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KUMAON &
NAGA REGIMENT
A civilian tribute!
The Indian Army is the most active defense organization in India
but most of us are unaware of what typical Army life is and
the hardships our Jawans cope with to protect the rest of us.
60kph's Uttarachal ride wouldn't have been possible without
the outgoing, genuinely caring help and support extended by
the Kumaon regiment and the Garhwal Rifles. And all along on
the ride, our interactions with the Army made us realize what
they go through to protect the borders. Life in no other profession
is tougher; salaries are in bare minimums; living conditions
really Spartan and then of course there's the constant fear
of death.
We at 60kph dedicate this ride to the Indian Army. We are proud
of our Army!
Vaibhav Vats - Road Captain for the Uttaranchal Ride.
The history of the Kumaon Regiment has its origin with the two
battalions of Ellichpur Brigade, which were raised by Nawab
Salabat Khan as part of the Hyderabad Contingent. In March 1813,
Sir Henry Russell, the British Resident in the court of Nizam
of Hyderabad raised the Russell brigade comprising of 1st and
2nd Battalion Russell’s Brigade. The 1st Battalion is
now known as 3 PARA (1 KUMAON) and 2nd Battalion was designated
as the Kumaon Regiment Center.
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| ENTRANCE LEADING OF THE BAHADURGARH HQ |
ENTRANCE GATE OF TRAINING (SOMNATH) GROUND |
Before Independence, the Regiment has to its credit distinguished
service on Palestine, Egypt, Syria, east Africa, Iran, Burma,
China, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Central India and NWFP,
where it has won numerous Battle Honours.
In the post Independence period 4 KUMAON thwarted the Pakistani
designs to capture Srinagar airfield at Badgam in October 1947.
In this battle Maj Somnath Sharma was posthumously awarded the
first Param Vir Chakra of Independent India. During the Sino-India
conflict in 1962, 6 and 13 KUMAON fought tenacious battles at
Walong(NEFA) and Rezangla (Ladakh). In the epoch battle of Rezangla,
114 of 128 personnel laid down their lives defending Chusul
and Maj Shaitan Singh was posthumously awarded the Regiment’s
second Param Vir Chakra. In 1965 and 1971 operations the Regiment
made distinguished contribution and won many gallantry awards.
The Regimemnt has always been in the forefront of all operations,
be it at the world’s highest battle field at Siachen or
in Arunachal, Punjab, J & K and Sri Lanka.
In Nov 1970 The Naga Regiment was raised at Ranikhet and affiliated
to the Kumaon Regiment. This was another unique honour for Kumaon
Regiment. It was chosen on specific request of the Nagaland
Government based on the performance of battalions of the Kumaon
Regiment in fighting insurgency in Nagaland. On 11 February
1985, 2 NAGA was raised at Haldwani, taking the number of Naga
battalions to two.
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| VIEW OF CENTRE OFFICE |
WAR MEMORIAL |
The Kumaonis and Nagas hold a record, which perhaps has no parallel
the world over. They have given the Indian Army three Chiefs
– Generals Shrinagesh, Thimayya and Raina. Besides the
two Param Vir Chakra, the Regiment has to its credit four Ashok
Chakra, two Padma Bhushan, nine Param Vishishta Seva Medal,
eleven Maha Vir Chakra, one Padam Shri, eight Kirti Chakra,
two Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, twenty seven Ati Vishishta Seva Medal,
one Bar to Ati Vishishta Seva Medal, seventy eight Vir Chakra,
thirty two Shaurya Chakra, four Yudh Seva Medal, two hundred
eleven Sena Medal, forty five Vishishta Seva Medal, six Jeewan
Raksha Padak one Arjun Award….
The list is endless.
Two battalions, 13 and 15 KUMAON have been honoured by being
designated “ Bravest of the Brave” in Indian army
and Unit Citations have been conferred upon nine Battalions.
2 NAGA has the distinction of being awarded the Unit Citation
twice.
The Regiment family is one of the largest in the Indian Army.
It has in its fold eighteen Kumaon, two Naga and three Rashtriya
Rifles Battalions, one Kumaon Scouts Battalion and two Territorial
Army Units, besides the old affiliates, 3 PARA ( 1 KUMAON) and
5 MECH (14 KUMAON). The Naval Ship, INS KHANJAR is also affiliated
to the Regiment.
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| MAJ SOMNATH SHARMA, PVC
(POSTHUMOUS), HE WAS COMMISSIONED INTO THE 4/19 HYDERABAD
(NOW 4 KUMAON) IN 1942. HE DEFENDED SRINAGAR AIR FIELD
AGAINST HEAVY ODDS OF SEVEN TO ONE. HIS LAST WORDS WERE
“I SHALL NOT WITHDRAW AN INCH BUT WILL FIGHT TO
THE LAST MAN & LAST ROUND”. ON 3 NOV 1947 INDIA’S
FIRST PVC WAS EARNED POSTHUMOUSLY BY MAJ SOMNATH SHARMA
FOR HIS UNIQUE COURAGE AND MOST CONSPICIOUS GALLANTRY. |
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| MAJ SHAITAN SINGH, PVC
(POSTHUMOUS), AT REZANGLA (LADAKH) 13 KUMAON SET AN EXCEPTIONAL
EXAMPLE OF DEVOTION TO DUTY FOR THE DEFENCE OF MOTHERLAND.
OUT OF 124 ALL RANKS 114 LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES BUT SAVED
CHUSUL FROM OVER 1000 CHINESE, 3 MONTHS LATER A RECCE
PATROL FOUND 96 OF THE BRAVE SOLDIERS STILL IN THEIR TRENCHES
WHILE OTHERS WERE IN VARIOUS BATTLE POSITIONS. LATER MAJ
SHAITAN SINGH WAS AWARDED THE PVC POSTHUMOUSLY FOR SUPREME
COURAGE INSPIRING LEADERSHIP AND EXEMPLARY DEVOTION TO
DUTY. |
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