Brave Sons Of India
Motto(s) - Yudhaya Krit Nischya
War Cry - Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai
Words fall short in describing the persona and attributes of this Great Soldier. He has left an indelible, unparalleled, and everlasting Legacy. He is India's Pride and GARHWALI's 'Treasured Possession'. Such Great Soldiers are seldom born. They always remain IMMORTAL MORTALS. 'Warfare has been portrayed as man's second popular hunt: it has, without doubt, played a defining role in the history of the world'.
Easily the Finest Commanding Officer of his time - at the peak of tactical genius and 'forever in operations' - who proved that ' the Best Soldier has in him a seasoning of devilry professing the belief that no one could harm him', the Garhwalis just followed him from peak to peak conquering them. FORTUNA FAVET FORTIBUS (Fortune Favors The Brave) and the Blessings of our Presiding Deity Lord Badri Vishal-The Sustainer was always thereupon the gallant Garhwalis.
Lt Col Kaman Singh Pathania, MVC, M in D
Lt. Col. Kaman Singh, son of Dafadar Vijay Singh Pathania (Vijay Singh served with 23 Cavalry during Mesopotamia campaign in WW1), was born in Hindu Rajput Family on 23 April 1917, at Ladori, Nurpur, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. In true and long military tradition took up to the noble profession of Arms by joining HODSON'S HORSE on 23 April 1935 as a Sowar.
His father Dafadar Vijay Singh Pathania had earlier served with 23 Cavalry during Mesopotamia Campaign in World War I.
Two of his sons fought during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
On selection for Commission, he joined Kitchner College at Nowgong, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh (Old ACC Ghorpadi and now Siachen Battalion Indian Military Academy, Dehradun) in July 1937 later Indian Military Academy July 1939. He was commissioned into 5 DOGRA in December 1940. He later served as a Major with 17 DOGRA (Machine Gun Battalion) and was awarded Mentioned-in-Dispatches (M-in-D) in Burma Campaign during WW-II.
Details of Service of this brilliant soldier are enumerated below.
In the Ranks ( HODSON'S HORSE) 23 April 1935 to June 1937
Kitchner's College July 1937 to March 1939
Indian Military Academy July 1939 to December 1940
As an Officer
5Th Battalion The DOGRA Regiment 22 December 1940 to April 1941
17 DOGRA ( Machine Gun) Battalion May 1941 to June 1947
Served in intense Operations in Burma WW II and under South East Asia Command (SEAC)
4Th Battalion The DOGRA Regiment July 1947-December 1948- North West
3rd Battalion Royal Garhwal Rifles January 1948-August 1949- JandK Operations
Instructor Class A, (OC Weapons Wing, Infantry School Mhow) August 1949-Aug 1950
6 KUMAON (Commanding Officer) August 1950-May 1953
6 ASSAM Rifles (Commandant) June 1953-June 1956
3 KUMAON Rifles (Commanding Officer) 30 June 1956- 15 Jul 1956
On 16 February 1948, Lt Col Kaman Singh took over the command of 3 Royal Garhwal Rifles from Lt Col LS Negi and commanded the Battalion in Uri Sector. He was instrumental in the capture of Trehgam Ridge in the historic Battle of TITHWAL in 1948 and The Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Kaman Singh was awarded a well deserved MAHAVIR CHAKRA and his name lives on in the form of the ‘Kaman Setu’, the crossing point recently opened up between PoK and J&K (now renamed the ‘Aman Kaman Setu’).
The 3rd Battalion participated with distinction in the J&K Operations, winning Battle Honour "Tithwal"
And gaining the distinction of becoming one of the most decorated battalions of the Indian Army in any one operation after independence –
It won one MVC, 18 VrCs, 01 SC (then referred to as the Ashoka Chakra Class III) and 19 Mentions-in-Despatches.
On 18 May 1948, during Kashmir Ops, 3rd Battalion, Garhwal Rifles was given the task of securing Tragham ridge. Two companies had moved out at night with the object of securing ring contour behind the ridge and advancing on from the rear, while the 3rd company launched a frontal attack, supported by armoured cars, from the base at Pethahir. Lt. Col. Kaman Singh was himself leading this attack. No sooner his company had started advance it encountered very heavy resistance from lower features and around the Pethahir position. The latter position was being monitored and sniped constantly. Owing to bridges having been destroyed by the enemy the progress of the armoured cars was very slow and they consequently could not support the attack very effectively. At times it looked as if the advance might be held up. At about 1100 hrs news was received that owing to a loss of surprise the 2 company attack on the ring contour had been held up short of the objective and that they were now completely surrounded by the enemy. Early establishment of contact with these coys became imperative. There were no reserves available. Lt.Col. Kaman Singh pressed on with the attack and assured his senior officers that come what might, he would capture the ridge and establish contact with the other Coys. He then himself went up to the forward position and lead the attack personally, organizing and cheering his men with encouragement, himself in the forefront. He pressed on to the enemy positions with such boldness and determination that enemy was forced to evacuate them one by one suffering heavy casualties. The ridge was captured and contact with Coys established before the end of the day. It was inspiring leadership, great personal courage and dogged determination on the part of Lt. Col. Singh that carried the day against very heavy odds.
Again, on June 17 1948 his Battalion (less 2 coys) was given the task of carrying out a raid on a strongly held position on Buni ridge beyond Tithwal. He was leading the advance with forward Coy when at about 0400 hrs they surprised the enemy and killed 20 of them capturing 2 prisoners. This completely demoralized the enemy which fled in confusion. Lt. Col. Singh pressed on with the leading Coy into the enemy defences and captured a prominent feature, which was later discovered to be enemy Coy and Battalion TAC HQ. The attack although uphill was carried out with such dash and speed that enemy fled leaving behind many dead and wounded. Lt. Col. Singh was now far and ahead of his 2nd Coy. and he therefore decided to take up a defensive position on the feature. Before the 2nd coy could arrive the enemy having rallied put in three successive counter attacks with large numbers. All these attacks were repulsed by the Coy with heavy losses to the enemy, including one Lt. Col. killed. Although his men were now running short of ammunition Lt. Col. Kaman Singh held on to the position. In this action once again. Lt. Col. kaman Singh displayed a fine example of inspiring leadership, high sense of duty and great personal courage.
During a mission to capture a position near Trahgam. They suffered casualties, including Rifleman Guman Singh Rawat, & had to withdraw about 400 yards to the rear. The enemy sent a party to pickup the bodies and ammunition.
Rfn Guman Singh Rawat , Veer Chakra
Though badly wounded in the stomach, Rifleman Guman Singh Rawat was determined to fight. He took position behind a boulder and as the enemy came close in a group, he threw a grenade, opened fire on them, killing them all, thereby saving his comrades and their weapons..
The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed by this wounded Sepoy were of a high order..
Garhwal Rifles displayed unparalleled courage & bravery during attack on enemy position in Trahgam sector. Displayed indomitable grit & determination. Awarded Mahavir Chakra & Vir Chakra respectively.
Throughout the Operation, Lt. Col. Kaman Singh's handling of his battalion was very sound and his leadership and personal example of courage and determination of a very high order. As a mark of respect to the brave Colonel, the last Indian post on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road was named Kaman Post and the bridge was named Kaman Setu (Bridge). As a mark of respect to the brave hero, the last Indian post on the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road was named Kaman Post.
Kaman Bridge was damaged by the October 8, 2005 earthquake when a mountainside on the POK side had caved in destroying the bridge's piers and abutments. Engineers of the Indian Army in a record time rebuilt the bridge- inclement weather notwithstanding. It was inaugurated with much fanfare by the then Chief Minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad on 20 February 2006. The Civil Administration had renamed it as 'AMAN SETU'.
Family Members of Late Lt Col Kaman Singh Pathania, while appreciating that the Bridge may help in bringing together divided Kashmiri families by running Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus Service, lamented about the renaming of Bridge stating that this had amounted to 'forgetting the heroic deeds of the Great Soldier'. Shri Kamaljit Singh, son of Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC, and the entire Family had written letters to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh expressing their deep anguish and pain over the omission of the name of 'KAMAN' and substituting it with 'AMAN'. "It was sad indeed that neither the Hero of J and K nor his Family Members were remembered on the occasion. They were not even informed about the change in name of the Bridge and they came to know about it from the media," Shri Kamaljit said.
The 'REGIMENTAL SPIRIT COMPLIMENTARY TO INDIAN ARMY 'S CODE OF HONOUR BASED UPON NAAM- NAMAK and NISHAN". Corrective Orders were passed down the line promptly and the name of AMAN SETU was restored to its original name KAMAN AMAN SETU.
In the Fifties when insurgency erupted in Nagaland, Lt Col Kaman Singh was handpicked to command 6 KUMAON and took part in operations to bring insurgency under control in Nagaland from August 1950 to May 1953. He then took over the command of 6 Assam Rifles in Agartala, where also he continued to take part in operations against the insurgents.
Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC later took over command of 3 KUMAON Rifles and was posted in Uri Sector in Jammu and Kashmir. On 15 July 1956, while commanding the battalion, during a visit to a High Altitude Piquet, he sacrificed his life for the honor of the country at the young age of 39 years. This stunned the entire Indian Army that had lost a dynamic and upcoming Commanding Officer. Entire Nation mourned his sad and untimely death.
Even today Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC, M in D is looked up as the Indian Army's icon since his achievements as a Commanding Officer are beyond compare. For the GARHWALIS, he shall continue to remain our cherished and revered role model-a Guiding Beacon
No comments:
Post a Comment