The ancient Duggar region has produced many of India's bravest warriors and earned the highest number of gallantry awards in the annals of the Indian Armed Forces

Ancient Duggar region (land of warrior-Dogras spanning J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab) has given maximum sacrifice and earned the highest number of gallantry awards in the annals of the Indian Armed Forces. Geographically, they have been the first line of defence against all invading forces. The noble land birthed the likes of King Porus, and the warrior sans pareil, General Zorawar Singh. Unbeknownst to many, the legendary Zorawar’s audacious conquests included regions that are now in Pakistan and China like Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, Hunza, to even large swathes of Tibet.

With such martial traditions, it is the only region in the country that populates not one but four fiery regiments of the Indian Army i.e., Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, Dogra Regiment, Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry and Punjab Regiment, besides other arms, and services. But the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles or Jak Rif, has a hallowed place in history and imagination as a proud and direct legatee of those Zorawar’s daredevilry traditions. The only ‘State Force’ of the Princely Dogra Kingdom to be fully amalgamated in the Indian Army, they remain the quintessential ‘Gentlemen Soldiers’ owing to pedigree, immense dignity, and professional restraint in personal conduct, but unmatched ferocity in battle. In 1947 the ‘Saviour of Kashmir’, Brigadier Rajendra Singh Jamwal, MVC, and his band of 300 indefatigable warriors held off Pakistani tribals for crucial three days to allow the confabulations and the landing of Indian troops in Srinagar.

The Maharaja and Commander of J&K State forces had ordered, “Brigadier Rajender Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man” – he did so by paying the “ultimate sacrifice” himself. In another theatre, Brig Sher Jung Thapa, MVC, of the J&K State Forces earned the title of “Hero of Skardu”. Even the first Param Vir Chakra of India, Maj Somnath Sharma, was from the Duggarregion.  Decades later, when the enemy attempted to cross over yet again, it was the unparalleled heroics of the 13th Jak Rifbattalion, atop the unforgiving heights of the Kargil War that galvanised the nation.

Two combatants from the traditional Duggar catchment areas of Palampur and Bilaspur were to send shivers down the spine of the enemy with their regimental war cries of “Durga Mata ki Jai” as they retook Point 5140. Captain Vikram Batra was to immortalise the moment with his “Yeh dil mange more” spirit and Rifleman (later Subedar Major) Sanjay Kumar would fight to defend their land just as their forefathers did, for aeons.

Both won Param Vir Chakra. Even the peace-time equivalent of gallantry, Ashok Chakra, was bestowed on 2/Lt (later Maj Gen) Cyrus Pithwalla of 17thJak Rif, to be the only ‘General’ officer with the highest gallantry award.It is from this deep fount of distinguished soldiering, that the 30th Chief of Indian Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, takes over the reigns. Commissioned in the 18th Rif battalion, he is the first Army Chief from the decorated Regiment.

Understandably, people in the Duggar land (especially those from the Jak Rif fraternity) are justifiably proud. As 97 years ‘young’, Major General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (the only General who was commissioned by Commander-in-Chief of J&K State Forces, Maharaja Hari Singh) extended congratulations and recalled the countless regimental sacrifices that, “made the State as crown of newly independent India”.

Today, General Dwivedi assumes the responsibility that his regimental forefathers held with much aplomb, elan and professional acumen that befits their motto, Prashata Ranvirta or Valour in battle is Praiseworthy!

The General assumes the mantle time in most challenging times, but as the Military truism goes, “The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph”. With the Indian Army, he takes over the most disciplined, combat-hardened, and restrained institution of the nation – much like his own regimental ethos.

Regrettably, such a selfless attitude in a selfish world can often lead to being ‘taken for granted’ or lead to institutional diminishments. Transmitting that ‘voice’ for redressal to the powers-that-be will be his foremost challenge. To his singular credit, he has tenanted the most sensitive posts e.g., Army Commander of the Northern Command that dealt with dual nemesis i.e., China and Pakistan simultaneously, amongst other operational and staff posts. This makes him a worthy leader.  

In a movingly reassuring optic that is so typical of the Indian Army and its inimitable ways, the good General took blessings of his family elders, laid a wreath for those who went down fighting at the National War Memorial and then exchanged greetings with religious leaders of all faiths and denominations. Much like the multi-religious and multi-castiest denomination of the Duggar land and the combatants-in-arms from his beloved JaK Rif who could be a Sikh like Honorary Captain Sundar Singh (Ashok Chakra), Parsi like Maj Gen Pithwala (Ashok Chakra) or even the martyr from his battalion i.e. 18thJak Rif, Rifleman Arif Khan Pathan, who laid down his life on Indo-Pak Line-of-Control (LoC). Jak Rif’s pride is the nation’s pride. As regimental patriarch, Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal dotingly noted, “General Upendra Dwivedi is the product of this great Regiment of General Zorawar Singh. You can expect results”.

(The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal)