A laugh riot.....Page-44 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine “I am proud of promoting folk ....Page-33 SAVIOUR OF KASHMIR Col J P Singh, Retd parleys and arrange reinforcements from India. On 22nd October Brig Rajinder Singh collected whatev- J&K had become an independent nation after 15 August 1947 after which er troops were available in Srinagar Cantonment and pro- the then Chief of Staff J&K State Forces Maj Gen H L Scott, a British offi- ceeded towards Uri with a small force of 100 men. He cer, was to leave the state. Brig Rajinder Singh of the State Force, who reached Uri at midnight. Next day the first engagement had been Brigadier since 1942 and stood approved for Maj Gen took over took place at Garhi where he inflicted heavy casual- from Gen Scott on 24 September 1947. He was born on 14 June 1899 in ties on the enemy but lost a platoon in the battle. This a small village of Bagoona, 35 Kms East of Jammu, now named Rajinder bold and determined action put a severe caution on Singh Pura. He studied in Jammu and graduated form Prince of Wales Col- the enemy which enabled him to organise his lege in 1921. In June 1921 he got selected as 2nd Lieutenant in the State defences at Uri and get some reinforcements. At Force. He was married to Smt Ram Devi from Kishtwar. He was promoted this time Maharaja, realising the gravity of the sit- to Captain in April 1925, Major in July 1927, Colonel in 1935. In May 1942, uation, issued the historic order, "I command Brig he rose to the rank of Brig and would have soon put on the badges of Maj Rajinder Singh to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs Gen had Pakistan not attacked Jammu and Kashmir. and to the last man". Realising the importance of This tribute depicts the saga of man who thwarted Pakistan plan of annex- Uri Bridge to the invaders Brig Rajinder Singh ing Kashmir in 1947 with a strength of just 100 soldiers at his command. blew it up on 24th October. It was a masterly He put up a fight which was extra-ordinary by all accounts. His martyrdom stroke of the delaying operation that saved the was unique. No where in the history of world armies, an officer of the rank Valley. The destruction of the Uri Bridge drasti- of brigadier and that too a head of his military forces being ordered to com- cally slowed down enemy advance. The invaders mand a contingent of size of an Infantry Company 'to fight to the last man however followed up on foot and Brig Rajinder and last round; not even known of in Israeli army. This is best done by a Singh commenced a fighting withdrawal towards Captain or a Major. Brig Rajinder Singh laid down his life at the altar of Baramula. After delaying the enemy at Mahura on Ruler's Command as per the unparalleled centuries old tradition. Hence his 25th October, he took a defensive position at Ram- martyrdom was a saga of unmatched courage, valour, devotion to duty and pur Buniyar where he fought them like a lion till 1 above all a meaningful supreme sacrifice. The janoon of bravery and sac- rifice ran in the family with his illustrious ancestor General Baj Singh hav- AM on 27 October. Since this small force came ing sacrificed himself almost a century earlier in the defence of Chitral. His under very heavy pressure, it was forced to with- grandfather was a war veteran with seven battle scars on his body. His draw due to mounting casualties. Brig Rajinder Singh father Subedar Lakh Singh, whom Brig Rajinder lost at an early age of six was himself hit in his right arm and legs in the ambush months, was a junior officer in the State Force. He was brought up by his while withdrawing to the next position. Despite his uncle Lt Col Govind Singh. bleeding wounds he continued to inspire his men to fight Brig Rajinder Singh as Head of the State Force responded to the call of on and subsequently lost his life while defending his the ruler and laid down his life fighting with a company, virtually to the last country against great odds. Others who fought shoulder man, a rare feat in the annals of military history. He delayed Pakistani inva- to shoulder with their C-in-C and laid down their life fighting sion of 6,000 strong with 100 gallant soldiers for four days from 23 to 27 the invaders, to my knowledge, are Sub Parkash Singh, Jem Kareena October 1947 on Uri front and enabled Maharaja Hari Singh to accede to Mejra Singh, Sub Maj Swaran Singh, Sub Ram Saran Dass, the youngest, Indian Union and get reinforcement. Sub Duni Chand, Sep Balak Ram, Nk Kirpal Singh, Sep Munshi then 6, went on 'The saviour of Kashmir' as he came to the called later was awarded the Ram, Sep Bhag Chand, Sep Ram Saran, Sep Bharat Singh, Hav to become a first gallantry award of Independent India Maha Vir Chakra ( 2nd Highest) Khajoor Singh, Hav Khajan Singh, Nk Suraj Singh, Sep Chet Ram, Sep renowned doctor in posthumously. We gratefully remember him on his martyrdom day to pay Munshi, Sep Hera Lal, Clk Babu Singh, Clk Nar Singh, Clk Sita Ram, Hav UK. Urvashi Pathania is Vikrma Singh, LNk Chain Singh, Nk Janak Singh, Sep Kirpa Ram, Nk Bal- homage to him and other gallant Dogras who sacrificed their lives under 87 years and lives in NOIDA. wan Singh Slathia and Hav Sansar Singh with many others. Sep Mahinder his command. She religiously comes to Jammu Independence demands price and sacrifices. While the country got inde- Singh was taken prisoner who returned home from Rawalpindi after six for the martyrdom day celebrations of her pendence under Mahatma Gandhi with comparatively less sacrifices but months. Those who were wounded include Capt Jawala Singh, Capt Nasib the partition took its toll. Our miseries started with Pakistani invasion of the Singh, Capt Khajan Singh, Sub Sultan Singh, Hav Kanwal Singh and Hav Jai illustrious father despite her age. Least the army or the JAK Rifles can do is Valley on the night 21/ 22 October 1947. Pakistan attacked Muzaffrabad Karan. to take care of her visit and least the society can do is to appreciate her com- according to the plan presumably hatched in collusion with the British offi- A Chowk behind the Secretariat has been dedicated to him. His statue has ing to Jammu on her father's martyrdom day and inspires us to remember cers. Two Muslim companies of 4 J and K Infantry defending Muzaffrabad been installed there amidst a beautiful park. In the memory of Brig. Rajinder those who gave their today for our tomorrow. Names of all the martyrs are switched sides, killing their commanding officer Lt Col Narain Singh Sam- Singh, a park on his name has been built on Ranbir Canal recommended to be written in Rajinder Chowk so that their generations can byal and all other Hindu officers and Jawans. Very few survived to tell the Head an Auditorium in Jammu University. Rajinder Bazar in Jammu also visit this monument and pay homage to their ancestors who left their loved tale. It was a severe treachery and a great blow to the defence of J&K which reminds us of this great military leader and son of the soil. Brig Rajinder Singh ones for the sake of their motherland. We are indebted to them. Jammu is the was to have a far reaching affect on the battle of Uri. left behind five daughters. His eldest daughter Urvashi was married to a State city of temples and warriors and should be projected as such for the purpos- When Maharaja Hari Singh was informed about the fall of Muzaffrabad by Forces officer Capt Pathania from Dunera, HP who retired as Lt Col from 8 es of promotion of historical and religious tourism. Following tribute should Brig. Rajinder Singh, Maharaja decided to go to the front to see the situation JAK Rif. also be inscribed in bold letters at the chowk:- for himself but Brig Rajinder Singh volunteered to proceed to the front telling He was fighting in Poonch while Brig Rajinder was fighting at Uri. Smt Rama SHAHEDON KI CHITAON PAR LAGEN GE HAR BARAS MELE Maharaja that his presence in the capital was essential to carry out accession Devi brought up her daughters alone and married two to the army officers. WATON PAR MITNE WALON KA YAHI NAMO-NNISHAN HOGA. MEMOIRS OF A SURVIVOR Bal K. Gupta meet the Maharaja until he released the Kashmiri Muslim leader, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, and made the Sheikh chief minis- On August 15, 1947, the British relinquished their power in ter of Jammu and Kashmir. The Maharaja, though disappointed, India to two political parties-the Indian National Congress in India had no alternative but to release Sheikh Abdullah. In Srinagar, and the Muslim League in Pakistan. At that time, 525 indigenous the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession on October states spanned the length and breadth of India. According to the 25and handed it over to India's representative, V.P. Menon who terms of the Instrument of Accession , the rulers of these states flew back to Delhi. He presented it to Pandit Nehru and his cab- had the prerogative to accede to either India or Pakistan. The inet and they signed it on October 26.