Abdul Hamid was a decorated Indian Army soldier whose military position was of Company Quartermaster Havildar. His contribution to the Indian Army was so immense that he was also posthumously awarded with the prestigious Param Vir Chakra for all his work in 1965 during the Indo-Pakistani war.
He died young at the age of 32, but people still remember his contributions on the battlefield. In the battle of Asal Uttar in 1965, Hamid was killed but not before he annihilated six Pakistani tanks.
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Despite the wealth of information about him on the internet, there is a lot that people do not know about him. Let us check out the ten unknown facts about Abdul Hamid – the hero of the 1965 war!
- Abdul Hamid was born in Dhamupur Village of the Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh on July 1, 1933, to Mohammad Usman and Sakina Begum. He had three brothers and two sisters. His father was a tailor, and Abdul would often help his father stitch clothes prior to joining the army.
- Hamid was recruited as a soldier in the Indian Army at the age of 20 in Varanasi. He fought in a lot of distinct wars during his lifetime.
- Abdul was also appointed as the Company Quarter Master Havildar (CQMH) later in his life of an administration company. In addition to that, he was the best shot at that time with a 106 mm recoilless rifle. This is precisely why the battalion commander wished for him to be back as an NCO of the rifle platoon.
- When the war broke out between India and Pakistan in 1965, Hamid had already served ten years in the Indian Army. He was serving as a soldier in the 4th Grenadiers when the news of the war came out.
- Hamid was a non-commissioned instructor in the war. There were no anti-tank detachment commanders and hence, he was instructed to take over an entire anti-tank detachment.
- Abdul Hamid was one of the main reasons for the victory of India after days of intense fighting. However, he did not live to see that victory.
- He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his dogged determination, selflessness, and raw courage at the time of war and in the face of the enemy. This highest wartime gallantry award of India demonstrated his courage during the wartime.
- Hamid was buried at the battlefield, and he rests in a very modest grave today in Asal Uttar. His grave has a small inscription that attests to his valor at the battlefield and that he died defending his motherland. A brick-red plaque also announces his position as the CQMH (Company Quarter Master Havildar) in the Indian Army.
- Another super interesting fact that few people know is that Anna Hazare, the popular social activist was Abdul Hamid’s comrade during the war. He was assigned with the task of carrying bombs and firearms to the border.
- Abdul Hamid was probably one of the most courageous soldiers during the Indo-Pakistani war in 1965. He fought with a lot of valor and single-handedly took down six Pakistani tanks before he was killed by the seventh. Even though he did not live to see the victory of India against the enemy, his contributions to that victory are remembered to this day.
Final Words
Abdul Hamid is a popular name amidst military circles today, and he is known throughout the country for his service to our motherland. However, despite a few sporadic eulogies from politicians as well as presidents, the laurels and legacy of Abdul Hamid largely remain unsung.
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