Saurabh Singh Shekhawat

Colonel Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM(Gallantry), VSM
Allegiance	Indian Army
Service/branch	Parachute Regiment
Rank	Colonel
Service number	IC - 52871
Unit	21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (SF)
Commands held	21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (SF); Took over the command from IC-50750 Col Rajeev Singh Rawat, VSM
Awards	Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal (Gallantry), Vishisht Seva Medal,Samanya Seva Medal, Op Vijay Star, Special Service Medal, Op Vijay Medal, Op Parakram Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, Videsh Seva Medal, 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal, 20 Years Long Service Medal, 9 Years Long Service Medal, United Nations Medal

IC-52871, Colonel Saurabh Singh Shekhawat is the most decorated serving Colonel in the Indian Army today and is also an accomplished mountaineer. The officer belongs to Indian Army's elite 21st Battalion of The Parachute Regiment(Special Forces). He has been awarded Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for his various acts of gallantry displayed in anti-terrorist operations and mountaineering and distinguished service.^[1][2][3] Having served with The Maratha Light Infantry, he is looked up to by all officers and men of that regiment as well.

Mountaineering

He brought laurels to the Rajputs and to the country when he climbed Mount Everest for a record number of three times in 2001,2003 & 2005. He also holds the distinction of climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro,Tanzania (Highest peak in Africa) and Mt. Blanc (Highest peak in Alps and Western Europe lying on the edges of France and Italy). Again In October 2009 he led the joint Indo-Kazakh team to scale Marble wall peak in Kazakhstan. Following is a news clipping from 'India Today' published in the first week of November 2009.^[4] titled 'Peak Performance':

When Lieutenant-Colonel Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, 37, spotted the black, snowcapped heights of Marble Wall peak in Kazakhstan, he thought conquering it would be a breeze. Named for its white marble deposits, the 6,400-m mountain is dwarfed by the 8,848-m high Everest which the young officer has climbed three times.Yet, it would be his toughest climb ever. The challenge lay in the unpredictable weather and summiting the mountain through a climb window of less than 12 hours (Everest has a five-day window). In terms of climbing difficulty, Marble Wall is between grade 6 and grade 8 as compared to Everest's grade 7 and K2's grade 9.As the leader of a joint Indo-Kazakh army expedition, Shekhawat was to promote military diplomacy with the strategically located central Asian country through joint mountain climbs. Shekhawat's six-member team joined 12 Kazakh climbers for the expedition in late August.The team chose the Alpine climbing style-few ropes and gruelling climbs-over the Indian Army's 'siege method' of setting up camps and extensive use of ropes.The expedition in the former Soviet republic would have none of the luxuries now available for Everest. The summit bid was greeted by a blizzard which brought visibility to under a metre, winds of over 110 km/h and the mercury at minus 35 degrees. The expedition turned back. Czech, German and Russian teams had already called off their climbs due to adverse weather.Two days later, in the window suggested by the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Delhi, the group began its ascent again, conscious that one false step by a single member could hurtle everybody to an icy death. Eight hours later, the expedition summited the peak, becoming the first foreign team to scale this remote mountain in the Tien Shan range.But as mountaineers say, the proof of the pudding is in the descent. The Indians got detached from the Kazakhs and lost their way in howling winds. They made it back to the base camp by sheer instinct, winning the appreciation of their tough Kazakh comrades. Shekhawat recalls: "We had to persist because it was the reputation of two nations and two armies."

He is the Soldier's Soldier.....

Till date the Colonel has scaled 14 peaks.

Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards

Award Date	Award	Rank
26 January 2009	Kirti Chakra	Lieutenant Colonel
26 January 2008	Sena Medal (Gallantry)	Major
26 January 2006	Vishisht Seva Medal	Major
15 August 2001	Shaurya Chakra	Captain

References

1. ^ "Karkare, Sharma among 11 to get Ashok Chakra". Rediff News. January 26, 2009. http://in.rediff.com/news/2009/jan/26mumterror-karkare-sharma-among-nine-to-get-ashok-chakra.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
2. ^ "President confers gallantry and distinguished service awards". Thaindian News. March 19, 2009. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/president-confers-gallantry-and-distinguished-service-awards_100168787.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
3. ^ "Gallantry awards for Servicesmen". The Times of India. 23 August 2001,. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/461946556.cms. Retrieved 2009-08-03. 
4. ^ . http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/68521/Offtrack/Peak+performance.html. 

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Name	Shekhawat, Saurabh Singh
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