The Tiger

Naushera is indeed special!

By M S Nazki

Nowshera is indeed special! Why so? We will tell you all!

The Battle of Naushera: It has a long lasting history and it begins from the Mughal history, followed by the conquests of Ranjit Singh and finally the Indian Army! Everything has a history and so does Naushera!

-Unlike all other Mughal emperors who travelled each year to the Kashmir Valley, via Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad, Jehangir was the only one who chose a different route. He followed the regular route from Delhi to Lahore, but from there on, he took the direct route via Sialkot-Bhimber (all in present day Pakistan) Samani, Naushera, Narian, Rajouri, Poonch — eventually skipping over to the Valley along the Mughal route.

-The historical significance of Nowshera-Jhnagar, the many Dogra fortresses, old temples and historical lore it’s home to treasures of India’s history; unfortunately, they’ve been resigned to footnotes or forgotten altogether. This when they were intrinsic to the mighty Jehnagir and his sojourns to the Valley.

-Jehangir was born after much supplication by his father, the great emperor Akbar. In fact, Akbar was considered quite advanced in age by prevailing standards when Jehangir was born. He was 27 years old – around the time today’s crop begin to display early signs of adulthood. Advertisement

-Like his father and emperors before him, Jehangir travelled during the summer to Kashmir to escape the heat, as also (whenever he could) to take time off from military campaigns. The regular route went something like this: from Lahore to Rawalpindi, crossing the Jhelum river at Muzaffarabad, on to Chakoti (in present day PoK), crossing over to India at Baramulla and then to Srinagar.

-Further inquiry revealed that this beautiful sculpture was the handiwork of a local artisan who had been fascinated by the elephant caravan during their earlier sojourns. The sculptor was found and rewarded generously for his artistry and, as the legend goes, had his hands amputated so that such beauty could not be replicated!

-There is also the famous temple of Pir Badesar where it is said that Lord Ganesha prayed and atoned for killing his grandsire. As also the famous Dogra and Sikh fortresses, which came into prominence during Maharaja Ranjit’s time, and later as sanctuaries for Hindus and Sikhs fleeing the Kabaili raiders in 1947.

-The Battle of Nowshera (Shahmukhi)) was fought in Nowshera in March 1823 collectively by the Yusufzai Afghans, supported by the Peshawar sardars, alongside Azim Khan Barakzai, the Afghan governor of Peshawar, where they would face the Sikh armies led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Azim Khan was a half-brother of Dost Mohammad Khan, the future ruler of Kabul, and later Afghanistan. The battle was a victory for the Sikhs over Azim Khan’s armies, a result which allowed the Sikhs to begin their occupation of the Peshawar Valley.

-In 1818, Ranjit Singh made an aggressive push against the Durranis, defeating the Kabul Vizier and Muhammad Azem Khan Barakzai, he pushed as far as Peshawar. With this victory Ranjit Singh withdrew from the Peshawar Valley, leaving a small garrison in a newly constructed fort at Khairabad, modern day Naushera. This was in turn followed by Ranjit Singh’s capture of Kashmir in 1819 from Azem Khan’s brother Jabbar Khan.

-Angered by his defeats, Azem Khan recaptured Peshawar in 1822, he made a call for jihad against the Sikhs and hurried to Nowshera where Muhammad Zaman Khan successfully destroyed the bridge at Attock, effectively trapping the Sikh garrisons west of the Indus. However Ranjit Singh had already reinforced his forces in Nowshera including general Hari Singh Nalwa with backing from Pashtun tribes loyal to Shah Shuja. These forces successfully repulsed attacks by Pashtun ghazis and Durrani troops at Jahangira and withdrew to Nowshera hoping to link up with Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

-Ranjit Singh by this point had brought up his army to the east of Hund, on the opposite bank, a lashkar of thousands of fighters led by Syed Ahmad Shah of Buner had started forming. Despite the odds, Ranjit Singh’s forces crossed the Indus under fierce attacks. The lashkar then withdrew to Pir Sabak hill where they concentrated their forces and hoped to gain support from the Durrani troops and their artillery under Azim Khan.

-Azem Khan for unknown reasons, did not cross the Kabul River straight away to link up with the tribesmen. Ranjit Singh realising the situation concentrated his artillery and infantry on the lashkar and left a small detachment under General Ventura to forestall any crossing by Azim Khan. What proceeded was ferocious hand-to-hand fights between the Tribal lashkar and the Sikh Khalsa Army. Finally after the fourth attack, led personally by Ranjit Singh and his personal bodyguards themselves the hill was carried. By the late evening, the lashkar realised that Azim Khan had withdrawn from the battle and abandoned his allies. This coupled with the withering attacks by the Sikh artillery, broke the lashkar’s resolve and thinking of rallying again under their Pir Ahmad Shah they dispersed in disarray, the Sikh victory was complete.

-This was the past but later on several things happened and that we would be revealing in the script:

The present history:

No Indian soldier, except Brigadier Mohamed Usman, has received a state funeral with full honours attended by the Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, the President Dr Rajendra Prasad, and the Governor General C. Rajagopalachari.

-Let me take you down the memory lane and recall the martyrdom of this brave officer of the Dogra Regiment.

-Pakistan came into existence on 14 August 1947. One of the first things the newborn country did to announce her birth was to invade Jammu & Kashmir, within a week of her existence.

-On 22 October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal irregulars into the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to capture it and accede it to Pakistan. These tribal irregulars were soon joined by the regular army men. At that point of time, the State of Jammu and Kashmir was still undecided and deliberating who to join : India or Pakistan.

-Jammu and Kashmir had very limited and highly insufficient state forces to repel the Pakistani invasion. Under these testing times, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the instrument of accession with India, on 26 October 1947.

-Immediately, Indian armed forces were rushed to the State. In the ensuing battles, the Pakistani forces were forced to retreat, with the help of Indian armed forces.

-Those days, Brigadier Mohamed Usman, an Indian army officer, was the Commander of 77 Para Brigade, located at Naushera, in Jammu region. He was given the charge of 50 ( Independent ) Para Brigade at Jhangar.

-Despite strong resistance from the Indian troops, the Pakistani Army captured Jhangar on December 25, 1947. That day, Mohamed Usman took a vow that he would not sleep on a bed until he recaptured, from the Pakistani army, Jhangar from where he had to withdraw. He started sleeping on a mat laid on the floor.Jammu travel guide

-During the months of January and February 1948, Usman repulsed fierce attacks on Naushera and Jhangar, both highly strategic locations in Jammu and Kashmir.

-During the defence of Nowshera, India faced overwhelming odds and numbers, but still the Indian forces inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistan.

-There were around 2000 casualties on the Pakistani side ( about 1000 dead and 1000 wounded ) while Indian forces suffered only 33 dead and 102 wounded.

-His fierce defence of the strategically vital region earned Brigadier Usman the nickname Lion of Naushera. Embattled by his imaginative and inspiring tactical leadership, Pakistani forces announced a prize of Rs 50,000 for his head. Today, this amount is nearly three crore Pakistani rupees !

-Regardless of the praise and adulation, Usman kept on leading his soldiers with strong motivation, unabated.

-The enemy was eventually driven from the area, and within three months’ time, Jhangar was recaptured, thereby fulfilling the vow taken by Usman. Jhangar is located at the junction of roads coming from Mirpur and Kotli. It was of high strategic importance.

-On 16 March 1948, the day he was to lead his troops to recapture Jhangar, Brig Usman had issued this inspiring order to his troops :

• ORDER OF THE DAY

By Brigadier M Usman,

Commander 50 (Indep) Para Brigade

Comrades of 50 (Indep) Para Brigade Gp !

” Time has come when our planning and preparation for the recapture of Jhangar is to be put to test. It is not an easy task but I am confident of success-because our plan is sound and our preparations have been good. More So, because I have complete confidence in you all to do your best to recapture the ground we lost on 24th December and to retrieve the honour of our arms.Jammu travel guide

” The eyes of the World are on us. The hopes and the aspirations of our countrymen are based upon our efforts. We must not falter-we must not fail them.

” To every man upon this Earth

Death cometh soon or late

And how can man die better

Than facing fearful odds,

For the ashes of his father,

And the temples of his Gods.

” So forward friends, fearlessly we go to Jhangar. India expects everyone to do his duty. JAI HIND

( Personally signed by Brig M Usman )

-Under his command, the brigade halted the advance of Pakistani tribals at Naushera against all odds.

-Following Jhangar’s win, once again, Pakistan reinforced her regular forces in May 1948. Jhangar was once again subjected to heavy artillery bombardment, and many determined attacks were launched on Jhangar by the Pakistan Army. However, Usman frustrated all their attempts to recapture it.

-It was during this defence of Jhangar that Usman was martyred on 3 July 1948, by an enemy 25-pounder shell. He was 12 days short of his 36th birthday. His last words were “I am dying but let not the territory we were fighting for fall for the enemy”. For his inspiring leadership and great courage, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.

-He eventually became the highest ranking Indian army officer to make the supreme sacrifice on the battlefield, defending the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

-Mohamed Usman was born in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh on July 15, 1912. He received his military training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, United Kingdom. He was commissioned in the army at the age of 23, in the Baluch Regiment. During the partition of India, Brig Usman, being a Muslim officer in the Baluch Regiment, was under intense pressure from the Pakistani leadership to opt for the Pakistan Army. He was even promised a future position as the Chief of the Pakistan Army , but he was not allured. A true patriot that he was, he declined the offer and chose to serve the country of his birth, an epitome of secularism and patriotism. When the Baluch Regiment was allotted to Pakistan, Brig Usman was transferred to the Dogra Regiment.

-Today, two historical buildings stand in the cantt area of Jammu. One is called the Topi bungalow. It was constructed to house the inspection officer of Kashmir Imperial Service Troops. Facing it stands the building once known as Fair View. We know this building as Usman Officers’ Institute

After the Independence of India and accession of Jammu and Kashmir thereto, Fair View was converted into Army Officers’ Club. But, in 1957, this was renamed as Usman Officers’ Institute ( UOI ), as a tribute to the valour of the martyred officer.

-The tiger:

Naushera Day 2025: Remembering Naik Jadunath Singh: Naik Jadunath Singh, born in Uttar Pradesh, was a passionate soldier who led a forward section post on Tain Dhar during the 1948 War. Despite facing numerous attacks, Singh’s leadership and strategic use of his limited force led to the enemy’s retreat and ultimately, his leadership turned a seemingly inevitable defeat into victory.

-Naik Jadunath Singh, born in Uttar Pradesh, was a passionate army leader who led a forward section post on Tain Dhar during the 1948 Indian Civil War. Despite facing numerous attacks, Singh’s leadership and strategic use of his limited force led to the enemy’s retreat and ultimately, his leadership turned a seemingly inevitable defeat into victory.

-Naushera Day marks the solemn remembrance of Naik Jadunath Singh and other brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the intense conflict against Pakistani invaders in 1947–48. Commemorated annually on February 6, the day holds significance in honouring the heroic contributions of Naik Jadunath Singh and the victorious defence of Nowshera.

-The Naik Jadunath War Memorial, in the Rajouri district, serves as a reminder of the 1947–48 triumph over Pakistani forces. Naik Jadunath Singh, who valiantly gave his life on February 6, 1948, is specifically remembered and honoured on this day for his courageous actions.

-History: During the Indo-Pak War of 1947–48, Naik Jadunath Singh, deployed with his battalion 1 RAJPUT in the Naushera sector, played a pivotal role in the defence of Tain-Dhar. On February 6, 1948, approximately 3000 Pakistani raiders launched a relentless assault on Train-Dhar.

-Facing overwhelming odds, Naik Jadunath Singh and his comrades repulsed three major attacks, resulting in the sacrifice of 24 soldiers. Despite running low on ammunition, Naik Jadunath Singh displayed extraordinary courage, charging at the enemy with his rifle butt. Although he was seriously injured, his fearless charge forced the enemy into disorder, ultimately saving Nowshera. This act of exemplary gallantry earned him the title ‘Saviour of Nowshera,’ and he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his supreme sacrifice.

-Who was Naik Jadunath Singh? Born in a small village in the Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Naik Jadunath Singh harboured a passion for the army from a young age. On February 6, 1948, he found himself in command of a forward section post at No.2 picquet on Tain Dhar, bearing the brunt of the enemy’s ferocious attack.

-The post, manned by nine men, faced successive waves of enemy assaults. Naik Jadunath Singh’s leadership, valour, and strategic use of his limited force thwarted the enemy, causing them to retreat in confusion. Despite four of his men being wounded, he reorganised the force for the impending second attack.

-In the face of overwhelming odds, Naik Jadunath Singh and his small garrison resisted the second attack. Despite all men being wounded, he took over the Bren gun, exhibiting exceptional courage. His leadership turned what seemed like impending defeat into victory, forcing the enemy to retreat in chaos.

-Undeterred, the enemy launched a third and final attack. Naik Jadunath Singh, wounded but undaunted, prepared for battle once more. In a magnificent single-handed charge, he surprised the advancing enemy, leading to their disorderly retreat. Unfortunately, Naik Jadunath Singh met his gallant death in this final charge, succumbing to two bullets in the head and chest.

-His supreme act of heroism and sacrifice saved his section and the entire picquet from being overrun by the enemy at a critical stage in the battle for the defence of Naushera. Recognising his highest gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Naik Jadunath Singh was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

Therefore Naushera is no ordinary place! It is a place that has a big history! Just an extract we have given above!