Abdul Hamid soldier

Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, PVC (1 July 1933 – 10 September 1965), was an Indian Army soldier who posthumously received India's highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Hamid joined the army in December 1954, and was posted to the 4th Battalion of the Grenadiers regiment. During the Sino-Indian War, his battalion participated in the battle of Namka Chu against the People's Liberation Army. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the 4 Grenadiers battalion was entrusted with a vital position before the village of Chima on the Khem Karan–Bhikhiwind line. At the Battle of Asal Uttar on 9–10 September 1965, Hamid destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and was killed destroying the ninth tank.

Military career

Template:Thumb He joined the Grenadiers regiment of the Indian Army on 27 December 1954. He was later posted to the regiment's 4th Battalion (formerly the 109th Infantry), where he served for the rest of his career.Template:Sfn He served with the battalion in Agra, Amritsar, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, NEFA and Ramgarh.Template:Sfn

During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Hamid's battalion was part of the 7th Infantry Brigade commanded by Brigadier John Dalvi and participated in the battle of Namka Chu against the People's Liberation Army. Surrounded and cut off, the battalion broke out on foot into Bhutan and on to Misamari. Second Lieutenant G. V. P. Rao was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his actions during the war; it was the highest gallantry award received by the battalion since Indian independence, until Hamid's commendation.Template:Sfn

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

A declassified US State Department telegram that confirms the existence of hundreds of infiltrators in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

As a prelude to Operation Gibraltar, Pakistan's strategy to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, and start a rebellion against Indian rule, Pakistani forces attempted a series of incursions across the Jammu and Kashmir border. From 5 to 10 August 1965, Indian troops uncovered a mass infiltration. Captured documents and prisoners revealed Pakistan's plans to capture Kashmir with a guerrilla attack were brought to light; about 30,000 guerrillas were trained by the Pakistanis for this purpose. For reasons which remain unknown, the guerrilla troops were dispersed, dissipated or destroyed and the action never took place.Template:Sfn Haji Phir and Phir Saheba were captured by India in an attempt to eliminate the guerrilla bases, and Pakistan launched an offensive which captured Chhamb and Jourian. Indian Air Force bases in Amritsar were also attacked.Template:Sfn

In a counter-offensive, India launched operations across the international border. The 4th Infantry Division was charged with the capture of Pakistani territory east of the Ichogil CanalTemplate:Efn and the suppression of a possible attack along the Kasur–Khem Karan axis. After reaching the canal, the division awaited a Pakistani assault. 4 Grenadiers was entrusted with a vital position before the village of Chima on the Khem Karan–Bhikhiwind line.Template:Sfn

Battle of Asal Uttar

4 Grenadiers arrived at midnight on 7–8 September, and had dug Template:Convert trenches by dawn. At 7:30Template:Nbspam they heard the first rumbles of Pakistani tanks,Template:Sfn which straddled the road an hour and a half later. Hamid led the Jonga-mounted recoilless rifle (RCLR) detachment of his battalion.Template:Sfn The battalion held their fire until a tank Template:Convert away was hit by Hamid with his RCL gun, and Pakistani soldiers in the two following tanks fled. The Indians experienced artillery shelling at 11:30Template:Nbspam, followed by another armour attack. Hamid knocked out another tank, and the Pakistani soldiers in the following tanks again fled. By the end of the day, an engineering company had laid anti-personnel and anti-tank mines around the Grenadiers' position.Template:Sfn

105 mm Jonga-mounted RCL gun, manned by Hamid, which destroyed eight tanks during the battle

Their battalion was attacked by Pakistani Sabre jets at 9:00Template:Nbspam on 9 September, with mass casualties. The Pakistanis made armoured attacks at 9:30, 11:30Template:Nbspam and 2:30Template:Nbsppm. By the evening, Hamid had knocked out four tanks. The battalion destroyed a total of 13 tanks, and many were abandoned. The Indians withdrew a squadron of Sherman tanks, which were ineffective against the US built Pakistani Patton tanks. Centurion tanks were also withdrawn to deploy them in a position more suitable for a tank battle. As a result, the 4 Grenadiers were left with only RCL guns and mines.Template:Sfn

On 10 September at about 8:00 am the first wave of three tanks, one leading and the other two following at a Template:Convert distance, arrived. Hamid knocked out another tank with his RCL gun. The Pakistanis attacked again with increased artillery support at 9:00 am, and Hamid destroyed another tank. Since his open jeep was vulnerable to the shelling, he moved to another position and ordered his men to take cover. Hamid and a Pakistani tank soon spotted each other. Alone and unable to change his position, he fired at the tank as it fired at him and he was killed instantly.Template:Sfn The battalion suppressed further attacks by the Pakistanis, and the battle was a decisive Indian victory.Template:Sfn

Param Vir Chakra

For his actions at the Battle of Asal Uttar, Hamid was awarded the Param Vir Chakra on 10 September 1965.Template:Sfn The official citation read:

Military decorations

Template:Ribbon devices
Template:Ribbon devices	Template:Ribbon devices	Template:Ribbon devices

Param Vir Chakra			Template:Sfn
Samar Seva Star	Raksha Medal	Sainya Seva Medal

Legacy

Abdul Hamid's bust at Param Yodha Sthal, National War Memorial, New Delhi

A Template:INR stamp commemorating Hamid was issued by India Post on 28 January 2000 as part of a set of five stamps honouring recipients of awards for gallantry. The stamp has a bust of Hamid and an illustration of a jeep with a recoilless rifle.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, lays a wreath at the memorial of Abdul Hamid, PVC, at Asal Uttar, in Punjab on 11 November 2015

Hamid's widow, Rasoolan Bibi, met Indian President Pratibha Patil in Lucknow in 2008 with requests to establish a military-recruiting center in his village, convert Hamid's home in Dullapur into a memorial, observe his death anniversary at the national level and help her grandchildren obtain government employment. Every year, there is big sports and culture fair is organized in asal uttar village on 9 September in the memory of Abdul Hamid A memorial to Hamid in his home village of Dhamupur which had fallen into disrepair was renovated in 2011 by the Flags of Honour Foundation for the 46th anniversary of his death. The renovation included a new statue of Hamid, repairs and painting of the gates and boundary, and improvements to the garden. Indian Member of Parliament Rajeev Chandrasekhar, founder of Flags of Honour, spoke on the occasion. On 10 September 2017, the 52nd anniversary of Hamid's death, then Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat unveiled a memorial in Ghazipur district.

In popular culture

The tenth episode of Param Vir Chakra, a 1988 TV series on the lives of Param Vir Chakra recipients, explored Hamid's actions on 10 September 1965. Hamid was played by Naseeruddin Shah, and the episode was directed by Chetan Anand.

Documentaries

Battle of Asal Uttar – Largest Tank Battle Since World War II (2018) is a TV documentary which premièred on Veer by Discovery Channel series, Mission & Wars.

Story of CQMH Abdul Hamid released by the Indian Army detailing the events of the battle and his death.

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

References

• Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. Allied Publishers.
• Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle. Roli Books.
• The Grenadiers – A Tradition of Valour. Grenadiers Regimental Centre.
• [{{{url}}} Wars, Proxy-wars and Terrorism: Post Independent India]. Mittal Publications.

Further reading

• [{{{url}}} The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories]. Penguin Books India Private Limited.
• [{{{url}}} Bravest of the Brave: Heroes of the Indian Army]. Prabhat Prakashan.