The Param Vir Chakra is the highest honor that is bestowed on our brave Jawans, and is a recognition of unparalleled courage, selflessness, and an unwavering commitment to duty towards the nation. Few can embody these virtuous traits more than the awardee that we will learn about in this article, Naik Jadunath Singh.
His extraordinary bravery and leadership played a decisive role in defending Naushera, a small town in the Rajouri district of Jammu, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48, also known as the first Kashmir War. Facing overwhelming odds, leading a battalion of just nine soldiers, he held his ground against waves of Pakistani invaders with unwavering determination, ensuring the success of his mission and safety of the nation. This is the story of a soldier whose sacrifice and gallantry continue to inspire generations.
Naik Jadunath Singh was born on 21 November 1916 in a Rathore Rajput family in Khajuri village, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Birbal Singh Rathore, was a farmer. He was third of eight children, with six brothers and a sister. He only completed studies till 4th class, having to drop out of school due to his familly’s economic condition. He started to partake in household chores and helping his father with farming. He also took to wrestling in his free time and was a formidable wrestler, earning the name ‘Hanuman Bhagat Bal Brahmachari’ in his village.
He enlisted in the British Indian Army on 21 November 1941, where he enrolled in 1 Rajput. He fought in World War Two against the Japanese forces in the Burma (Myanmar) campaign. His unit was also part of the 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade, which was tasked to defend the partially occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, his defining moment came during the Jammu and Kashmir operations in early 1948 during the Indo-Pakistani War.
Background
During the Jammu and Kashmir operations in 1947, the Pakistan invaders had captured the village of Jhanger near the now Line of Control between the Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This gave them the strategic advantage in the Naushehra sector, being in full control of the communication lines from Mirpur to Poonch. The Army, anticipating an attack, fortified key positions under the command of Brigadier Mohammad Usman of the 50 Para Brigade. One of these was the approach Naushehra from the north, through Tain Dhar.
Naik Jadunath Singh was in charge of a forward section post at Tain dhar, manned by just nine soldiers. On 6 February 1948, at 0640 hours (6:40 AM), the enemy launched a massive assault under the cover of fog. Gunfire and mortar shells rained down on the ridge as they advanced in waves.
A massively outnumbered yet brave front
Despite being vastly outnumbered, Naik Jadunath Singh and his men held their ground. Naik Singh was cunning in his leadership, efficiently managing the gunfire from his meagre force in a way that the first enemy wave was forced to retreat, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers.
As the second wave approached with greater intensity, Singh reorganized his men and personally took over the Bren gun from a wounded soldier, continuing the fight with determination. The enemy reached the walls of the post, but his resolute defense forced them to retreat once again. However, by this time, most of his comrades were either wounded or killed.
Undeterred, the enemy launched a third and final attack. Wounded but steadfast, Naik Jadunath Singh stepped out of his defensive position and charged towards the advancing enemy with a Sten gun. The unexpected display of bravery from the Naik made the attackers retreat in confusion. However, he was struck by two bullets from the enemy, one in his head and another in his chest, resulting in a martyr. Singh’s brave counterattack bought enough time for Brigadier Usman to sned a company of the 3rd (Para) Battalion, Rajput Regiment, to reinforce Tain Dhar. Without Singh engaging the Pakistani troops for a considerable period, re-capture of these posts would have been impossible.
Legacy
Naik Jadunath Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honor for his exceptional bravery and leadership in the face of overwhelming odds. The award was accepted by his father, Birbal Singh Rathore, on his behalf. 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.
His actions played a crucial role in defending Naushahra at a critical juncture in the battle. His story remains a symbol of unwavering dedication and courage, inspiring generations of soldiers and citizens alike.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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