Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid (1933-1965) was a soldier in the Indian Army who participated in the 1965 Indo-Pak War and was deployed on the Western Front. In 1966, he was posthumously awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra, for his participation in the Northern Battle of Asal. CQMH Abdul Hamid died on 10 September 1965 while protecting his position from a column of Pakistani tanks. During the battle, Abdul Hamid destroyed 9 Patton tanks of the Pakistan Army.
Wiki/Biography
CQMH Abdul Hamid was born on Saturday 1 July 1933 in Dharampur village, Ghazipur district, British India (now India) (now Uttar Pradesh) (at the time of his death 32 years old). Abdul Hamid began his education at the village primary school. Abdul continued studying until eighth grade. Abdul had always been interested in joining the Indian Army. When he reached legal age; Abdul attended a recruitment rally in Varanasi. Abdul was only 20 years old when he joined the army. In 1955, he completed his training and joined his 4th Grenadier unit.
family
Abdul Hamid was born into a Muslim family in Uttar Pradesh.
Parents and siblings
His father’s name was Muhammad Usman and he was a tailor by profession. His mother’s name is Sakina Begum. He also has three brothers and two sisters as siblings.
wife and children
Abdul was only 14 years old when he married Rasullan Bibi. The couple married in 1947. She died on August 12, 2019, at the age of 95.
Rasuram Bibi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Abdul Hamid had five children; one daughter and four sons. His eldest son’s name was Junaid Alam.
Abdul Hamid’s eldest son Junaid Alam interviewed
His second son, Ali Hasan, died of COVID-19 at the age of 61.
Abdul Hamid’s second son Ali Hassan
His two sons, Zainur Hassan and Talat Mahmood, joined the army. His daughter’s name is Nazben Nisha.
Nazbin Nisha, daughter of CQMH Abdul Hamid
Religion/Religious Views
Islam
address
VPO Dhamupur, Dhulapur, Uttar Pradesh – 275202, India.
Profession
Participated in the 1962 Sino-Indian War
During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Abdul Hamid and his unit, the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment, were deployed near the Nankachu River in the North Eastern Frontier Authority (NEFA) (now Arunachal Pradesh). Thag La. His battalion is part of the 7th Mountain Division and is responsible for defending the Nankachu area. On October 10, 1962, his battalion faced a huge number of Chinese troops. During the defense of the Chinese army, the battalion exhausted its war reserves and decided to retreat from the position to a safer location. Abdul Hamid and his entire battalion were completely cut off by the advancing Chinese troops and had to retreat to safer routes through Bhutanese territory.
Author Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in her book Brave:
He fought in the war at Thag La in ’62 as a member of the 7th Mountain Brigade, 4th Mountain Division, and later in the Northeast Frontier Province, but came back disappointed with the war. “
The calm before the storm
After the Sino-Indian war in 1962; Abdul Hamid and his troops were sent to Ambala in Punjab. There he was promoted to quartermaster of the Javier Dar Company and given administrative responsibility for a company. Abdul and his troops stayed there from 1963 to 1965.
Rare photo of CQMH Abdul Hamid with 4 grenadiers from his unit
Pakistan launches Operation Gibraltar
In September 1965, the Pakistan Army launched a military operation called “Operation Gibraltar” along the Line of Control. The Pakistani military believes that when India is dealing with the defeat it suffered in the 1962 Sino-Indian war; the Pakistani army may launch a surprise attack on India and seize Kashmir. The Pakistani military sent soldiers dressed as locals to Kashmir in the hope of launching an armed revolution against India. A few months after Operation Gibraltar was launched, Pakistan’s plans were exposed and Indian forces captured many Pakistani troops. This resulted in Pakistan declaring war on India.
Abdul Hamid was transferred to Khem Karan district of Asal Uttar
India knew that Pakistan had invested most of its forces in Kashmir, so it opened the Punjab front and launched an attack on Pakistan. The 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment was moved to the Kankaran area of Punjab. Prior to deployment, CQMH Abdul Hamid purchased the newly introduced 106mm recoilless rifle (RCL). The unit lacked an anti-tank commander, so Abdul Hamid was appointed commander of the anti-tank detachment. Abdul was an excellent marksman and no one doubted his ability to aim. He was one of the first few soldiers to be trained to use the Russian-made RCL gun.
Abdul’s bluff at the Battle of Assar Utar
Abdul and his troops were tasked with defending the strategically important village of Chima in the Kenkaran region. Abdul’s orders were clear; he must hold his position and thwart any Pakistani infiltration attempts. At around 9 a.m. on September 8, 1965, Hamid spotted three Pakistani Patton tanks heading forward through binoculars. Abdul and his RCL jeep took cover under the cover of a nearby dense sugarcane field. In the book Param Vir Chakra Stories, the author describes this situation as:
The sugarcane rustled in the fields and Hamid, sitting in the passenger seat of the jeep equipped with a recoilless rifle (RCL), could hear the wind. The jeep drives on a narrow dirt road in front of the village of Chima. Hamid knew that Pakistan had launched an attack with the Patton Tank Regiment, which had rushed into the forward position. He first heard the rumble of armor and then saw several tanks heading toward his battalion. “
Abdul instructed the RCL gunners not to fire until the tank was directly under their line of fire. When the unsuspecting tanks came within effective range, Abdul ordered his men to open fire with the RCL guns. The shell hit the lead Pakistani Patton tank directly; blowing it to pieces. The fire was so intense that it frightened the crews of the other two tanks. The enemy troops abandoned their tanks and fled. Author Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in her book Param Vir Chakra Stories:
Tanks burned before his eyes. Hamid and his men were ecstatic. “Shabaash!”, awesome, he mouthed, and they exchanged huge smiles. They spotted the crews of the two tanks behind them getting out and running away. Hamid ordered the driver to reverse and move. “
At 11 a.m., three more Pakistani tanks took the lead in charging towards Abdul and his men. These tanks met the same fate as their predecessors. The leading tank was destroyed and the remaining two tanks were abandoned by the terrified Pakistani crews. On September 8, 1965, Abdul destroyed 2 enemy tanks and captured 4 tanks. On September 9, 1965, Hamid and his men fired under cover of sugar cane fields and successfully destroyed two more enemy tanks. Due to the destruction of 4 enemy tanks and the capture of 4 more, Abdul Hamid’s name was recommended as Param Vir Chakra. Rachna Bisht Rawat in her book Param Vir Chakra Stories exclaims:
Abdul Hamid slept well that night. He is happy with his achievements. His award has been sent to Param Vir Chakra (PVC). This was attributed to the fact that he destroyed four tanks. “
Abdul’s destruction of Pakistani tanks continues
Even after Abdul’s name was recommended as Param Vir Chakra; the war was not over for him as he was determined to defeat the enemy and save Kankaran region from Pakistani aggression. On the morning of September 10, 1965, Abdul saw a large number of Pakistani tanks heading towards his location. This time, the enemy armored columns were supported by heavy artillery bombardment and infantry units. Abdul and his men were patiently waiting for the enemy to approach. As soon as the tanks came within range of the RCL guns, Abdul and his anti-tank unit opened fire; resulting in the destruction of four more Pakistani tanks. The enemy by now had discovered the exact location from which Abdul and his men were firing at them and therefore concentrated their tank fire on the RCL jeep. While moving from one position to another, Abdul targeted a Pakistani tank and opened fire on it. Both Abdul and the enemy were in each other’s crosshairs. After Abdul fired at the enemy tank, the enemy also fired at Abdul’s RCL jeep. Abdul’s unit, the 4th Grenadiers, erected a plaque that read:
Never in the history of warfare has an infantryman destroyed so many tanks – a feat accomplished by CQMH Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers, who used it before giving his life for his country. 106 recoilless rifle destroyed 8 Pakistani Patton tanks. “
Awards, Honors and Achievements
- CQMH Abdul Hamid was awarded India’s highest gallantry award – Param Vir Chakra. On January 26, 1966, his wife Rasolan Bibi received the award.
Rasolan Bibi receives Param Vir Chakra on behalf of her husband CQMH Abdul Hamid
- On September 10, 1979, the Army Postal Service issued a postal cover to commemorate this brave soldier.
Army Postal Service releases postal cover in memory of CQMH Abdul Hamid
- On January 26, 2000, the Indian government issued a stamp to commemorate this brave soldier.
Abdul Hamid stamps were issued by the Government of India on January 26, 2000
- Every year on September 9, Assal Uttar village organizes a sports and cultural festival in memory of CQMH Abdul Hamid.
- On September 10, 2017, the then Chief of Army Staff, the late General Bipin Rawat, unveiled a memorial to Abdul Hamid in his hometown of Gazipur.
Abdul Hamid Memorial in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
- The Indian Army built the Magyar in memory of the brave soldiers of Asal in the north.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Abdul Hamid Mazhar in Asal Uttar
- The Indian government has erected a memorial in his hometown of Dharampur.
Monument in Abdul Hamid’s hometown
- CQMH Abdul Hamid has also been awarded other medals such as Samar Seva Star, Raksha Medal and Sainya Seva Medal.
- In commemoration of the Jodhpur military base, a bust of CQMH Abdul Hamid was installed.
Bust of Abdul Hamid at Jodhpur Military Station
die
On September 10, 1965, company quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid’s jeep was hit by fire from an enemy tank he was targeting. Although the tank was hit by Abdul’s RCL shell; it managed to fire on Abdul’s jeep, destroying it and killing Abdul on the spot.
Abdul Hamid’s RCL Jeep used in the Battle of Al-Assal North
Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in her book Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories,
Another tank was slowly coming toward him, but he didn’t have time to move because they both spotted each other. The two put each other in their sights and shoot. Both shells hit their target. There was a huge explosion, fire and smoke. Even though the tank was destroyed, its shells hit the RCL jeep. The impact threw it into the air. Screams of agony, loud bangs, and then silence except for the crackle of fire. Abdul Hamid is dead. In total he destroyed seven enemy tanks, which was more than an armored unit could ever hope to achieve. “
Facts/Trivia
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education