Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore was a soldier of the Indian Army who actively participated in the India-Pakistan War of 1947 in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jadunath Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for displaying exemplary courage as he fearlessly faced overwhelming odds and directly challenged the enemy. He died of a serious gunshot wound during a fight with the Pakistani Army and later succumbed to his injuries.
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Wiki/Biography
Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore was born on Tuesday, 21 November 1916 (aged 31 at the time of his death in 1948) in Khajuri village in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. In his childhood, he studied till fourth class in his village school. Due to poor financial condition of his family, he had to leave his studies early. After leaving his school, Jadunath Singh started helping his family in household chores and also took care of farming as he belonged to a farmer family. In his free time, he would often participate in wrestling in his village and as time passed he became a famous wrestler in his village. He was also known to be a man of strong character and was extremely soft-spoken, which earned him respect among the villagers. A new page turned in the chapter of his life when on 21 November 1941 he was recruited into the 7th Rajput Regiment of the British Indian Army at their regimental center in Fatehgarh. On completion of training, Jadunath Singh was posted to the 1st Battalion of the 7th Rajputs and sent to fight the Japanese on the Eastern Front.
family and caste
Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore belonged to the Rathore Rajput family.
Guardian
Father
His father’s name was Bir Bal Singh Rathore who was a farmer by profession.
Mother
His mother’s name was Jamuna Kanwar.
Address
He lived in Village Khajuri, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 242001, India
livelihood
As a soldier during World War II
After completion of his military training, Jadunath Singh was deployed to the Eastern Front in 1942 to confront the advancing Japanese forces in the Arakan Province of Myanmar (now known as Rakhine State). Jadunath Singh’s battalion fought the Japanese in the Mayu ranges and successfully forced the Japanese troops to retreat and retreat towards Donbaik. In early 1943, the Japanese regrouped and launched a massive counter-attack on the advancing Indian forces, cutting off their escape routes and dividing the units, after which Indian units, including Jadunath’s unit, were forced to surrender to the Allies. Had to fight to go back to the border. Shortly thereafter, his unit captured Akyab Island, a strategically important island, from the Japanese. His unit was also part of the 2nd Indian Infantry Brigade, which was tasked with the defense of the partially occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but before the war could proceed, the Americans launched nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in The Japanese military abandoned its operations completely.
A short background of the events that occurred in 1947–48
The bitter memories of India-Pakistan partition spread in the Kashmir valley and took the form of war. In 1947, soon after gaining independence, the Pakistani army invaded Kashmir and captured most of the land because the state’s army could not compete with the advanced Pakistani army. Then the ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, asked for help from India and India agreed, but only if Kashmir became a part of India which the Maharaja accepted.
Proving your worth during the Battle of Tain Dhar
It had been two years since World War II had ended and by now Jadunath Singh had been promoted to the rank of Naik. His unit was once again called for service. In December 1947, the Pakistani army captured a strategically important position in Jhangar, Kashmir. This area was so important because it directly overlooked the Indian Army’s lines of communication and whoever controlled it controlled the battle. Naik Jadunath’s regiment was part of India’s 50 Parachute Brigade which was tasked with capturing and securing Nowshera from Pakistani forces. The army conducted several operations to stop the Pakistani advance on Indian posts. Due to the fierce attack by India on 1 February 1948, the Pakistani army had to retreat. But they retreated only to attack Indian positions again and gain control of Nowshera. At 6.40 am on February 6, 1948, the Pakistani Army launched a massive counter-attack on Picket No. 2, comprising 27 soldiers of the Rajput Regiment and commanded by Naik Jadunath Singh. It was due to his leadership and courage that only 27 men managed to repel the attack of the numerically stronger enemy. By the end of the first attack, Naik Jadunath had lost 4 soldiers and the remaining were wounded including Jadunath Singh who himself was wounded in the right hand. His light machine gunner was also wounded, so Jadunath Singh jumped on the LMG to conduct suppressive fire on the enemy, inspiring his men to attack despite being wounded. Their fire was so devastating that the enemy was forced to retreat once again. But by the time the second attack of the enemy ended, Jadunath had lost all his men in the battle and now stood alone. He was single-handedly prepared for the third attack by the enemy as he wanted to wait until the reinforcements of the 3rd Parachute Rajput Battalion arrived at Tain Dhar.
award
Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) on 26 January 1950 for repelling an organized enemy attack and single-handedly capturing the Tain Dhar position.
Shri Bir Bal Singh, father of Naik Jadunath Singh, received the PVC on behalf of his son from President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in 1950
Respect
- Ship Corporation of India named one of its oil tankers after Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore, PVC, to honor the brave soldier.
Oil tanker of Ship Corporation of India named after PVC hero Jadunath Singh
- The government named a sports stadium at his birthplace as Paramvir Chakra Naik Jadunath Singh Sports Stadium.
- In honor of the martyr, the government has named a square in Lucknow after him.
NCC cadets cleaning Naik Jadunath Chowk in Lucknow.
- On 6 February 1978, the Army Postal Service Corps issued a postage stamp in honor of the brave martyred soldier.
Army Postal Service Corps released postage stamp of Naik Jadunath Singh in honor of the martyr.
Death
After losing all his fellow soldiers and himself wounded in the right hand, Jadunath Singh prepared for the third wave of the enemy attack. As soon as the enemy started the attack, Naik Jadunath Singh moved out of the safety of his picket and grabbed his weapon and attacked the enemy. The enemy was stunned and surprised as they did not expect such audacity from a single soldier. In the situation of confusion, the enemy became disorganized and started retreating. During the action, Naik Jadunath Singh was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and the other in the head. After receiving such injuries he collapsed and hence, while protecting his position, he sacrificed his life.
Statue of hero Jadunath Singh at the National War Memorial in Delhi
Facts/General Knowledge
- Jadunath Singh was a devotee of Lord Hanuman, hence like him, Jadunath Singh also never married.
- Due to his devotion towards Hanuman and his strong character, he was also called “Hanuman Bhagat Bal Brahmachari” by the villagers.
- His unit, the 1st Rajput, was awarded Britain’s highest gallantry award, the Victoria Cross, for showing bravery and courage during the Second World War.
- Naik Jadunath Singh Rathore is the second recipient of the prestigious Param Vir Chakra and one of the five recipients of the Param Vir Chakra during the Indo-Pak war of 1947–48.
- Nowshera Day is celebrated every year on 6 February to remember and honor the lives sacrificed by Hero Jadunath Singh Rathore and his fellow soldiers while fighting the enemy in 1948.
Naik Jadunath Singh Memorial at Tain Dhar Top in Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn