Saif Ali Janjua
Naik Saif Ali Janjua (Urdu: سیف علی جنجوعہ; 23 April 1922 — 26 October 1948) was a Pakistani non-commissioned officer of the Azad Kashmir Regiment who previously served overseas for four years in the British Indian Army during World War II. He joined the Pakistan Army after the Partition of British India and was a Platoon Commander during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948. He is known for establishing the Haidri Force on 1 January 1948, with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi.
Naik Saif Ali Janjua | |
|---|---|
| Platoon Commander Sher-e-Riasti Battalion 18 AK Regt | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 April 1922 Nakyal, Kotli, Kashmir & Jammu, British India |
| Died | 26 October 1948 (aged 26) Mendhar, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Spouse | Zohra Bibi[1] |
| Children | Muhammad Siddique Muhammad Raffique Tasweer Begum |
| Parent |
|
| Awards | Hilal-e-Kashmir Nishan-e-Haider |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch/service |
|
| Years of service | 1941–1948 |
| Rank | Naik |
| Unit | British Indian Royal Corps of Engineers (1941-47) 5 AK Regt (1947-1948) 18 AK Regt (1948) |
| Battles/wars | |
As of June 2023, he is the only recipient of the Hilal-e-Kashmir award from the government of Azad Kashmir which was later declared as the equivalent of the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military award. He fought in Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948 and lost his life during the siege of Bhudha Khanna.[2]
Early life edit
He was born into a family of the Janjua Rajputs to Malik Muhammad Masoom Khan on 23 April 1922 in Nakyal, Kashmir & Jammu, British India.[3][4][5]
Personal life edit
He was married to Zohra Bibi and had three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique, and Tasweer Begum.[6]
Military career edit
British Indian Army edit
He was enlisted into the Royal Corps of Engineers in the British Indian Army as a Sepoy on 18 March 1941. He served for four years during World War II and when the war ended, his unit sailed back to the Indian subcontinent and was stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.[7]
Pakistan Army edit
When Pakistan received Independence in 1947, he opted to join the Pakistan Army. On 1 January 1948, with the support of Sardar Fateh Muhammad Karailvi, he established the Haidri Force which was named Sher-e-Riasti Battalion under the command of Lt Col Muhammad Sher Khan and later renamed to 18th Battalion. Due to his dedication and leadership qualities, Janjua was promoted to Naik and made Platoon Commander of the Sher-e-Riasti Battalion, now known as 18th Azad Kashmir Regiment.[8] He inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at Bhudha Khanna and repulsed the attacks of the Indian Armys 5th and 19th Brigade at Pir Kalewa on 20 October 1948. While deployed there, he faced constant frontal and crossfire from opposition machine guns. He defended his post and imposed significant losses on the Indian Army. The enemy used every means to capture the post with the two companies' attacks and heavy shelling but he still managed to retain his post with just a handful of men.[9]
Death edit
During the battle, he was critically injured after being hit in the chest by artillery fire but despite this he crawled to collect ammunition from the dead and wounded soldiers to distribute it amongst the remaining surviving soldiers.[10] He was repositioning his surviving troops to defend against another wave of enemy attacks, when he was hit with an artillery shell fatally. He ultimately died on 26 October 1948.
Awarded Posthumously edit
On 14 March 1949, the Defence Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir posthumously adorned him with the Hilal-e-Kashmir and on 30 November 1995 the Government of Pakistan declared his Hilal-e-Kashmir equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider.
References edit
- ^ "A true son of the soil remembered". 26 October 2020.
He left behind his wife, Zohra Bibi
- ^ Imran (6 November 2019). "Naik Saif Ali Janjua". MANI JUNCTION. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326349/army-pays-tribute-to-naik-saif-ali-janjua-on-martyrdom-anniversary
- ^ "Naik Saif Ali Janjua Shaheed (Hilal-e-Kashmir)". Explore Pakistan. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
- ^ "Saif Ali Janjua Photos | Images of Saif Ali Janjua - Times of India - Page 11". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ "A true son of the soil remembered". 26 October 2020.
He left behind his wife, Zohra Bibi, and three children, Muhammad Siddique, Muhammad Raffique and Tasweer Begum.
- ^ "A true son of the soil remembered". 26 October 2020.
He had joined the Royal Corps of the British Indian Army as a sepoy on March 18, 1941. He served overseas for four years during World War II. When the war ended, his unit sailed back to the subcontinent, and remained stationed at Jalandhar and Lahore.
- ^ "PAKISTAN ARMY". pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326349/army-pays-tribute-to-naik-saif-ali-janjua-on-martyrdom-anniversary
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2326349/army-pays-tribute-to-naik-saif-ali-janjua-on-martyrdom-anniversary
External links edit
- "Naik Saif Ali Janjua". Pakistan Army. Retrieved 20 December 2009.