GANDHIJI famously said that the West has but one Thermopylae, in India every pass has one. If there is one lesser-known among the many last stands in annals of Indian military it was what took place on February 6, 1948 at Taindhar led by Naik Jadunath Singh. And it is a moment that belongs to the 1st Rajput, now 4 Guards, under an equally legendary Brigade Commander, Brigadier Usman of 50 Para Brigade.
It also has on its rolls the honour of providing India’s finest Generals which includes India’s first Commander-inChief. The Paltan is rightfully credited for tilting the scales in the War for Liberation of Bangladesh, especially for their race across Meghna among many others. This article is however about how this Battalion, trapped in the wrong side of the border, evacuated not only itself but many women and children and came to earn India’s second PVC defending to the last man and last round in a pivotal battle in Naushera in February 1948.
Unprecedented exodus
In 1947 the country was in the throes of an exodus of mankind unprecedented in human history. All this was brought about by the sudden British decision to advance the date of Independence from 1948 to 1947 and the volte face by Mountbatten to postpone declassifying of the Radcliffe Commission’s Boundary award to after Independence of the dominions.
The British watched silently how hastily-drawn boundaries generated mayhem amongst communities that had found an uneasy equilibrium and harmony co-existing for centuries suddenly erupted into a communal frenzy and medieval bestiality. The British plot to generate mayhem didn’t end there. For while this communal violence was unleashed, Major Onkar Singh Kalkat serving at the Bannu Brigade received a Top Secret document dated August 20, 1947 which detailed operational plans, titled Op Gulmarg, to annex Jammu & Kashmir.
It was obvious the plans would have been well worked out before Independence with active British help. The British Brigade commander had Kalkat placed under arrest to prevent him from alerting the Indian side.
Operation Gulmarg
The fate of Kashmir remained undecided as the Maharaja dithered over the question of accession. Against this setting was unleashed Operation Gulmarg, the second phase of which commenced on October 22, 1947.
The success depended not just on the Lashkars from Pakistan but also the Muslims serving in the Maharajas state forces revolting against the Maharaja. J&K had about 8,000 troops of which 3,000 were Muslims.
The plan involved six columns of approximately 1,000 lakshars each led by tribal chiefs with Pakistani Army elements attached to them launching an attack across the Muzafarabad – Domel – Uri axis to capture Srinagar and its airfield and then to advance towards Banihal Pass. Two subsidiary thrusts would secure the northern and southern flanks of the main attack thrust to Srinagar. Pakistan could strangle the only road between Jammu and Pathankot and also the road from Akhnoor to Jhangar both of which ran close to its new borders.
