Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: On the eve of birth anniversary of `saviour of Jammu and Kashmir’, Member Legislative Council (MLC) Vikramaditya Singh paid homage to Brig Rajinder Singh on his 118th birth anniversary which falls on June 14.
Mr Singh said that Brig Rajinder Singh was amongst the greatest Dogra warriors and his supreme sacrifice must never be allowed to be forgotten.
Recalling the past of Dogra warrior, the PDP MLC said that after graduating from Prince of Wales College, now GGM Science College, Jammu, he joined the State forces as a Commissioned Officer. After having commanded 6 JAK Rifles, Kashmir Brigade, Brig Rajinder Singh was chosen by Maharaja Hari Singh to replace Maj Gen HS Scott as Chief of Army Staff of J&K State Forces on September 24, 1947.
Vikramaditya said that his father, Dr Karan Singh often recalls when, as a young man, he was present at the time when Maharaja Hari Singh called Brig Rajinder Singh and gave him orders to defend Srinagar from the advancing Pakistani forces till the last man and last bullet. From October 23 to Oct 26, 1947, with only 100 men at his disposal, he held back over 5000 invaders and laid down his life beside his men.
Following in the footsteps of great Dogra warriors like Maharaja Gulab Singh, Gen Zoravar Singh, Gen Baj Singh, he laid down his life protecting the people and the frontiers of the erstwhile Dogra State of J&K, thus, giving Indian troops time to land at Srinagar airport and push the invaders back. For this, Brig.. Rajinder Singh came to be known as the ‘Saviour of Kashmir’ and was awarded the first Gallantry Award of independent India.
Paying tributes and homage to all the men of the J&K State forces who sacrificed their lives from the time of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the State, Vikramaditya Singh said we must never fail to remember brave Indian soldiers and the great traditions of the Dogras, as history has failed to do justice to them.
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