Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore was born on 18 August 1923 in Bombay. Ratanjiba: One of Tarapore’s ancestors, was a military leader under Chatrapati Shivaji.
Ardeshir Tarapore was unhappy joining the infantry, as he wanted to join an armoured regiment. When his battalion was being inspected by Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Commander-in-Chief of the Hyderabad state forces, a live grenade accidentally fell into a bay area during a training. Tarapore quickly picked it up and threw it away. The grenade exploded mid-air inflicting shrapnel wounds to his chest.
Major General Edroos witnessed his actions and was impressed. He summoned Tarapore to his office and congratulated him. Tarapore then requested a transfer to an armoured regiment. The general agreed and transferred him to the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers. During World War II, Tarapore and his unit saw action in the Middle East.
Tarapore was commission as the captain for the Indian Army in April 1951. He was first posted on probation for two years to ‘B’ Squadron of the Poona Horse regiment, 17th Battalion, and was then transferred to ‘A’ Squadron as its second-in-command. Tarapore was promoted to major on 1 January 1958, and to lieutenant-colonel on 10 June 1965.
Tarapore was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, for leading the regiment while injured and inflicting significant tank losses on the Pakistani side.
Remembering Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit: First female president of the United Nations General Assembly
