Mohammad Usman


Mohammad Usman

MVC
Nowshera ka Sher
Born(1912-07-15)15 July 1912
Bibipur (now Mau district), United Provinces, British India
Died(1948-07-03)3 July 1948 (aged 35)
Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Allegiance British India
 India
Service / branch British Indian Army
 Indian Army
Years of service1934–1948
Rank Brigadier
Unit 10th Baluch Regiment
Dogra Regiment
Commands50 Para Brigade
77 Para Brigade
14/10 Baluch
Battles / warsSecond Mohmand Campaign
World War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Awards Maha Vir Chakra

Brigadier Mohammad Usman MVC (15 July 1912 – 3 July 1948)[1] was the highest ranking officer of the Indian Army killed in action during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. As a Muslim, Usman became a symbol of India's inclusive secularism.[2] At the time of the partition of India he with many other Muslim officers declined to move to the Pakistan Army due to the illegal occupation & riots and continued to serve with the Indian Army.[3] He was martyred in July 1948 while fighting Pakistani soldiers and militia in Jammu and Kashmir.[3] He was later awarded the second highest Indian military decoration for gallantry in the face of enemy, the Maha Vir Chakra.[4][5]

  1. ^ Wreath Laying Ceremony of Brig Mohammad Usman, MVC, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, 3 July 2014.
  2. ^ Guha, Ramachandra (24 July 2007). India after Gandhi. HarperCollins. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-06-019881-7.
  3. ^ a b "Tributes paid to Brigadier Usman", The Hindu, 5 July 2004.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hindu 2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Brig Mohammad Usman's death anniversary commemorated, Business Standard, 3 July 2015.