Will LG Sinha also initiate proposals for naming Srinagar & Jammu Airports after 1st & 2nd PVC Awardees ?
DAYA SAGAR
This 23rd January, observed as Prakaram Divas, has been the 126thbirth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled themodel of a proposed memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, to be set up inAndaman and Nicobar Islands and also named 21 islands of the UT Andaman and Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees., Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been taking leads over all other leaders and in this direction too he has been the first.The largest of the islands are named after the 1st PVC (Param Vir Chakra India’s highest gallantry award ) decorated soldier ( Maj Som Nath Sharma ) and the 2nd largest after 2nd PVC decorated soldier ( Nk J(Y)adu Nath Singh. Both Major Som Nath Sharma and Nk J(Y)adu Nath Singh had made the extreme sacrifice while defending the India borders in the State of Jammu & Kashmir in 1947-48 and both were non J&K state subjects. There have been demands made from J&K for addressing the honours of the PVC decorated soldiers where 16 out of 21 have been those who have shown exemplary sense of valour & sacrifice while fighting the enemy in / along J&K territories and out of 16 PVC awardees fifteen have been non- state subjects / non permanent residents of J&K State but not suitably responded by governments. It may not be an over imagination in saying that The 1st and 2nd PVC awardee soldiers had made extreme sacrifices defending territories in J&K and may be but for their valour much more territories of J&K in Jammu region, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region would not have been saved from becoming part of POJK in 1947/48, Demands had been made for naming Srinagar international airport after Major Som Nath Sharma ( 1st PVC) and the new coming up international airport after Nk Yadu Nath Nath Singh ( 2nd PVC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown the path and it is hoped that LG J&K Manoj Sinha too will take the path worth sending request proposals to Aviation Ministry for naming the Srinagar and Jammu airports also after the 1st and 2nd PVC decorated soldiers.
Lt. Col.M. N. Khanna Comnding Officer 4 Komaon Regiment who recommended martyr Maj Som Nath Sharma O.C. ‘D’ Coy . Unit-4 Kumaon for HONOURS and Awards had written ” But for this offr’s bravery and sacrifice of his own life it is most probable that the SRINAGAR airfield would have been over run by the enemy and jeopardised this whole KASHMIR operations”>Major Som Nath Sharma had made exemplary extreme sacrifice on 3rd November 1947 to protect the Srinagar Airport as otherwise there was no possibility for saving more of Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region from falling in the hands of Pakistani raiders like other areas of Indian state of J&K as were occupied by Pakistan in 1947-48.
At last The prince of Jammu& Kashmir had no option other than acceding to India , he signed and sent the Instrument of accession on 26th October 1947 under a covering letter to the then Governor General of India Dominion also mentioning reasons for delay < My dear Lord Mountbatten I have to inform your Excellency that a grave emergency has arisen in my State and request immediate assistance of your Government. As your Excellency is aware the State of Jammu and Kashmir has not acceded to the Dominion of India or to Pakistan. Geographically my State is contiguous to both the Dominions. It has vital economical and cultural links with both of them. Besides my State has a common boundary with the Soviet Republic and China. In their external relations the Dominions of India and Pakistan cannot ignore this fact. I wanted to take time to decide to which Dominion I should accede, or whether it is not in the best interests of both the Dominions and my State to stand independent, ……The wild forces thus let loose on the State are marching on with the aim of capturing Srinagar, …… With the conditions obtaining at present in my State and the great emergency of the situation as it exists, I have no option but to ask for help from the Indian Dominion. Naturally they cannot send the help asked for by me without my State acceding to the Dominion of India. I have accordingly decided to do so …..” Indian troops started landing at Srinagar airport in the morning of 27th Oct 1947. The 3rd Nov 1947 Battle of Badgam is ‘legend’ that is narrated by Indian defence forces with greatest of the great honours. Where asNaik J(Y) adunathSingh guarded Taindhar Ridge and kept Pakistan away from Nowshera & Hence large part of J&K out of from occupation by Pakistan. The Yadunath_Memorial_Stoneat_Taindhar_Top_near_Naushera (era_reads< No. 27373 NK Yadunath Singh PVC ( Posthumous) 1 Rajput ( 4 Guards ) Born 21 November 1916 Died in Action 6 February 1948 ” Your God is both your Cause, Your Battle and Captain, Come Life or Death, Your God will Bear Your Company, And Ever Keep This Field, This Place and This Days Service In His Grateful Remembrance” This Memorial is Erected in Solemn Tribute to A Warrior Legend Who Sacrificed His Mortal Being to A Greater Glory of Indian Nation on This Very Spot . NK Yadunath Singh Single Handedly Killed 230 Men of the Enemy And sacrificed His Yesterday so That Citizens of Naushera may live Their Tomorrow. Inaugurated on 6 Feb 1996>.
The battle of Naushera (J&K ) , was a long drawn battle extending from late 1947 to 1948, needs to be remembered more for saving through valour and sacrifices of Indian soldiers a very large part of even the Jammu Province of the then just acceded Indian princely state of J&K , from Naushera through Rajouri to Poonch.1/7 Rajput Regiment was awarded in Independent India one Param Vir Chakra, two Maha Vir Chakras, nine Vir Chakras and eleven Mention in Dispatches for battle of Nowshera action.
*( Daya Sagar is Sr Journalist & leading scribe J&K affairs dayasagr45@yahoo.com 0419796096)