A wreath-laying ceremony was held at Jamia Millia Islamia Cemetery in remembrance of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, MVC, organised by 50 Para Brigade & 10 Dogra. The event was held today, according to the university.
Wreath-laying ceremony of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, MVC
Vice Chancellor of Jamia Prof. Mazhar Asif, and Registrar of JMI, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, laid wreaths as a tribute to the memory of the gallant officer who has become a symbol of patriotism, valour, and selfless service to the nation.
Brigadier Mohammad Usman was laid to rest in Jamia graveyard after he died on July 3, 1948.
A total of 25 officers, including veterans, attended the ceremony. Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Colonel of the Parachute Regiment, was the chief guest at the ceremony. Other senior officers who attended the function included Lt. Gen. Gurbir Pal Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, DG NCC; Lt. Gen. Nirbhaya Sharma, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Ex-Governor Maj. Gen. Jaichandran, Maj. Gen. Ahuja, Brig. Dabas, Dy. Brigade Cdr., Brig. Sinha (Retd.), Col. Gopal Singh, VSM (Veteran), Col. Vivek Pandit (Retd.), Col. Yash Srivastava (Retd.), and others.
Prof. Asif and Prof. Rizvi were joined by Prof. Iqtidar Mohd. Khan and other officers of JMI were also present to witness the solemn occasion and pay their respects.
Brigadier defended city of Naushera against Pakistani Tribal forces
Under Brig. Mohammad Usman, MVC, Para Brigade successfully defended the city of Naushera against Pakistani Tribal forces, and then valiantly recaptured the city of Jhangar. Shahid Brigadier Mohammad Usman, also known as the ‘savior of Naushera,’ was responsible for the recapture of Jhangar and Naushera (Jammu & Kashmir) during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan. The gallant officer attained martyrdom on 3rd July, 1948 when an enemy artillery shell landed close to him in Naushera.
Brigadier Mohammad Usman was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest military decoration, and became known by the epithet “Naushera ka Sher”. Brigadier Usman was responsible for the recapture of Jhangar and Naushera in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1947-48 war. The gallant officer laid down his life on July 3, 1948 at Naushera, 12 days shy of his 36th birthday.
He was also given a state funeral, which was attended by the then governor general Lord Mountbatten, former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former union ministers Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and former chief minister of J&K Sheikh Abdullah.
The epitaph on the grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman reads: “He was commissioned into the 5/10 Baluch Regiment, where he served till Independence. During Partition, he was given the option to join the Pakistan Army as Army chief. A true patriot that he was, he declined and chose to serve the country of his birth, an epitome of secularism and patriotism. Brigadier Usman took over command of 50 (I) Para Brigade in December 1947 at Naushera, J&K. Under his command, the brigade halted the advance of Pakistani tribals at Naushera against all odds. He then led the brigade to recapture Jhangar, thereby turning the tide on the raiders.”
Brigadier Mohammad Usman lies buried in Jamia Millia Islamia graveyard
Hundreds of Armed Forces veterans in a letter had cited the example of Brigadier Mohammad Usman who chose to remain in the Indian Army in spite of being approached personally by Jinnah to move to Pakistan. “He fought the Pakistani invasion in Kashmir, was the senior-most officer killed in action in July 1948, and was posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra for his gallantry. He lies buried in the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in Delhi…” the letter notes as published in The Wire in 2020.
Two new books on the life and legacy of Brigadier Mohammad Usman are set to be released, one of which is written in Hindi by Kausar Usman. Another book jointly written by authors Ziya Us Salam and Anand Mishra is to hit the stands on July 17, announced publishing house Bloomsbury India on Thursday.
“The Lion of Naushera”, based on the moniker earned by Brigadier Usman for his heroics in the battle of Naushera in Jammu and Kashmir, gives readers an account of the patriotic young man who foiled Pakistani incursions in Kashmir.
“While some heroes have been duly and gratefully feted, others have not always got their due. The ‘Lion of Naushera’ is an attempt to clear some of the debts we owe to Brigadier Usman. Not only does it tell the story of the brave soldier, it also presents a multifaceted narrative of India – of how people of all faiths, castes and regions fought for the independence of the country and protected its borders,” said the publisher in a statement.
