THE FIRST KASHMIR WAR, 1947-48

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and nothing substitutes history or captures the mood of the moment more than pictures and photographs. The Indian Army has fought four wars and faced numerous actions since Independence.

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Major General Kulwant Singh and Brigadier Sen discuss the outcome of their progress in battle, while Colonel Harbakhsh Singh (at right) is in deep thought. During the war, Harbaksh rose from the rank of Colonel and 2-in-C of the Uri Brigade to Brigadier commanding the Tithwal Brigade. He ultimately rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in his Army career and was the GOC of Western Army Command during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. Sen also later rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in his army career and held the appointment of GOC Eastern Army Command, a post he held during the 1962 Indo-China War. –

Colonel Harbakhsh Singh saluting the memorial built to honour the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, MVC at Baramulla in Kashmir. Lt. Col. Rai was among the first Indian Army officers to reach Srinagar early morning on 27 October 1947, when the Pakistani-backed raiders almost captured the capital city of Kashmir. Lt. Col. Rai was subsequently killed during the battle and was awarded a Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery. –

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Colonel Harbakhsh Singh stands in line to greet Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Srinagar airport on 09 November 1947. He is the tall officer standing in the middle of the picture. Can you identify the other officers in the picture? –

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Two Generals in Thought: Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal and the first Indian Army Chief) K.M. Cariappa with Lieutenant General (later General and Army Chief) S.M. Srinagesh across Zoji La. Circa November 1948. –

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Lieutenant General K.M. Cariappa, caught in a typical determined mood in his operations room at the Western Army HQ during the Jammu & Kashmir Operations. –

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Keeping the strategic Baramula-Uri road clear of interference, a Diamler armoured vehicle of the Indian Army, on road patrol in the Jammu & Kashmir state, 1948. –

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Prime Minister Nehru visits Srinagar on 10 May 1948. Major General K.S. Thimayya, later General and Chief of Army Staff, is behind at extreme right. –

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Prime Minister Nehru being shown Zoji La by Lieutenant Colonel Sukhdev Singh, CO of 1st Patiala. –

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The Indian Army’s 25 Pounder field guns in action at Handwara, Srinagar in February 1948. –

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Some raiders come out with their hands raised while in the background others lie dead. –

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A band of J&K Militia playing victory tunes through the streets of Srinagar, 1948. –

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Pakistani soldiers killed in their trenches after an assault by Indian troops. –

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A 3.7″ howitzer pounds invading tribal concentrations in Kashmir. –

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Indian Jawans in action in the Tithwal sector. –

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1 Grenadiers on the way to Gurais.

Sethu Ram

Hi there! I’m Sethu, your go-to guy for all things tech, travel, internet, movies, and business tips. I love sharing insights and stories that make life more interesting. Let’s explore the world together, one article at a time!