Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hameed (1933–1965) was a soldier in the Indian Army who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and was posted on the Western Front. In 1966, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award, for his participation in the Battle of Asal Uttar. CQMH Abdul Hameed died on 10 September 1965 while defending his position from the advancing Pakistani tank column. During the fighting, Abdul Hameed destroyed 9 Patton tanks of the Pakistani Army.
Wiki/Biography
CQMH Abdul Hameed was born on Saturday, 1 July 1933.age 32 years; at the time of death) in Dharampur village, Ghazipur district, United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), British India (now India). Abdul Hameed started his education from the primary school of the village. Abdul went on to study till the eighth grade. Abdul always had an interest to join the Indian Army. as soon as he was of legal age; Abdul participated in the recruitment rally being held in Varanasi. Abdul was only 20 years old when he joined the army. He completed his training and joined his unit, the 4 Grenadiers, in 1955.
family
Abdul Hameed belonged to a Muslim family from Uttar Pradesh.
parents and siblings
His father’s name was Mohammad Usman, who was a tailor by profession. His mother’s name was Sakina Begum. His three brothers and two sisters were also siblings.
wife and children
His wife’s name was Rasoolan Bibi. He died on 12 August 2019 at the age of 95.
Rasoolan Bibi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Abdul Hameed had five children; One daughter and four sons. His elder son’s name is Junaid Alam.
Abdul Hameed’s elder son Junaid Alam during an interview
Their second son was named Ali Hassan, who died due to COVID-19 at the age of 61.
Ali Hassan, the second son of Abdul Hameed
His two sons, Zainul Hasan and Talat Mahmud joined the army. His daughter’s name is Nazbun Nisha.
Najbun Nisha, daughter of CQMH Abdul Hameed
religion/religious thought
Islam
Know
VPO Dumpur, Dullahpur, Uttar Pradesh – 275202, India.
career
Participation in the Indo-China War of 1962
During the Indo-China War of 1962, Abdul Hameed with his unit, the 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment, was stationed at Thag La near the Namka Chu River in the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) (now Arunachal Pradesh). , His battalion was part of the 7th Mountain Division, which was tasked with defending the Namka Chu region. On 10 October 1962, his battalion had to face a large number of Chinese soldiers. Defending the position from Chinese forces, the battalion ran out of war reserves, and therefore, it was decided to withdraw from the position to a safer location. Abdul Hameed, with his entire battalion, was completely cut off by the advancing Chinese troops and had to retreat through Bhutanese territory to secure lines.
Writer Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in her book The Brave,
He fought in the ’62 War at Thug La, then in the North-Eastern Frontier Province, as part of the 7th Mountain Brigade, 4th Mountain Division, and returned disappointed with the battle.
the silence before the storm
After the end of the 1962 Sino-Indian War; Abdul Hameed was posted with his unit in Ambala, Punjab. There, he was promoted to the rank of Company Quartermaster Havildar and given the charge of an administrative company. Abdul and his unit stayed there from 1963 to 1965.
A rare photograph of CQMH Abdul Hamid with his unit, the 4 Grenadiers
Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar
In September 1965, the Pakistani Army launched a military operation called Operation Gibraltar along the Line of Control. The Pakistani military believed that when India was facing defeat during the Sino-India War of 1962; Pakistani army can suddenly attack India and snatch Kashmir. The Pakistani army sent its soldiers disguised as local people to Kashmir in the hope of starting an armed revolution against India. Within months of launching Operation Gibraltar, Pakistan’s plans were exposed, as Indian forces captured many Pakistani soldiers. As a result, Pakistan declared war on India.
Abdul Hameed was taken to Khemkaran sector of Asal North
India knew that Pakistan had devoted most of its army to the Kashmir region, so India opened the Punjab Front and attacked Pakistan. The 4th Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment was moved to the Khemkaran sector of Punjab. Before being deployed, CQMH Abdul Hameed acquired the newly inducted 106 mm Recoilless Gun (RCL). The unit lacked anti-tank commanders, so Abdul Hameed was made the commander of the anti-tank detachment. Abdul was an excellent marksman, and no one doubted his aiming ability. He was among the first few soldiers to be trained to use Russian-made RCL guns.
Abdul’s bravery in the battle of Asal Uttar
Abdul and his unit were assigned the task of defending the strategically important Cheema village, which was located in the Khem Karan sector. Abdul’s orders were clear; He had to hold the line and thwart any attempt by the Pakistanis to infiltrate. On 8 September 1965, at around 9 am, Hamid saw with his binoculars 3 Pakistani Patton tanks moving towards his forward position. Abdul and his RCL jeep were under the cover of a sugarcane field located nearby. In the book, The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories, the author describes the situation as,
With sugarcane rustling in the fields and Hamid sits in the passenger seat of his jeep, fitted with a recoilless (RCL) gun, he can hear the wind. The jeep fell on a narrow mud track in front of Cheema village. Hamid knows that Pakistan has attacked with a regiment of Patton tanks that have moved into a straight forward position. He first hears the rumble of armor and then sees some tanks moving towards his battalion. ,
Abdul instructed the RCL gunners to keep their fire under control until the tanks came directly under their line. As the unsuspecting tanks came within effective firing range, Abdul ordered his men to fire with their RCL guns. The shells hit the main Pakistani Patton tank directly; smithereens to blow it up. The noise of the fire was so strong that it frightened the crew of the remaining two tanks; The enemy soldiers abandoned their tanks and fled. Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in his book The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories,
The tank is burning before his eyes. Hamid and his men rejoiced. ‘Well done!’, Bravo, he mouths and they exchange wide smiles. They see the crew of the two following tanks disembark and run away. Hamid orders the driver to reverse and proceed.
At 11 a.m., 3 more Pakistani tanks led the charge against Abdul and his men. The tanks met the same fate as the previous ones that came before. The lead tank was destroyed, and the remaining two tanks were abandoned by the terrified Pakistani contingent. On 8 September 1965, Abdul destroyed 2 enemy tanks and captured 4 tanks. On 9 September 1965, Hamid along with his men managed to destroy 2 more enemy tanks while firing from cover of sugarcane fields. In order to destroy 4 enemy tanks and capture 4 more, Abdul Hameed’s name was recommended for the Param Vir Chakra. Rachna Bisht Rawat in his book The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories says,
Abdul Hameed used to sleep well that night. He is happy with his achievement. His citation has been sent for the Param Vir Chakra (PVC). This credits him with the destruction of four tanks. ,
Abdul’s destruction of Pakistani tanks continues
Even after Abdul’s name was recommended for Param Vir Chakra; The war was not over for him, as he was determined to defeat the enemy and save the Khemkaran sector from Pakistani aggression. On the morning of 10 September 1965, Abdul saw a large number of Pakistani tanks moving towards his position. This time, the enemy’s armored column was supported by heavy artillery fire and infantry troops. Abdul and his men waited patiently for the enemy to enter. As the tanks came within effective firing range of the RCL guns, Abdul and his anti-tank detachment opened fire; Leading to destroy 3 more Pakistani tanks. The enemy, by now, had seen the exact location from which Abdul and his men fired at them, and hence, focused their tank fire on the RCL jeeps. While moving from one place to another, Abdul targeted a Pakistani tank and opened fire on it. Both Abdul and the enemy were on each other’s target. As soon as Abdul fired at the enemy’s tank, the enemy also fired at Abdul’s RCL jeep. Abdul’s unit, 4 Grenadiers, a plaque made by the states,
Never in the history of war have so many tanks been destroyed by an infantry man – a feat achieved by CQMH Abdul Hameed of 4 Grenadiers, who fired 8 with this 106 Recoilless Gun before laying down his life for the nation. Destroyed Pakistani Patton tanks.
Awards, Honors and Achievements
- CQMH Abdul Hameed was awarded India’s highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra. The award was received by his wife Rasoolan Bibi on 26 January 1966.
Rasoolan Bibi receiving the Param Vir Chakra on behalf of her husband, CQMH Abdul Hameed
- On 10 September 1979, the Army Postal Service Corps issued a postal cover in honor of the brave soldier.
Army Postal Service Corps releases postal cover in honor of CQMH Abdul Hameed
- On 26 January 2000, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in honor of the brave soldier.
Postage stamp of Abdul Hameed which was issued by the Government of India on 26 January 2000
- Every year on 9 September, the village of Asal Uttar organizes a sports and cultural festival in honor of CQMH Abdul Hameed.
- On 10 September 2017 the then Chief of Army Staff, the late Gen. Bipin Rawat Abdul Hameed’s memorial was inaugurated in his hometown Ghazipur.
Abdul Hameed Memorial in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
- The Indian Army has constructed a tomb in honor of the brave soldier in Asal Uttar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the tomb of Abdul Hameed in real reply
- A memorial was erected by the Government of India in his hometown of Dharampur.
Abdul Hameed’s memorial in his hometown
- CQMH Abdul Hameed has also been decorated with other medals like Samar Seva Star, Raksha Medal and Military Service Medal.
- A statue of CQMH Abdul Hameed has been installed in his honor at Jodhpur Military Station.
Statue of Abdul Hameed at Jodhpur Military Station
death
On 10 September 1965, Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hameed’s jeep came under fire from an enemy tank it was aiming at. Even if the tank hit Abdul’s RCL gun; He overturned on Abdul’s jeep, destroyed it and Abdul died on the spot.
Abdul Hameed’s RCL jeep that was used during the Battle of Asal Uttar
Rachna Bisht Rawat writes in his book The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories,
Another tank slowly rushed towards him, but he did not have time to move as they both looked at each other. The two keep each other in their eyes and shoot. Both the bullets hit his target. There is loud bang, fire and smoke. As the tank is detonated, its shell hits the RCL jeep. The impact blows it up in the air. There are screams of pain, there is a loud bang and then there is complete silence which is interrupted only by the flames. Abdul Hameed is dead. He has shot down a total of seven enemy tanks, nothing more can be expected from an armored formation.”