Quick Info
| Profession | Army Personnel |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 14/10/1950 |
| Age | 21 years (died on 16, Dec, 1971) |
| Birthplace | Pune, Bombay State (now Maharashtra), India |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Place of Death | Barapind, Shakargarh Sector |
| Death Cause | Killed in action during the Battle of Basantar |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Hometown | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| School | The Lawrence School, Sanawar |
| College/University |
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| Address | C-31, Anand Niketan, New Delhi, Delhi – 110021, India |
| Date of Death | 16/12/1971 |
Latest News about Arun Khetarpal
31/10/2025
A biographical film titled 'Ikkis' was released in 2025, featuring the story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, played by actor Agastya Nanda. The film highlights his heroic actions during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, where he destroyed 10 Pakistani tanks and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, becoming India's youngest recipient of the honor at age 21.
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Bio/Wiki
| Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was an Indian Army officer and a legendary tank commander, widely recognized as India's 'Tank Ace of Aces' for destroying 10 Pakistani tanks during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration for valor in the face of the enemy, at the age of 21. His heroic actions prevented a breakthrough by Pakistani forces in the Shakargarh sector, and he is remembered for refusing to abandon his tank, Famagusta, despite being severely wounded. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| The Lawrence School, Sanawar (School Prefect) | |
| St. Columba's School, Delhi | |
| National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla (38th Course, Foxtrot Squadron, Squadron Cadet Captain) | |
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun |
Personal Life
| Arun Khetarpal was a student and athlete at Lawrence School, Sanawar. He had a passion for music and played the saxophone in the NDA band. He also owned a Jawa motorcycle manufactured by Jawa Moto. |
Family
| Father | M. L. Khetarpal (a retired Brigadier) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Maheshwari Khetarpal (a trained dietician) |
| Siblings | Brother - Mukesh Khetarpal (working as a management consultant in Delhi) |
Career
| Famous For | Battle of Basantar (Indo-Pakistan War of 1971) | ||||||||||||
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| Military Service |
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| Awards, Honours, Achievements |
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Favourites
| Bike Collection | He owned a Jawa manufactured by Jawa Moto |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal received the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. | |
| 2. Arun Khetarpal was a student and athlete at Lawrence School, Sanawar. | |
| 3. He came from a family with a military background, and his father also served in the Indian Army. | |
| 4. After excelling at the National Defence Academy, Arun joined the Indian Military Academy in 1970. | |
| 5. During the Battle of Basantar, Arun led the assault against Pakistani tanks, destroying 10 of them despite being severely wounded. | |
| 6. He refused to abandon his tank, named Famagusta, during the battle. | |
| 7. Arun Khetarpal's tank was the last one operational in his squadron. | |
| 8. His heroic actions prevented a breakthrough by Pakistani forces, as acknowledged even by a retired Pakistan Army officer. | |
| 9. Arun had a passion for music and played the saxophone in the NDA band. | |
| 10. A biographical film titled 'Ekkis' reportedly featuring Arun Khetarpal's story is expected to be made in 2024. | |
| 11. He joined the National Defence Academy in June 1967 as part of the 38th Course, Foxtrot Squadron, where he served as Squadron Cadet Captain (NDA No: 7498/F/38). | |
| 12. His family originated from Sargodha, now in Pakistan, and migrated to India after Partition. | |
| 13. He also attended St. Columba's School, Delhi, before Lawrence School, Sanawar, where he was school prefect. |