Kaman Singh Pathania
Kaman Singh Pathania MVC, | |
|---|---|
| Stamp_of_India_-_2016_-_Colnect_804354_-_Third_Battalion_The_Garhwal_Rifles | |
| Born | 23 April 1917 Village Ladori, Tehsil Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P India  Punjab Province (British India) |
| Died | 15 July 1956 (aged 39) Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Allegiance |  British India (1936-1947)  India (1947-1965) |
| Service/ |  British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1936–1956 |
| Rank | File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Lieutenant Colonel |
| Service number | IC-397 |
| Unit | Garhwal Rifles |
| Commands held | 5th Battalion The DOGRA Regiment 22 December 1940 to April 1941
17 DOGRA ( Machine Gun) Battalion May 1941 to June 1947 Served in intense Operations in Burma WW II and under South East Asia Command (SEAC) 4th Battalion The DOGRA Regiment July 1947-December 1948- North West 3rd Battalion Royal Garhwal Rifles January 1948-August 1949- JandK Operations Instructor Class A, (OC Weapons Wing, Infantry School Mhow) August 1949-Aug 1950 6 KUMAON (Commanding Officer) August 1950-May 1953 6 ASSAM Rifles (Commandant) June 1953-June 1956 3 KUMAON Rifles (Commanding Officer) 30 June 1956- 15 Jul 1956 |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Maha Vir Chakra |
| Relations |
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Lieutenant Colonel Kaman Singh Pathania MVC, MiD (25 May 1913 – 19 December 2007) was a decorated Indian Army Colonel on whose honor the last Indian post on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road is named Kaman Post and the bridge linking to Pakistan as Kaman Aman Setu.
Early life and career
Kaman Singh was son of Dafadar Vijay Singh of 23 Cavalry of Indian Expeditionary Force A who was taken POW by Ottoman Empire during Mesopotamia campaign during WW1 in October 1915. Kaman Singh joined 4th Horse (Hodson's Horse) on 23 April 1935 as a Sowar. He got selected at Kitchner College at Nowgong, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh (Old ACC Ghorpadi and now Siachen Battalion Indian Military Academy, Dehradun) in July 1937 later Indian Military Academy July 1939, commissioning into 5 DOGRA in December 1940. He served as Major with 17 DOGRA (Machine Gun Battalion) and was awarded (M-in-D) in Burma Campaign during WW-II while taking alive a Japanese prisoner.[1]
Indian independence and Kashmir war
At Independence in 1947, Pathania was with 4th Dogra Regiment in Northwest India, where he helped to provide aid for refugees and local residents during the post-Partition chaos and rioting. As CO of 3rd Garhwal Rifles he took command in January 1948 at Uri.
His battalion was sent to Kashmir during the 1947-49 Indo-Pakistan War, where on 18 May 1948, the Indian Army’s advance towards Tithwal was being halted at Trehgam Ridge. As part of Operation Tithwal (Jammu & Kashmir 1948), 3rd Garhwal Rifles was deployed to capture the Buni ridge ahead of Tithwal, the resulting battle was reportedly the hardest ever fought during the Jammu and Kashmir operations. Kaman not only led several reconnaissance missions but also pressed home the attack on the enemy on 17 June 1948. Despite having low ammunition and repeated counter attacks 3rd Garhwal achieved their objectives and inflicted heavy casualties. The victory was attributed to Pathania’s daring attacks on enemy positions. In tribute to Pathania, the strategically important farthest point captured is named "Kaman Post"[2]
Pathania was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his efforts.[3]
Death
On 15 July 1956, while serving again in Uri Sector Jammu and Kashmir with 3 Kumaon Rifles Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC visited a High-Altitude Piquet, and died due to health issues.
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- ↑ "Bravest of the Brave". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "BATTLE OF TITHWAL - MAHAVIR LIEUTENANT COLONEL KAMAN SINGH PATHANIA - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "Maha Vir Chakra - Lt. Col. Kaman Singh". Gallantry Awards (Ministry of Defence). Government of India. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
