Dewan Ranjit Rai

Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai MVC
Born	(1913-02-06)6 February 1913 Gujranwala, Punjab Province (now Punjab, Pakistan)
Died	27 October 1947(1947-10-27) (aged 34) Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, Dominion of India
Allegiance	British Raj  India
Service / branch	British Indian Army  Indian Army
Years of service	1935–1947
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Service number	IC-12
Unit	1 Sikh
Battles / wars	World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Awards	Maha Vir Chakra

Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, MVC (1913 - 1947) was an Indian Army officer who played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. As the commanding officer of the 1st battalion, The Sikh Regiment (1 Sikh), he was the first recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, which was awarded posthumously.^[1]

1 Sikh was the first unit to be inducted into the war, when it was airlifted from Gurgaon to Srinagar on 27 October 1947. This day is celebrated as the Infantry Day by the Indian Army. Under the command of Rai, the battalion fought with tremendous spirit and bravery and played a key role in saving the valley of Kashmir from the invaders.