history of jammu and kashmir rifles

Preface
Although the official history of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles had been published in the form
of JAMMU AND KASHMIR ARMS by Major General DK Palit, VrC, in 1972, the need for producing a
comprehensive history, based on a systematic and thorough research, continued to be felt in
regimental circles. These feelings were translated into action in 1981 when it was finally decided to
have the history re-written on the-basis of proper research. It was also decided that in order to provide
a proper background to the history of the Regiment, the research on the pre-Independence period
should cover the State Forces as a whole and not merely the infantry component which ultimately
formed the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment. It is a matter of great honour for me to have been selected
by the Regiment for this great task.
The research covering a period of over 135 years proved to be a very challenging task but
considering the great mass of historical facts that has been brought to light the work has been
rewarding. Besides the satisfaction that any research scholar would have in being able to dig so deep
into the past, I, being both an officer of the Regiment as well as a native of Jammu, have had the
added gratification of being able to write about the glorious deeds of people who are my ancestors
both figuratively as well as literally.
The State Archives being totally deficient with regard to records pertaining to the State Army under
Maharajas, Gulab Singh and Ranbir Singh, most of the material for this period had to be searched out
of the National Archives at New Delhi. Some such material which has already been used by the Army
Headquarters in India for producing the LADAKH AND KASHMIR GAZETTEER in 1890 has of course been
taken directly from the published source rather than the original. The records pertaining to the Army
under Maharajas, Pratap Singh and Hari Singh were found to be in a fairly good order at the Jammu
Repository and these nave been made good use of through the co-operation extended by the staff,
particularly the Superintendent Mr BM Sharma and the dealing assistant Mr Amar Nath. Unfortunately
a fire in the Repository a few years back has taken a heavy toll of the military record and many
important documents listed in the index could not be traced despite the best efforts of Mr Amar Nath.
The Regiment stands to lose on this account. Some impediment came in the form of restrictions
imposed by the State Government on the consulting of records pertaining to the year 1947 and
beyond. Fortunately through the kind courtesy of Lieutenant Colonel Maluk Singh (Retd) I was able to
lay my hands on the draft history of the Regiment prepared by Lieutenant Colonel Mohan Singh
Pathania, sometime around 1963 under the directions of the then Colonel of the Regiment, Lieutenant
General KS Katoch MC. Evidently in this account, the part played by the State troops in the Jammu &
Kashmir Operations in 1947-48 has been based on the situation reports and war diaries of the period,
duly supplemented by details provided directly by officers and men who actually took part in the
various actions so narrated. The availability of this document, therefore, obviated the need to delve
further into the original records - so well preserved and zealously guarded at the State Repository.
With most of the officers and men who made this history still living in Jammu and the adjoining
villages, it was not difficult for me to recheck, delete or add to the existing information, where
necessary, through personal contact.
While providing the necessary political backdrop to military activities in the State, every effort has
been made to keep clear of controversies. What may still appear to be politically controversial in this
book is, in fact, only a deviation from some popular beliefs which have been put in circulation, by
those who were in a position to do so, for ulterior political motives. Though these beliefs have no
historical base, they have endured all these years because of the difficulty in getting to the true facts,
created by the Government ban (both at the State and Centre level) on the consultation of official
records pertaining to political activity in the State from 1925 onwards. With the primary source so
blocked, politicians writing in the garb of historians had a hey day - writing history the way they wished
it to be. Fortunately, with the publication of S i ardar Patel Correspondence 1 , an authentic source of
history is now available for political events that occurred in Kashmir between 1946 and 1950. This
source, mainly, forms the basis for the political commentaries for this period. For the earlier period
starting from 1925 the political backdrop is based on my own research on the subject (from sources
that did not come under the purview of the official ban).
The number of retired officers of the ex-State Forces who assisted me in this work is too large for all
of them to be listed here. While their assistance is gratefully acknowledged, special thanks are due to
officers who made available their personal notes and diaries for supplementing information contained
in official records. Among these are Brigadier Ghansar Singh, Late Brigadier Krishna Singh, Late
Brigadier NS Rawat, Lieutenant Colonel Bhagwan Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Maluk Singh, Lieutenant
1 Sardar Patel Correspondence, Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad,1971
4