Remembering 'Saviour of Kashmir’ Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal on his martyrdom day, who fought till his last breath to defend J&K from Pakistani invaders in 1947

Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal (MVC), also known as 'Saviour of Kashmir’ was a heroic figure during Pakistani invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. He was a J&K State Force Officer, who played a crucial role in defending the region from Pakistani forces led invaders. Brigadier Rajinder Singh displayed remarkable bravery and leadership during war time. He also served as Chief of Staff of State Forces for a brief period. Unfortunately, he lost his life in the line of duty during this war and he is honoured as a national hero for his sacrifice and dedication to his country.

Rajinder Singh was born on 14 June 1899 in Bagoona village (now Rajinderpura, Samba district) in a military Dogra family. He was commissioned on 14 June 1921, in to the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces as a Second Lieutenant. On 25 September 1947, he took over charge as Chief of Army Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces from Major General H. L. Scott.

In 1947, when Pakistani raiders led by army regulars attacked princely state of J&K, the state forces were ordered to fight and push back thousands of those raiders along all its borders. Brigadier Jamwal and his troops held on to their positions in Uri for three days from 23rd October 1947 to 26th October 1947. They repelled waves of enemy attack and stood until the last bullet. On 27th October 1947, the Maharaja of J&K signed the instrumentation of accession with India. India troops quickly rushed in to support Brigadier Rajinder Singh.

For the people of Jammu, Brigadier Singh is known as the ‘Immortal Dogra’ and the ‘Saviour of Kashmir’. He hailed from the Dogra people of Jammu, a community deeply entrenched in the armed forces of India for several generations.

Pakistan Army Attack On Jammu Kashmir 1947-48

His citation reads:

Immediately after the partition of the Indian Sub continent in 1947, thousands of raiders assisted by Pakistani regulars invaded the State of Jammu & Kashmir all along its border. The Jammu & Kashmir State Forces, stretched along a 550-mile long border deployed in penn-packets with limited arms, ammunition and supplies, without road communications, and heavily-outnumbered, fought tenaciously holding on to their positions. Kohla-Domel garrison fell to the invaders on 22 October 1947. The fate of the Valley as of the whole State hung precariously on a slender thread.

Brigadier Rajender Singh, Chief of Military Staff, took over the command of a relief column and proceeded to check the raiders. Another column with all available troops (nearly 100) was despatched on 23 Oct 1947 to join Brigadier Rajender Singh with orders from Maharaja Hari Singh, C-in-C as follows:- "Brigadier Rajender Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Reinforcement is sent with Capt Jwala Singh ......."

Brigadier Rajender Singh and his band of soldiers carried out the orders of the Maharaja to the letter and spirit. Fighting bravely for every inch of land, they delayed enemy advance by two crucial days during which important decisions were taken. The Indian Army joined the fight and the J&K State was thus saved for India by Brigadier Rajender Singh. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life on 26 October 1947 valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders in Uri-Rampur sector.

On 30th December 1949, he became independent India's first recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second highest military decoration, when he was awarded the honour posthumously by the then Army Chief Field Marshall K. M. Cariappa. Brigadier Rajinder Singh's heroic acts in the 1947 war have left an enduring legacy, and he is remembered as a symbol of courage and patriotism in India's military history.