The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantryregiment of the Indian Army. Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947, the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army. They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state's accession to India. Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army.[2] In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. After the conversion, the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment, where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002.[3]
Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
Regimental Insignia of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
An oval embracing the Sun, the State emblem. The Sanskrit inscription around the Sun, which cannot be read on the regimental insignia above, translates as, "Ever Victorious in War"[1]
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles has a unique regimental history. Its antecedents go back to the Dogra Corps raised by Dogra Rajput Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu in 1821. General Zorawar Singh led daredevil campaigns in northern areas like Ladakh, Baltistan, Gilgit, Hunza and Yagistan, consolidating smaller principalities and making the northern areas a part of the expanding dominions of Gulab Singh. He also mounted an invasion of Tibet in 1841.
After the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir as independent princely state under the British Paramountcy in 1846, these troops became the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces.
Officers of 2nd Kashmir Rifles with the German flag and machine gun captured in the Action at Lukigura River on 24 June 1916.
The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir maintained a larger number of State Forces than any other ruler of an Indian State under the British Raj. These forces were organized into the Jammu and Kashmir Brigades. They comprised a bodyguard cavalry regiment, two mountain batteries, seven infantry battalions, one training battalions and a transport unit consisting of both pack and mechanized transport. Several of these units served with distinction on the North-West Frontier of India and overseas during the Great War.[3] The state forces fought as Imperial Service Troops in both the First and Second World Wars (under their own native officers). They distinguished themselves in East Africa, Palestine and Burma.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 fought primarily in the region, over 76 officers, 31 JCOs, and 1085 Other Ranks were killed in battle. 2 Param Vir Chakra, 3 Maha Vir Chakra, 20 Vir Chakras were earned, and 52 members of the regiment Mentioned in Despatches. Later the Jammu and Kashmir State Force was absorbed en bloc into the Indian Army as a separate regiment.
Two battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles constituted the main fighting force of India in Aksai Chin during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Supplemented by a battalion of the regular Indian Army, they fought "very well" according to scholar Steven Hoffman. China attacked them with a massive force of an entire division.[4]
UN Peacekeeping Operationsedit
A Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion was part of the UN force in Cambodia during 1990–93.[3]
The Jammu & Kashmir Rifles contingent passes through Rajpath during the 66th Republic Day Parade 2015 in New Delhi
In 1947, the force had 9 infantry battalions and a cavalry regiment. It was subsequently raised to 21 battalions. The 16th Battalion has been reassigned as 14th Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment[1]
^ abcde. bharat-rakshak.com. 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
^Brahma Singh, K (1990). History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956: The state force background. New Delhi: Lancer International. pp. 110, 278, 279, 290. ISBN978-81-7062-091-4. OCLC 21760758.
^ abcd"Jammu and Kashmir Rifles". globalsecurity.org. 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
^Hoffmann, Steven A. (1990), India and the China Crisis, University of California Press, p. 103, ISBN978-0-520-06537-6
Rawat, Rachna Bisht (2014). The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories. Penguin Books India Private Limited. ISBN9780143422358.
Singh, K. Brahma (1990), History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956: The State Force Background, Lancer International, ISBN978-81-7062-091-4
Further readingedit
Palit, Dharitri Kumar (1972), Jammu and Kashmir Arms: History of the J & K Rifles, Palit & Dutt, OCLC 1099928567
Manju Khajuria, Why we must not forget J&K state forces who fought World War I, Daily O, 7 November 2015.
"Summary of world broadcasts. Part 3, Part 3". Summary of World Broadcasts. Part 3, Part 3 (3012–3024): 4. 1993. ISSN 1352-139X. OCLC 28685680. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
April 27, 2024
jammu, kashmir, rifles, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, sep. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jammu and Kashmir Rifles news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947 the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state s accession to India Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army 2 In 1963 the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles After the conversion the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002 3 Jammu and Kashmir RiflesRegimental Insignia of the Jammu and Kashmir RiflesActive1821 presentCountryIndiaBranchIndian ArmyTypeLight InfantryRoleInfantrySize22 battalionsRegimental CentreJabalpur Madhya PradeshMotto s Prashata Ranvirta Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy 1 War CryDurga Mata Ki Jai Victory to Mother Durga 1 DecorationsSee belowCommandersColonel ofthe RegimentLt Gen Upendra DwivediInsigniaRegimental InsigniaAn oval embracing the Sun the State emblem The Sanskrit inscription around the Sun which cannot be read on the regimental insignia above translates as Ever Victorious in War 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Kashmir War of 1947 1 2 Sino Indian War of 1962 1 3 UN Peacekeeping Operations 2 Recruitment 3 Units 4 Battle honours 5 Decorations 5 1 Param Vir Chakra 5 2 Ashoka Chakra 5 3 Maha Vir Chakra 5 4 Other Awards 6 See also 7 References 8 Notes 9 Further readingHistory editThe Jammu and Kashmir Rifles has a unique regimental history Its antecedents go back to the Dogra Corps raised by Dogra Rajput Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu in 1821 General Zorawar Singh led daredevil campaigns in northern areas like Ladakh Baltistan Gilgit Hunza and Yagistan consolidating smaller principalities and making the northern areas a part of the expanding dominions of Gulab Singh He also mounted an invasion of Tibet in 1841 After the establishment of Jammu and Kashmir as independent princely state under the British Paramountcy in 1846 these troops became the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces nbsp Officers of 2nd Kashmir Rifles with the German flag and machine gun captured in the Action at Lukigura River on 24 June 1916 The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir maintained a larger number of State Forces than any other ruler of an Indian State under the British Raj These forces were organized into the Jammu and Kashmir Brigades They comprised a bodyguard cavalry regiment two mountain batteries seven infantry battalions one training battalions and a transport unit consisting of both pack and mechanized transport Several of these units served with distinction on the North West Frontier of India and overseas during the Great War 3 The state forces fought as Imperial Service Troops in both the First and Second World Wars under their own native officers They distinguished themselves in East Africa Palestine and Burma Kashmir War of 1947 edit Main article Indo Pakistani War of 1947 During the Indo Pakistani War of 1947 fought primarily in the region over 76 officers 31 JCOs and 1085 Other Ranks were killed in battle 2 Param Vir Chakra 3 Maha Vir Chakra 20 Vir Chakras were earned and 52 members of the regiment Mentioned in Despatches Later the Jammu and Kashmir State Force was absorbed en bloc into the Indian Army as a separate regiment Sino Indian War of 1962 edit Main article Sino Indian War Two battalions of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles constituted the main fighting force of India in Aksai Chin during the Sino Indian War of 1962 Supplemented by a battalion of the regular Indian Army they fought very well according to scholar Steven Hoffman China attacked them with a massive force of an entire division 4 UN Peacekeeping Operations edit A Jammu and Kashmir Rifles battalion was part of the UN force in Cambodia during 1990 93 3 Recruitment editMuch of the Army s Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiments are made of recruits from the districts of Jammu Samba Kathua Udhampur and Reasi while other districts like Poonch Rajouri Doda and Kishtwar also contribute 3 Soldiers from Himachal Pradesh Punjab Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Bihar and Haryana also contribute to the ranks Units edit nbsp The Jammu amp Kashmir Rifles contingent passes through Rajpath during the 66th Republic Day Parade 2015 in New Delhi In 1947 the force had 9 infantry battalions and a cavalry regiment It was subsequently raised to 21 battalions The 16th Battalion has been reassigned as 14th Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment 1 Battle honours editDefence of Chitral The Great War Megiddo Sharon Nablus Palestine 1918 Kilimanjaro Beho Beho East Africa 1914 1917 The Second World War Kennedy Peak Defence of Meiktila Burma 1942 1945 1947 48 Ponch Skardu 1965 Asal Uttar Punjab 1965 1971 Shyam Ganj East Pakistan 1971 1999 Point 5140 Point 4875 Rocky Knob Note Pre 1948 honours inherited from several battalions of Jammu and Kashmir State Forces http www indiandefencereview com news cracking the siachen walnut http www indiandefencereview com the long march to siachen Decorations editParam Vir Chakra edit Captain Vikram Batra posthumous 13th Battalion Kargil 1999 5 Rifleman Sanjay Kumar 13th Battalion Kargil 1999 6 Ashoka Chakra edit Second Lieutenant Cyrus Addie Pithawalla 17 Battalion Manipur 1981 Lance Naik Sundar Singh 4th Battalion Jammu and Kashmir 1956 Maha Vir Chakra edit Brigadier Rajendra Singh Jamwal J amp K Rifles Kashmir 1947 Brigadier Sher Jung Thapa 13th J amp K Rifles Skardu 1947 Other Awards edit 2 Param Vir Chakra 2 Ashok Chakra 1 Padma Bhushan 3 Param Vishisht Seva Medals 5 Maha Vir Chakras 11 Kirti Chakras 4 Ati Vishist Seva Medals 44 Vir Chakras 46 Shaurya Chakras 1 Uttam Yudh Seva Medal 313 Sena Medals 2 Yudh Seva Medals 31 Vishisht Seva Medals 52 Mentioned in Despatches 244 COAS Commendation Cards 101 Army Commanders Commendation Cards 1 COAS Unit Citation to 4 JAK Rif See also editAzad Kashmir Regiment Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry List of regiments of the Indian ArmyReferences edit a b c d e The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles bharat rakshak com 2014 Archived from the original on 19 February 2014 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Brahma Singh K 1990 History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles 1820 1956 The state force background New Delhi Lancer International pp 110 278 279 290 ISBN 978 81 7062 091 4 OCLC 21760758 a b c d Jammu and Kashmir Rifles globalsecurity org 2014 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Hoffmann Steven A 1990 India and the China Crisis University of California Press p 103 ISBN 978 0 520 06537 6 Rawat 2014 p 264 Rawat 2014 p 254 Notes editRawat Rachna Bisht 2014 The Brave Param Vir Chakra Stories Penguin Books India Private Limited ISBN 9780143422358 Singh K Brahma 1990 History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles 1820 1956 The State Force Background Lancer International ISBN 978 81 7062 091 4Further reading editPalit Dharitri Kumar 1972 Jammu and Kashmir Arms History of the J amp K Rifles Palit amp Dutt OCLC 1099928567 Manju Khajuria Why we must not forget J amp K state forces who fought World War I Daily O 7 November 2015 Summary of world broadcasts Part 3 Part 3 Summary of World Broadcasts Part 3 Part 3 3012 3024 4 1993 ISSN 1352 139X OCLC 28685680 Retrieved 11 April 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jammu and Kashmir Rifles amp oldid 1198569806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
