Jadunath Singh

Jadunath Singh
PVC
Born (1916-11-21)21 November 1916
Khajuri, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Died 6 February 1948(1948-02-06) (aged 31)
Tain Dhar, Naushera, Jammu and Kashmir
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service 1941–1948
Rank Naik
Service number 27373[1]
Unit 1st Battalion, Rajput Regiment
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Awards Param Vir Chakra

Jadunath Singh, PVC (21 November 1916 – 6 Feb 1948) was an Indian Army soldier who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration for his actions in an engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Born in 1916, Singh enlisted in the British Indian Army in 1941 and served in the Second World War. He later took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 with the Indian Army. In February 1948, with the rank of naik, he was in command of a nine men strong picket in Tain Dhar, lying to the north of Naushahra, that was placed to counter advancing Pakistani troops. Though heavily outnumbered by Pakistani forces, Singh led his men in defending against three attempts to take over the post. Though wounded, during the last attempt by the Pakistanis to take his post, Singh maintained his defensive efforts but was hit by two bullets and succumbed to his wounds.

Early life

Jadunath Singh, a Rathore Rajput, was born on 21 November 1916 in the village of Khajuri, near the town of Shahjahanpur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. He was the son of Birbal Singh Rathore, a farmer, and Jamuna Kanwar. He was the third of eight children, with seven brothers and a sister.[1][2][3]

Though Singh studied up to fourth year standard in a local school in his village, he could not continue his education further due to his family's economic situation. He spent most of his childhood helping out his family with agricultural work around the farm. For recreation, he wrestled and eventually became the wrestling champion of his village. For his character and well-being, he was nicknamed "Hanuman Bhagat Bal Brahmachari". This was after Lord Hanuman, a Hindu god who was unmarried for life. Like the Lord on which his nickname was derived, Singh never married.[2]

Military career

Singh enlisted in the Rajput Regiment on 21 November 1941 at Fatehgarh Regimental Centre. On completing his training, Singh was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Rajput Regiment. During the war, the battalion was deployed in Arakan during the Burma campaign, and then took over the defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.[4][5] For gallantry actions in the Second World War, Singh was promoted to the rank of naik (corporal).[6]

War of 1947

In October, following continuous offensive by the Pakistani raiders, the Defence Committee of the Cabinet directed the Army Headquarters to clear out the raiders from Jammu and Kashmir. The army undertook several operations to drive out the raiders as directed. In one such attempt, the 50 Para Brigade, to which the Rajput Regiment was attached, was ordered to secure Naushahra and establish a base at Jhangar by 16 and 17 November respectively. However this did not occur due to adverse climatic conditions.[7]

On 24 December, Jhangar, a strategically advantageous position in the Naushahra Sector, was captured by the Pakistanis which gave them control over the communication lines between Mirpur and Poonch and provided a starting point from which attacks could be made on Naushahra. The following month, the Indian Army undertook several operations in the north-west of Naushahra to stop further advances by the Pakistani forces. Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the commanding officer of 50 Para Brigade, had made necessary arrangements to counter the expected attack. Soldiers were deployed in small groups on possible enemy approaches.[1][8]

Tain Dhar, lying to the north of Naushahra, was one such approach for which Singh's battalion was responsible. On the morning of 6 February, at 6:40 am, Pakistani forces opened fire on pickets from the battalion patrolling along Tain Dhar ridge. Gunfire was exchanged between both sides. The early morning darkness, together with fog, helped the attacking Pakistanis creep up to the pickets.[9] Soon men in the posts on the Tain Dhar ridge observed thousands of Pakistani soldiers moving towards them. Singh was in command of the nine personnel manning the forward post of the second picket at Tain Dhar.[1][8]

In an attempt to capture Singh's post, the Pakistanis launched continuous attacks in wave fashion. The first wave advanced right up to the post but Singh tactically used his small force to make the attacking Pakistani's retreat in sheer confusion. When four of his men were wounded, he reorganized the force to meet the next assault. Despite being heavily outnumbered, they did not give up. When the entire picket including Singh was wounded, he took over the Bren gun, a light machine gun, from its wounded gunner. By then, the Pakistanis reached the walls of the post. Singh urged his men to continue to fight while maintaining his gunfire on the advancing Pakistanis until they retreated in chaos, leaving the dead and wounded.[1][8]

Determined to take over the post, the Pakistanis launched the third and last attack. By then, the entire post were casualties. Singh, wounded and alone, came out of his Sangar[lower-alpha 1] and charged, firing his sten gun at the advancing Pakistanis. Surprised, they retreated in a disordered fashion. During the last charge, Singh, hit by two bullets in the head and chest, died of his wounds.[1][8]

In the meantime, Brigadier Usman sent a company of 3 (Para) Rajput to reinforce Tain Dhar. This proved a very critical moment for the battle in Naushahra. Without Singh engaging the Pakistani troops for a considerable period, re-capture of these post would have been impossible for the Indians.[11]

Param Vir Chakra

On 6 February 1948, Singh was posthumously was awarded the India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra.[12] The official citation reads as follows:

At No 2 picquet on Taindhar on 6 February 1948, No 27373 Naik Jadunath Singh was in command of a forward section post, which bore the full brunt of the enemy attack. Nine men against overwhelming odds garrisoned the little post. The enemy launched its attack in successive waves and with great ferocity to overcome this post. The first wave swept up to the post in a furious attack. Displaying great valour and superb qualities of leadership Naik Jadunath Singh so used the small force at his disposal that the enemy retired in utter confusion. Four of his men were wounded but Naik Jadunath Singh again showed his qualities of good leadership by reorganising the battered force under him, for meeting another onslaught. His coolness and courage were of such an order that the men rallied and were ready for the second attack which came with greater determination and in larger number than the preceding one. Though hopelessly outnumbered, this post under the gallant leadership of Naik Jadunath Singh resisted. All were wounded, and Naik Jadunath Singh, though wounded in the right arm, personally took over the Bren gun from the wounded Bren gunner. The enemy was right on the walls of the post but Naik Jadunath Singh once again showed outstanding ability and valour of the highest order in action. By his complete disregard for his personal safety and example of coolness and courage, he encouraged his men to fight. His fire was so devastating, that what looked like impending defeat was turned into a victory and the enemy retreated in chaos leaving the dead and wounded littered on the ground. With this act of supreme heroism and outstanding example of leadership and determination, Naik Jadunath Singh saved the post from the second assault. By this time, all men in the post were casualties. The enemy put in his third and final attack in undiminished numbers and determination to capture this post. Naik Jadunath Singh, now wounded, prepared literally single-handed to give battle for the third time. With great courage and determination, he came out of the sangar and finally with the Sten gun, made a most magnificent single-handed charge on the advancing enemy, who, completely taken by surprise, fled in disorder. Naik Jadunath Singh, however, met his gallant death in his third and last charge when two bullets hit him in the head and chest. Thus, charging single-handedly at the advancing enemy, this Non-Commissioned Officer, performed the highest act of gallantry and self-sacrifice and by so doing saved his section-nay, his whole picquet from being overrun by the enemy at the most critical stage in the battle for the defence of Nushera.

— Gazette Notification: 16 Pres/50, 11–12.50, [13]

Legacy

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a Government of India enterprise under the aegis of the Ministry of Shipping, named fifteen of her crude oil tankers in honour of the Param Vir Chakra recipients. The crude oil tanker named MT Naik Jadunath Singh, PVC was delivered to SCI on 21 September 1984. The tanker was phased out after 25 years of service.[14][15] A sports stadium in Shahjahanpur, the town near the village where Singh was born, was named as "Paramveer Chakra Lance Nayak Jadunath Singh Sports Stadium" in his honour.[16]

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Sangar is a small protected structure used for observing or firing from, which is built up from the ground.[10]
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chakravorty 1995, pp. 56–57.
  2. 1 2 Reddy 2007, p. 24.
  3. ↑ Indiatimes News Network (25 January 2008). "Param Vir Chakra winners since 1950". Times of India. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Tyagi 2009, pp. 155–156.
  5. ↑ Jackson 2006, p. 89.
  6. ↑ Reddy 2007, pp. 24–25.
  7. ↑ Cardozo 2003, p. 46.
  8. 1 2 3 4 TBI Team (15 January 2016). "10 Army Heroes and Their Extra Ordinary Tales of Bravery". The Better India. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Cardozo 2003, p. 48.
  10. ↑ "Definition of SANGAR". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Cardozo 2003, p. 49.
  12. ↑ "Nk Jadunath Singh, PVC (Details)". twdi.in. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  13. ↑ "Nk Jadunath Singh, PVC (Citation)". twdi.in. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "NAIK JADUNATH SINGH (Oil tanker)". Fleet Mon. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "References to ships named Naik Jadunath Singh Pvc in books, magazines and online resources". Ship Index. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Stadiums". upsports.gov.in. Retrieved 26 September 2016.

References

External links

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