27 October 1947: When Lt. Col Dewan Ranjit Rai attained martyrdom fighting Pakistanis in 1947 War in Kashmir

 

Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai (MVC) was an Indian Army officer known for his bravery and leadership during the 1947 India-Pakistan war. He played a significant role in the early days of Pakistani invasion of J&K. In October 1947, when tribal forces from Pakistan invaded the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Lt. Col. Ranjit Rai, as the commanding officer of 1 Sikh, led his troops in the defense of the region.

 

 

 

Dewan Ranjit Rai was born in Gujranwala (now Pakistan) in a Punjabi family on 6 February 1913. He was commissioned on the 1 February 1935 . He was first course IMA and he is IC 12. On commissioning he was attached for a year to a British Army regiment, King Shropshire Light Infantry stationed in India. He was appointed to the Indian Army and posted to the 5th battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment on the 24 February 1936. He was promoted Lieutenant 4 May 1936. He was promoted Captain 4 February 1942 and by April 1944 he was serving as a temporary Major on the Recruiting Staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was commanding 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment in Gurgaon making arrangements for refugees, when Pakistan invaded Kashmir. Two companies of his troops were airlifted in 30 Dakotaaircraft, one of which was flown by Biju Patnaik, to Srinagar. The Op Order was handed over to him by then Capt S K Sinha who retired as a General and was later Governor of J & K. Rai led his troops to guard the Baramulla-Srinagar highway near Pattan against the numerically superior Pakistani tribal irregulars who were moving towards Srinagar after looting, raping and burning people of all religions in Baramulla.

 

 

 

 

 

He successfully protected the Srinagar airfield, paving the way for more Indian troops to land who expelled the Pakistani tribal irregulars. He died leading and defending Pattan. He was the first officer of the Indian Army after independence to fight a battle on 27 October 1947. He was the first officer to be awarded the Mahavir Chakra. He died on 27 October 1947.