khetarpal
In Indian military history few names evoke as much reverence and emotion as that of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal At just years of age he displayed a level of courage clarity and commitment that placed him among the greatest warriors India has ever known As a tank commander of the Poona Horse during the Indo-Pakistan War of Arun Khetarpal fought a decisive battle at Basantar sacrificing his life to halt a major enemy breakthrough and changing the course of the conflict in the Shakargarh sector A Legacy Forged Before BirthBorn on October in Pune Maharashtra Arun Khetarpal came from a family where military service was not just a profession but a legacy His family Punjabi Hindu Khatris originally from Sargodha in western Punjab migrated to India during Partition as refugees His father Lt Col M L Khetarpal later rose to the rank of Brigadier in the Corps of Engineers The