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Towards Shaping a Favourable Maritime Environment

VICTORY WITH DETERMINATION.

Sainik School Ghorakhal aspirants undergoing demo interviews.
Their interview preparations are in the top gear.

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Defence Academy

Jai Hind

The Heroic saga of Havildar Hangpan Dada, who was awarded with Ashok Chakra (posthumous.), the highest peacetime military decoration.
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Indian Army - The Story of Hangpan Dada - The Warriors Spirit Indian Army - The Warriors Spirit - The Story of Hangpan dada , Havildar Hangpan Dada AC (2 October 1979 - 27 May 2016) was a soldier in the Assam Regiment o...

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Naik Jadunath Singh,
4th Param Vir Chakra awardee.

His heroic saga:
In 1947, Pakistani raiders were in an advantageous position in the Naushahra sector, when they captured Jhangar on December 24th.They were now complete command of the communication lines from Mirpur to Poonch, which would enable them to build up their forces for an attack on Naushahra.

The Army was very much alive to this threat and in January 1948, they conducted operations to prevent the enemy build up in the area. The captured Kot village (Northwest of Naushahra).

The Indian army knew that an attack on Naushahra was imminent and under the leadership of Brigadier Usman of the 50 Para Brigade, made adequate preparations. They established strong pickets wherever they thought the enemy would approach from.

On the foggy morning of February 6th, the Pakistani raiders attacked by opening fire from their pickets on the Tain dhar ridge on an Indian patrol. Meanwhile, under the cover of darkness the enemy crept up to the Indian pickets.

Naik Jadu nath Singh was in command of a forward post of picket No.2 at Taindhar with just 9 men. The enemy launched their attack in successive waves to capture this post. At this juncture Naik Jadu nath Singh displayed great valour & superb leadership and used his small force in such a manner that the enemy retreated in utter confusion. When four of his men were wounded he re-organised the battered force for meeting another onslaught. The post did not give in despite its being outnumbered.

When all men including him were wounded, he personally took over the Bren gun from the wounded Bren-gunner. The enemy was now right on the walls of the post. Naik Jadunath Singh, unmindful of personal safety encouraged his men to fight. His fire was so devastating that what looked like a certain defeat was turned into a victory. Thus the post was saved a second time.

By now all men of the post had turned into casualties. The enemy put in his third and final attack determined to capture the post. Naik Jadunath Singh, wounded and alone, rose to give a battle for the third time. He came out of the Sangar and firing his sten gun charged on the advancing enemy. The surprised enemy fled in disorder. He met a gallant death, in this third and last charge, when two enemy bullets pierced him in the head and the chest. At a most critical stage in the battle for the defence of Naushahra, he saved his picket from being overrun by the enemy.

For this ultimate act of personal sacrifice for the sake of the nation, Naik Jadu Nath Singh was decorated with the nation’s highest award of gallantry, the Param Vir Chakra.

Remember folks,
Martyrs are the bravehearts who never die,
They countinue to live in the heart of the nation forever for they have sacrificed their lives for this nation.

Text source- greatindianheroes.com

Regards,
Defence Academy

Jai Hind

The saga of one of the bravest warriors of the country.

Major Rama Raghobe Rane
3rd Param Vir Chakra Recipient, the highest military decoration of Indian armed forces.

2nd Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane , the third receiver of the Param Vir Chakra was born on 26th June 1918 at Chendia, Karwar, Karnataka, India. He was awarded with the Param Vir Chakra for his eminence, wisest and bravest actions in the Jammu and Kashmir operations in 1947 and particularly during the advance to Rajauri. He was a perseverant and immensely a hard-worker who constantly worked hard in order to provide assistance to the Indian troops in order to progress. Rama Raghoba Rane was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers on 15th December 1947 and he got retired as the Major from the Indian Army in the year 1968. Five Mentioned-in-dispatches were accredited to Rane during his twenty one years of his service in the Indian Army. His great deeds would always be remembered for the people of the country and in fact, it is an honor for the people of Karwar to have a native like Rane. There has been a statue of Rane; built and erected in Karwar as a symbol of remembrance and honor. Rama Raghoba Rane died on July 11 in 1994.

MILITARY LIFE and 'the Context of Rajauri'.

On March 18 1948, after recapturing Jhanagar the Indian troops of Major Aatmasingh were heading towards the Rajauri in order to protect the natives from the barbarity of the intruders. But before they could reach there the enemy had already destroyed the National Highway between Rajauri and Punj. Now the troops planned an advance from Naushahra to Rajauri. Barwali ridge that was 11km north of Naushahra was also captured by the Indian troops and they threw out the enemy from there. In their progression beyond Barwali there were many roadblocks and minefields that were interrupting the progress of the battalion. On April 8 1948, Major Rama Raghoba Rane was delegated the responsibility and the charge of clearing the roadblocks and minefields at Mile 26 on the Naushahra-Rajauri road.

Major Rane along with his section of 37 the Assault Field Company attached to 4 Dogra began the clearing work at a minefield. This whole process of clearing the mine was being commenced under the mortar firing from the enemy’s side in which two sappers died and five other crew members including Rane himself got badly injured. Rane and his members somehow managed to push forward the tanks by the evening, but the enemy still did not clear the road ahead. It was certainly a crucial situation for 2nd Lieutenant Rane, but he continued to give his best, even in the night time he along with his men continued to clear the road in order to make a safe lane for the tanks. On the next day, April 9th, 1948 Rane and his men worked persistently for 12 hours to clear the minefields and roadblocks. Mortar firing was still on from the enemy’s side, but 2nd Lieutenant Rane did not give up and bravely faced this horrendous situation and continued his work with full determination.

On the early morning of April 10th, 1948 Lieutenant Rane again pursued his work to remove the roadblocks, this time he and his men succeeded to clear up huge roadblocks, including five big pine trees within two hours and that too under heavy machine-gun firing done by the enemy.This was a good achievement for 2nd Lieutenant Rane and his crew members because now they had cleared up another 13 kms on the same day. Now they had a major road block that was surrounded by the adjoining hills and where the enemy panels were settled. 2nd Lieutenant Rane acted lionhearted and decided to clear up this roadblock all alone. He drove a tank near to that block and blasted it with mines and he was successful to advance the road before the night of that day.

On April 11th Rane worked for a complete 17 hours to open up the roads heading to Chingas and other. The enemy’s panel proceeded with armored columns, but 2nd Lieutenant Rane continued the clearing work for the administrative column and helping the Indian troops to advance on Rajauri. The enemy had to face a big loss; they lost their 500 men and had many more casualties. It was the courageous and brilliant Rama Raghoba Rane, who earnestly worked to accomplish his mission that was delegated to him. The dauntless and audacious endeavors of Rane made him a deserving recipient of the Param Vir Chakra.

Remember, he is one of the bravehearts and they never die,
The live with us in our hearts and in the heart of the nation for they are in the future of this country.

Text source: indianyouth.net

Regards,
Defence Academy

Jai Hind

VICTORY WITH DETERMINATION

Preparing the very young minds for the righteous path.
Igniting the sense of military and hence strict discipline in them.
After all, discipline paves the path to success.

The image speaks for itself,
Sainik School Ghorakhal Written qualified bright students from the academy.
The same are undergoing their preparation for the interview in the academy under the administration and guidance of Ex-Defence Officer.

VICTORY WITH DETERMINATION

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DEFENCE ACADEMY

Jai Hind

This Valentine's Day,
let us take you to a tour to how we celebrated the day.

Our little efforts to bring in to notice the area and the need of the society that we individually forget to care about being involved in our personal work all the time.
Maintaining personal matters, we should also pay some time to the society, make people aware of the real need, and act at times to be the a part of the change.

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Defence Academy

Jai Hind

"Dauntless leader of the men in crisis"

LANCE NAIK KARAM SINGH
1 SIKH (NO 22356)

Tithwal in Jammu and Kashmir was captured on 23 May 1948. After that date, the enemy made numerous attempts to recapture Richmar Gali, and thence Tithwal. On 13 October 1948, coinciding with Id, the enemy decided to launch a brigade attack to retake Richmar Gali, and bypassing Tithwal, advance into the Srinagar Valley. Lance Naik Karam Singh was commanding a section at Richmar Gali.
The enemy commenced its attack with heavy shelling of guns and mortars. The fire was so accurate that not a single bunker in the platoon locality was left unscathed.
Communication trenches caved in. Bravely, Lance Naik Karam Singh went from bunker to bunker, giving succor to the wounded and urging the men to fight.
The enemy launched eight separate attacks that day. In one such attack, the enemy managed to obtain a foothold in the platoon locality. Immediately, Lance Naik Karam Singh, who was severely wounded by then, with a few men, hurled himself in a counter-attack and evicted the enemy after a close quarter encounter which accounted for many enemy dead, having been dispatched by the bayonet.
Lance Naik Karam Singh proved himself to be a dauntless leader of men in crisis. Nothing could subdue him and no amount of fire or hardship could break his spirit.

We salute him.

He lives in the nation of the heart.

Let us respect and realise the importance of the hard earned freedom for which our soldiers continue fighting irrespective of any adversity.

Regards,
Defence Academy

Jai Hind

The Little Known Story of Major Somnath Sharma, India’s First PARAM VIR CHAKRA Recipient.

“The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.”
-Major Somnath Sharma, India’s First Param Vir Chakra

The legacy of Indian Army’s heroes is as vast and varied as India itself. Among the many brave hearts who have laid down their lives for their motherland is a man whose actions in the battlefield transcended heroism. Today, on his 69th death anniversary, Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar will be visiting Kashmir to pay homage to this unbelievably courageous soldier.

This is the story of India’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient, Major Somnath Sharma.

Major Somnath Sharma

Major Somnath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 at Dadh in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. His father, Amar Nath Sharma, was a Major General in the Indian Army who later became the first director general of India’s Armed Medical Services.

Major Sharma’s family had a long tradition of military service – his uncle, Captain K D Vasudeva, had died defending a bridge on the River Slim against the Japanese during the Malayan Campaign in World War II. Vasudeva’s gallantry had made it possible for hundreds of his jawans to cross over to safety, a fact that greatly influenced Major Sharma throughout his career.

Deeply inspired by his father and uncle, Som (as his friends and family called him) had already decided that he would join the Indian Army when he was still a child. After completing his schooling from Sherwood College in Nainital, he enrolled at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College in Dehradun before joining the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. On February 22, 1942, Somnath Sharma was formally commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment) of the Indian Army (then British Indian Army).

During his early career, he served under Colonel K S Thimmayya (the only Indian to command an Infantry brigade in battle during the World War II and Chief of the Army Staff, 1957–1961) during the Arakan Operations in Burma. For meritorious action in the face of the enemy, Somnath Sharma was awarded a ‘Mention-in-Despatches’.

Somnath Sharma was serving as a Major in the Delta Company of 4th Kumaon regiment when the Pakistani invasion of Jammu and Kashmir began on October 22, 1947. By the next morning, the first troops and equipment had begun being airlifted from Delhi’s Palam airport to Srinagar. Major Sharma’s company too was airlifted to Srinagar on October 31, 1947.

Indian troops landing at the Srinagar airport on October 27, 1947

At that time, Major Sharma’s right hand was in a plaster cast due to a fracture he had suffered while playing hockey. Though he was advised rest due to his injury, the major insisted on being with his company in the battlefield and was given permission to command his unit. Their mission was simple – hold the valley of Kashmir, repel all invaders, defend the newly independent state of India.

Two days later on November 3, the enemy had reached Badgam, a small town just a few miles away from the Srinagar airfield. On learning this, Brigadier L.P. ‘Bogey’ Sen, commander of the 161 Infantry Brigade in Srinagar, immediately dispatched Major Sharma and his company to Badgam.

Major Somnath Sharma reached Badgam at first light on November 3 and ensured that his troops took up a fighting position immediately. Enemy movement had been seen near the Badgam village but Major Sharma surmised that the movement in Badgam village was meant to divert attention while the real attack would come from the west. He was right.

It was 2:30 PM in the afternoon when a 500-strong force of tribal lashkars(raiders ), supported by powerful mortars, attacked the 50 Indian jawansof Major Sharma’s company. Surrounded by the enemy from three sides, 4 Kumaon began sustaining heavy casualties from the ensuing mortar bombardment. Outnumbered by 7 to 1, Sharma immediately sent a request to Brigadier ‘Bogey’ Sen for reinforcements.

Major Somnath Sharma knew the importance of holding onto his position. The Srinagar airfield was the only lifeline the Army had between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India – had the enemy seized the airfield, they would have been able to block the induction of Indian troops into the Valley by air.

Realising the gravity of the situation, he ran from post to post, often exposing himself to danger as he urged his company to fight bravely. Two forward platoons had already fallen but Major Sharma ensured that his company clung to its position tenaciously, even under heavy fire.

Other than skillfully directing the fire of his troops onto the ever-advancing enemy, Major Sharma himself took up the task of filling magazines and issuing them to the light machine gunners. Even though he himself was hindered by his fractured arm, he wanted to make sure that the casualties didn’t affect the speed and effectiveness of his light automatics gunners

The last message Major Sharma sent to the headquarters stated:

‘The enemy are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round.’

Soon after, Major Somnath Sharma was martyred in a mortar shell explosion, fighting till his last breath to stem the tide of the enemy advance. However, his sacrifice did not go in vain. Inspired by their leader’s gallantry and tenacity, the soldiers continued to fight the enemy for six hours after Major Sharma had been killed.

The spirited defense by 4th Kumaon Regiment delayed the enemy for six crucial hours, thus gaining time for reinforcements to get into position. However, by the time the relief company of 1st Battalion Kumaon Regiment reached Badgam, the position had suffered heavy damage. Along with Major Somnath Sharma, one Junior-commissioned officer and 20 other soldiers of the D company of 4 Kumaon had been killed in battle.

Despite the fact that 4th Kumaon had suffered over 20 casualties, it had inflicted much heavier losses on the enemy. The raiders had lost over 200 men and their leader had been incapacitated, resulting in their movement losing its impetus. This also bought time for additional Indian troops to land at the airport, reorganize and block all routes of ingress to Srinagar.

Led by incredibly courageous Major Somnath Sharma, 4th Kumaon Regiment had prevented the fall of Srinagar and arguably the Kashmir Valley. For his selflessness, dogged determination and raw courage in the face of the enemy, Major Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded independent India’s highest wartime gallantry award, Param Vir Chakra.

His citation read:

“His leadership, gallantry and tenacious defence were such that his men were inspired to fight the enemy outnumbering them. Major Sharma set an example of courage and qualities seldom equaled in the history of the Indian Army.”

Soldiers like Major Somnath Sharma are not born every day. The sacrifice of this heroic warrior must forever be remembered with gratitude by the country he died protecting. On his 69th death anniversary, we remember and salute India’s first Param Vir Chakra recipient.

We salute the martyr,
He never died, he lives in our hearts and in the heart of the nation.

Regards,
Defence Academy

Jai Hind

Texr source- thebetterindia.com

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