Brigadier Mohammad Usman: A Great Army Officer of India Born in July and Died in July

 For the common citizens’ peace and happiness and to keep our international border safe , time to time many army personnel of different cadres irrespective of caste , creed and religions have sacrificed their lives. I am presenting a case of a great army officer Brigadier Mohammad Usman who was born on 15 July 1912 in present Uttar Pradesh and died on 3 July 1948 while fighting with the enemies at Naushera in Jammu Kashmir. He was a great patriot as at the time of partition of India he along with many other Muslim officers declined to go to Pakistan to join in Pakistan Army. 

It is pertinent to mention that partition of India was the most unfortunate part in the history of India. The common people irrespective of caste, creed and religion fought against the British Raj but unfortunately few leaders supported by the British in those only to enjoy power were the architects of the partition at the cost of human lives. Unfortunately these power hungry leaders enjoyed the power because the partition displaced between 10 and 20 million people along religious lines, and 200,000 to 2 million deaths took place. And lakhs of women were assaulted and huge properties were damaged.  All were the common people of different religions. 

Anyway, Brigadier was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra and it is pertinent to mention that the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC, a great warrior medal) is the second highest military award  in India after the Param Vir Chakra. 

Brigadier Usman studied at Harish Chandra Bhai School in Varanasi. He had a great desire to join the army so with a lot of struggle got admission in the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst (RMAS). He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on 1 February 1934. Later on he was posted to the 5th battalion of 10th Baluch Regiment. For his great service, he was promoted as Lieutenant in April 1936 later on in August 1941 he was promoted as Captain. From February to July 1942, he attended the Indian Army Staff College at Ouetta (now in Pakistan). During partition, he was under great pressure from the Pakistani leadership to join in the Pakistani Army and it is now fact that Brigadier Usman had declined a request from Muhammad Ali Jinnah to settle in Pakistan. Also it is believed that he was promised in future as Pakistan's Army Chief. When the Baluch Regiment was allotted to Pakistan after partition, Brigadier was transferred to the Dogra Regiment in India.

 In January- February 1948 Brigadier Usman repulsed the attack from the Pakistan side in Naushera and Jhangar, both highly strategic locations in Jammu and Kashmir.  Indian forces inflicted around 2000 casualties on the Pakistani side (about 1000 dead and 1000 wounded) while Indian forces suffered only 33 dead and 102 wounded. For his bravery and skill and prowess, Pakistani forces announced a sum of Rs.50,000 for his  head. 

According to the Government of India, Press Information Bureau, “Late Brigadier Mohammad Usman, also known as the savior of Naushera, was responsible for the recapture of Jhangar & Naushera (Jammu & Kashmir) during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan. The gallant officer attained martyrdom on 03rd July 1948 when an enemy artillery shell landed close to him in Naushera”.

A great salute to the Brigadier as in July month he was born and also left for heavenly abode by saving our border. 

 The following websites and Press release have been consulted while writing the article:

1)    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Usman

2)    Government of India. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, 03-July-2014

3)    https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/army-to-restore-defaced-jamia-grave-of-    war- hero/cid/1802136

   Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad Dt 20 July 2021