Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC, was born on 18 August 1923 in Bombay, Maharashtra. He began his military career with the Hyderabad State Force in 1942 and saw active service in West Asia during the Second World War. After the integration of Hyderabad State with India, he was commissioned into the Poona Horse on 1 April 1951 and eventually became its Commanding Officer.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Lt Col Tarapore commanded the 17 Poona Horse in the Sialkot Sector. From 11 to 16 September 1965, he led his regiment in intense armoured battles around Phillora, Wazirwali, Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi. Despite being wounded, he refused evacuation and continued to command his troops from the battlefield.
On 16 September 1965, during the battle at Butur-Dograndi, his tank was repeatedly hit and he was mortally wounded. He died on the battlefield at the age of 42. For his exceptional courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice during the six-day battle, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest wartime gallantry award.