17 Facts About Mohammad Usman

Brigadier Mohammad Usman MVC was the highest ranking officer of the Indian Army killed in action during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Mohammad Usman was martyred in July 1948 while fighting Pakistani soldiers and militia in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mohammad Usman was later awarded the second highest Indian military decoration for gallantry in the face of enemy, the Maha Vir Chakra.

Mohammad Usman was born in Bibipur, now Mau, Uttar Pradesh, in the Azamgarh district, United Provinces, British India on 15 July 1912 to Jamilun Bibi and Mohammad Farooq Khunambir.

Mohammad Usman's maternal family was a large land-owning zamindar family from Yusufpur, more commonly known as the Ansaris of Yusufpur, through this side he was distant relatives of Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Faridul Haq Ansari, Hamid Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari.

Mohammad Usman later made up his mind to join the Army, and despite the limited opportunities for Indians to get commissioned ranks and despite intense competition, he succeeded in gaining admission to the prestigious Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Mohammad Usman entered RMC in 1932, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and appointed to the Unattached List for the Indian Army on 1 February 1934.

Mohammad Usman was attached in India to the 1st battalion of the Cameronians on 12 March 1934 for a year.

Mohammad Usman was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 April 1936 and Captain on 31 August 1941.

Mohammad Usman served in Burma and was mentioned in dispatches as a temporary Major in the London Gazette 25 September 1945.

Mohammad Usman commanded the 14th battalion of the 10th Baluch Regiment from April 1945 to April 1946.

Mohammad Usman, then commanding the 77th Parachute Brigade, was sent to command the 50th Parachute Brigade, which was deployed at Jhangar in December 1947.

Mohammad Usman's defence earned him the nickname Lion of Nowshera.

Unaffected by praise and congratulations, Mohammad Usman continued to sleep on a mat laid on the floor as he had vowed that he would not sleep on a bed till he recaptured Jhangar, from where he had to withdraw in late 1947.

Mohammad Usman was 12 days short of his 36th birthday.

Mohammad Usman was given a state funeral of a martyr.

Mohammad Usman is buried in the Okhla cemetery near the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi.