Brigadier Rajinder Singh : Saviour of Kashmir Independent India’s 1st Gallantry Awardee
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S Balakrishnan
Though small, my philatelic collection is springing one surprise after another. The latest is a stamp on Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal. Issued a quarter century ago and also in my collection since then, I realised its value only now. The stamp was issued to honour the very first recipient of a gallantry award of Independent India ! Brig Rajinder Singh was the saviour of Kashmir in 1947, just after independence.
Brig Rajinder Singh was the Chief of Staff, professional head of the erstwhile Jammu&Kashmir State forces, when Muzafarabad was suddenly attacked on 21st October 1947, in order to capture the Jammu valley. The invading force of Pakistan-backed Pashtun tribesmen and pro-Pakistan Kashmiri rebels succeeded in capturing Muzafarabad (which is still in Pak Occupied Kashmir–POK). The Maharaja of J&K, Hari Singh, the Commander-in-Chief of J&K Forces, commanded Brig Rajinder Singh to proceed to the Uri front to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Accordingly, the Brigadier collected whatever troops that were available in the Cantonment of Srinagar and set out personally on 22nd Oct. 1947, heading a small column of two platoons (of about 100 - 200 men). He ordered blowing up the Uri bridge to delay the enemy forces. This was a masterly stroke to save J&K which had not acceded to the Indian Union till then. The invading forces, however, followed on foot. The Brigadier then devised a fighting withdrawal at Baramulla; after delaying the enemy at Mahora, his troop took up a defensive position at Rampur Bunyar/Boniyar. This small column of two platoons gallantly managed to delay the enemy till 2 O’clock in the early morning of 27th October 1947, despite heavy attack from the other side. The mounting casualties forced our column to withdraw as it was an unequal battle against 6,000 tribesmen. Brig Rajinder Singh was hit on his right arm and leg by a burst of light machine gun fire. Though bleeding, he motivated his soldiers till the end. He asked his men to leave him at the spot where he was mortally wounded, and ordered them to continue to fight till the end. The small troop led by him delayed the enemy for a short but a very crucial few days, when important political decisions were taken. The Maharaja of J&K had no other option but to accede to the Indian Union in order to save J&K; Indian forces were then airlifted to Kashmir for its defence. This 1947 war by our enemy across the border is called the First Kashmir War.
A memorial at Bunyar near Uri in Kashmir inspires heroism to this day. And Brigadier Rajinder Singh was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) on 30th December 1949 for his gallant act. MVC is the second highest military award after Param Vir Chakra (PVC). He thus became the first recipient of gallantry award of Independent India. The Postal Department honoured this brave hero of our motherland on the occasion of his birth centenary in the year 1999 by issuing a 3 rupee commemorative postal stamp. A first day cover was also issued on the occasion depicting the memorial, the route he took, and the blown up Uri bridge along with a special cancellation carrying his image. It was this single-colour stamp issued on 27th Oct. 1999 (his martyrdom day in 1947) that aroused my curiosity, compelling me to pay my tributes to the hero at least now, after 26 years since I got possession of the stamp. Better late than never.
Brig. Rajinder Singh was born in village Bagoona (since renamed Rajinderpura in his honour) in Jammu on 14 June 1899, in a Dogra Rajput family with military background. His father and grandfather had served in the army; Rajinder Singh was commissioned into the J&K State Forces as a Second Lieutenant on 14th June 1921. On 25 September 1947, he took over as Chief of Army Staff of the J&K State Forces from Major General HL Scott. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life on 26th/27th October 1947, valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders in Uri-Rampur sector. The J&K State was thus saved for India by the brave action and total sacrifice of Brigadier Rajinder Singh and all his men !
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Though small, my philatelic collection is springing one surprise after another. The latest is a stamp on Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal. Issued a quarter century ago and also in my collection since then, I realised its value only now. The stamp was issued to honour the very first recipient of a gallantry award of Independent India ! Brig Rajinder Singh was the saviour of Kashmir in 1947, just after independence.
Brig Rajinder Singh was the Chief of Staff, professional head of the erstwhile Jammu&Kashmir State forces, when Muzafarabad was suddenly attacked on 21st October 1947, in order to capture the Jammu valley. The invading force of Pakistan-backed Pashtun tribesmen and pro-Pakistan Kashmiri rebels succeeded in capturing Muzafarabad (which is still in Pak Occupied Kashmir–POK). The Maharaja of J&K, Hari Singh, the Commander-in-Chief of J&K Forces, commanded Brig Rajinder Singh to proceed to the Uri front to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Accordingly, the Brigadier collected whatever troops that were available in the Cantonment of Srinagar and set out personally on 22nd Oct. 1947, heading a small column of two platoons (of about 100 - 200 men). He ordered blowing up the Uri bridge to delay the enemy forces. This was a masterly stroke to save J&K which had not acceded to the Indian Union till then. The invading forces, however, followed on foot. The Brigadier then devised a fighting withdrawal at Baramulla; after delaying the enemy at Mahora, his troop took up a defensive position at Rampur Bunyar/Boniyar. This small column of two platoons gallantly managed to delay the enemy till 2 O’clock in the early morning of 27th October 1947, despite heavy attack from the other side. The mounting casualties forced our column to withdraw as it was an unequal battle against 6,000 tribesmen. Brig Rajinder Singh was hit on his right arm and leg by a burst of light machine gun fire. Though bleeding, he motivated his soldiers till the end. He asked his men to leave him at the spot where he was mortally wounded, and ordered them to continue to fight till the end. The small troop led by him delayed the enemy for a short but a very crucial few days, when important political decisions were taken. The Maharaja of J&K had no other option but to accede to the Indian Union in order to save J&K; Indian forces were then airlifted to Kashmir for its defence. This 1947 war by our enemy across the border is called the First Kashmir War.
A memorial at Bunyar near Uri in Kashmir inspires heroism to this day. And Brigadier Rajinder Singh was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) on 30th December 1949 for his gallant act. MVC is the second highest military award after Param Vir Chakra (PVC). He thus became the first recipient of gallantry award of Independent India. The Postal Department honoured this brave hero of our motherland on the occasion of his birth centenary in the year 1999 by issuing a 3 rupee commemorative postal stamp. A first day cover was also issued on the occasion depicting the memorial, the route he took, and the blown up Uri bridge along with a special cancellation carrying his image. It was this single-colour stamp issued on 27th Oct. 1999 (his martyrdom day in 1947) that aroused my curiosity, compelling me to pay my tributes to the hero at least now, after 26 years since I got possession of the stamp. Better late than never.
Brig. Rajinder Singh was born in village Bagoona (since renamed Rajinderpura in his honour) in Jammu on 14 June 1899, in a Dogra Rajput family with military background. His father and grandfather had served in the army; Rajinder Singh was commissioned into the J&K State Forces as a Second Lieutenant on 14th June 1921. On 25 September 1947, he took over as Chief of Army Staff of the J&K State Forces from Major General HL Scott. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life on 26th/27th October 1947, valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders in Uri-Rampur sector. The J&K State was thus saved for India by the brave action and total sacrifice of Brigadier Rajinder Singh and all his men !
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