Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)  

Man Singh was awarded Maha Vir Chakra for sacrifice during 1947-48 war

 “Main to gaya par tannae bhi na jeevan dunga pyare” were the dying words of Sepoy Man Singh while battling enemy raiders to save the Poonch garrison during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan.

Among the long list of gallantry award winners from Haryana, the name of Sepoy Man Singh figures prominently, for he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for laying down his life while fighting intruders in Kashmir during the 1947-48 war with Pakistan.

Man Singh, son of Sampat Singh, was born at Kheda Machhroli village in Jhajjar tehsil of Rohtak district of then undivided Punjab in April 1926. Man Singh had an athletic built and was a known wrestler in Jhajjar tehsil. At 19, he was enrolled in Parachute Regiment as a probationer. After three months of specialised training and five mandatory parachute jumps, he was permanently seconded to Parachute Regiment and posted to 1 Para (Kumaon) Battalion.

By the time the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Dominion on October 26, 1947, Pakistani raiders had infiltrated deep into the Indian territory, capturing some and encircling many towns. To recapture/ secure the towns, the Indian Army launched a planned offensive during the last week of October 1947. When 1 Para (Kumaon) reached Poonch on November 21, 1947, the town was surrounded by an estimated 3,000 Pakistani troops in the garb of tribal raiders. The enemy had occupied ‘Haji Pir Pass’, thus cutting off the garrison even from Uri. With frequent raids and mortar attacks, the ring around Poonch town was tightening. 1 Para (Kumaon) defending the Poonch garrison set up pickets on approaches to the town to thwart enemy attacks from any direction. The outnumbered Kumaonis were under tremendous pressure but they neutralised as many as six attacks by the raiders, though at a cost. It was during the seventh determined attack by the enemy that Sepoy Man Singh, with a grenade discharger rifle, single-handedly, saved his picket, and also kept the enemy at bay till it withdrew. The enemy suffered heavy casualties by devastating fire from Sepoy Man Singh and his platoon. For his daring and conspicuous act of bravery, Sepoy Man Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. The battle account of the action for which he was given the coveted award, is available in Kumaon Regiment archives.

‘Pyare’, the nickname of Man Singh, became so popular in his village that even now old timers, especially veterans, fondly remember him by this name. Present day Jhajjar district has been a breeding ground of brave-hearts since the Indian Army came into existence. During World War 1, among many military brave-hearts, it produced Risaldar Badlu Singh, who was awarded the Victoria Cross, followed by Honrary Captain Umrao Singh, who was also conferred with the Victoria Cross during World War II. Even after Independence, Jhajjar continues to breed and nurture military brave-hearts.

The summary of gallant act in archives of Kumaon Regiment reads...

Sepoy Man Singh was with the platoon holding the picket on the most likely approach to Poonch town. During an assault by the raiders in an overwhelming strength, soon half of his platoon was dead or badly wounded and the enemy was going to rush in at any moment to the town. Despite all odds against him and his platoon, Man Singh did not give the enemy a free run. He rushed out of his trench and dashed forward, engaging the enemy with grenades. By incessant firing and lobbing grenades, he succeeded in single-handedly silencing two enemy light machine guns by eliminating their crew. Due to heavy casualties on the enemy too, the hostile attack was stalled and the raiders decided to withdraw. But in the din of the battle, Sepoy Man Singh was hit by another machine gun burst, injuring him severely. Though mortally wounded, Sepoy Man Singh identified the bunker from where the machine gunfire had wounded him. While struggling for breath, Sepoy Man Singh, with great difficulty, lifted his grenade launcher rifle, fired another grenade, his last one, and blasted the machine gun as well as the bunker shouting “main to gaya par tannae bhi na jeevan du pyare” (I am finished but will not let you too live, friend).

Due to fatal wounds, Sepoy Man Singh died shortly thereafter. But due to his bold and brave action, not only his picket but in the actions that followed, the entire Poonch garrison was saved. For his raw courage, dogged determination and supreme sacrifice, Sepoy Man Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)

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Courtesy: The Tribune: 5th Nov, 2018