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<div>{{short description|Army officer}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| honorific_prefix = [[Brigadier]]<br />
| name = Rajinder Singh<br />
| honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (posthumous)<br />
| image = Brigadier Rajendra Singh 1999 stamp of India.jpg<br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = 14 June 1899<ref name=bio>[http://twdi.in/node/1236 Brig Rajendra Singh, MVC @ TWDI]. Twdi.in. Retrieved on 27 November 2018.</ref><br />
| death_date = 26/27 October 1947 (aged 48)<br />
| birth_place = Bagoona, [[Jammu district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] {{small|(Present-day Rajinderpura, [[Samba district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]])}}<br />
| death_place = [[Boniyar]]<br />
| allegiance = [[File:Flag of Jammu and Kashmir (1936-1953).svg|23px]] [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<br />
| branch = [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]]<br />
| serviceyears = 1921–1947<br />
| rank = [[File:Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Brigadier]]<br />
| battles = {{plainlist|<br />
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]<br />
}}<br />
| office = Chief of Military Staff<br />
| monarch = [[Hari Singh]]<br />
| primeminister = [[Janak Singh]],<br/> [[Mehr Chand Mahajan]]<br />
| term_start = 25 September 1947<br />
| term_end = 27 October 1947{{KIA}}<br />
| predecessor = [[Henry Lawrence Scott]]<br />
| successor = <br />
| awards = [[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Maha Vir Chakra]]<br />
| children = 5 daughters; 1 son<ref name=bio /><br />
}}<br />
[[Brigadier]] '''Rajinder Singh Jamwal''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (14 June 1899 – 26/27 October 1947), also remembered as the '''Saviour of Kashmir''', was an officer in the [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]]. He briefly served as the Chief of Staff of State Forces and died fighting during the [[First Kashmir War]]. Rajinder Singh and his small contingent of about 200 men successfully delayed the advance of a much larger force of [[Pakistani tribal invasion of Kashmir|Pakistani tribal raiders]] near [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir|Uri]] for several days, during which the Maharaja of Kashmir acceded to India and the Indian forces air-lifted for the defence of Kashmir.<br />
<br />
On 30 December 1949, he was posthumously awarded [[Maha Vir Chakra]], independent India’s second highest military decoration. He was the first Indian to receive the honour.<br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
Rajinder Singh was born on 14 June 1899 in Bagoona village (now Rajinderpura, [[Samba district]]) in a military [[Dogra Rajput]] family.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamwal|first=Ayushman|date=2016-08-15|title=The 1947 War Hero Who Sacrificed His Life For Kashmir|url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/blogs/brigadier-rajinder-singh-the-1947-war-hero-who-sacrificed-his-life-for-kashmir|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Brig Rajinder Singh among greatest Dogra warriors: MLC|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/brig-rajinder-singh-among-greatest-dogra-warriors-mlc-422351|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First war hero of Independent India: Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://news.statetimes.in/first-war-hero-of-independent-india-brig-rajinder-singh/|access-date=2020-09-18|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dogra honor demeaned - Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir|url=http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=278998|access-date=2020-09-18|website=www.earlytimes.in}}</ref> His ancestor General Baj Singh had died serving under [[Maharaja Gulab Singh]]. His grandfather Hamir Singh and father [[Subedar]] Lakha Singh were both war veterans. Rajinder Singh was brought up by an uncle, Lt. Colonel Govind Singh, since he was a small child. Singh passed out from Prince of Wales College (now [[Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College|GGM Science College]]) in Jammu in 1921.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Chib|first=S. S.|date=8 December 2001|title=The valiant Dogra who saved the 'paradise on earth'|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011208/windows/main4.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219172040/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011208/windows/main4.htm|archive-date=19 February 2018|access-date=2020-08-21|website=The Tribune India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 June 2017|title=Brig Rajinder Singh among greatest Dogra warriors: MLC|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/brig-rajinder-singh-among-greatest-dogra-warriors-mlc-422351|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Tribune India|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Military career ==<br />
Rajinder Singh was commissioned on 14 June 1921, in to the [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]] as a Second Lieutenant. On 25 September 1947, he took over charge as Chief of Army Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces from Major General H. L. Scott.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Prasad|first=Shankar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Wxsgt6_0TYC&q=maha+vir+chakra+rajinder+singh+dogra&pg=PA321|title=The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment|date=2005|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-81-7062-268-0|location=|pages=95|language=en}}</ref><br />
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=== Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 ===<br />
In September 1947, Pakistan started making preparations for raids into Kashmir, with the aim of capturing Srinagar. On the night of October 21/22, a large number of Pakistani regulars and tribal irregulars gathered near [[Muzaffarabad|Muzzafarabad]].<ref name=":0" /> They were successful in instigating the Muslim soldiers of the 4th J&K Battalion of [[Maharaja Hari Singh]]'s army that was based in the town. The Muslim soldiers rebelled, killing Wazir-e-wazarat Duni Chand Mehta & Col.Narain Singh Sambyal in charge and all the other all Dogra soldiers at the base.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{cite web|last=Jamwal|first=Ayushman Singh|date=29 October 2017|title=Brigadier Rajinder Singh:India's Unsung War Hero|url=https://www.news18.com/news/immersive/indias-unsung-hero.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 August 2020|website=CNN-News18|quote=...independent India’s first war hero, my great granduncle – Brigadier Rajinder Singh...}}</ref> This left the 180&nbsp;km route to Srinagar unguarded, however instead of moving on towards Srinagar, the raiders from Pakistan raided Muzaffarabad. News of the raid only reached the Maharaja the next day. On 22 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh gave his Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier Rajinder Singh, the order to defend the state until Indian troops arrived, that he should fight till death in doing so, "save the state till the last man and the last bullet".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> [[Karan Singh]] was present in the room when Hari Singh gave Brigadier Rajinder Singh the command and remembers the incident, "Brigadier Rajinder Singh was given the order by my father and he just saluted and walked away."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Digvijaya|date=2018-10-24|title=Brig. Rajinder Singh – The Man Who Saved Kashmir In The 1947 War|url=https://himalayansentinel.com/brig-rajinder-singh-the-man-who-saved-kashmir/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Himalayan Sentinel|language=en|quote="Lt. Gen. L.P. Sen writes about Brigadier Rajinder Singh in his book Slender Was The Thread (Kashmir Confrontation 1947-48): "Available to him in Badami Bagh Cantonment was a total of 1,850 officers and men of the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces of whom 500 were Poonchie Muslims. In view of what had taken place, he may have lost faith in the latter and decided not to put their loyalty to the test.""}}</ref><br />
<br />
With 150-260{{Efn|Various sources give different figures between 150 and 260 men: only about 150 men;<ref name=":0" /> 150 men;<ref name=":5" /> around 200 soldiers;<ref name=":2" /> 200;<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baines|first1=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KIZyylRibYsC&q=brigadier+rajinder+singh&pg=PA38|title=A Slender Thread: An Anthology of Short Shories|last2=Keyte|first2=Brian|date=1987|publisher=Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Education Centre|isbn=|location=|pages=37|language=en}}</ref> 260 men.<ref name=Jasbir/>|name=|group=}} men and officers from [[Badami Bagh|Badami Bagh cantonment]] and nearby establishments, equipped with out-dated weapons (though some accounts add that the Brigadier had two 3-inch mortars and MMGs),<ref name="Jasbir">{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Jasbir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwSqCQAAQBAJ&q=brig+Rajinder+Singh&pg=PA15|title=Roar of the Tiger: Illustrated History of Operations in Kashmir by 4th Battalion The Kumaon Regt in 1965 War|date=2013-04-25|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-82573-58-6|location=|pages=14–16|language=en}}</ref> and using private vehicles, Brigadier Rajinder left Sringar at 6:30 pm and reached Uri at 2 am on 23 October 1947. Brigadier Rajinder Singh moved on with a small platoon, and after fighting raiders in Garhi, he soon realized that his force was greatly outnumbered against the raiders who also had superior weapons.<ref name=":0" /><br />
<br />
On 23 October, Hari Singh sent a command to Brigadier Rajinder Singh through Captain Jwala Singh, "Brigadier Rajinder Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Reinforcement is sent with Capt Jwala Singh...". On 24 October Captain Jwala Singh arrived with a small number of reinforcements, numbering less than 100 men. Brigadier Rajinder Singh ordered the destruction of bridges to slow down the raiders. However Rajinder Singh's men had to fall further back to Mahura for another defensive position, reaching Mahura at 10 pm. The defense at Mahura held when the enemy decided to resume the attack on the morning of 25 October. Rajinder Singh, also ordered men to blow up the bridges upstream but before the bridges could be destroyed, some raiders had already crossed over. Rajinder Singh once again ordered his men to fall back, moving them to Rampur, where defensive positions were created throughout the night. On the morning of the 26th the enemy launched another attack. The defence held effectively again, and the raiders movement was again halted. At dusk Brigadier Singh ordered a withdrawal towards Baramulla. At 1 am on 27 October the retreating vehicles were attacked at Diwan Mandir, [[Boniyar]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=L. P.|date=2019-08-11|title=In 1947, Gandhi told Lt Gen Sen that wars were inhuman, but to fight for Kashmir with all means|url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/in-1947-gandhi-told-lt-gen-sen-that-wars-were-inhuman-but-to-fight-for-kashmir-by-all-means/273779/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|quote="That position was held by the Chief of Staff, who, unfortunately, had been killed at Diwan Mandir."}}</ref> and the convoy halted. The Brigadier's driver was soon killed so the Brigadier drove himself; however soon after he was also mortally wounded. The Brigadier ordered his men to continue ahead with the planned defensive strategy, and leave him where he was. Nothing more was heard of Brigadier Rajinder Singh. His men continued the fight until the next day, but nearly all were killed soon after. However the delay the Brigadier and his men caused the raiders, a delay of nearly 4 days, was enough for diplomatic decisions to be taken and for the Indian Army to arrive.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Jasbir" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Cardozo|first=Major General Ian|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9ymBAAAQBAJ&q=maha+vir+chakra+rajender+singh&pg=PT31|title=Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle|date=2003-12-31|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-93-5194-029-6|location=|pages=|language=en|chapter=1947-48 War in Jammu and Kashmir, Battle for the Valley}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravorty|first=B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9oZUDwAAQBAJ|title=Stories of Heroism|publisher=Historical Section, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|year=1987|isbn=978-81-230-2594-0|location=|pages=18–19|language=en|quote="At Uri, the Jammu and Kashmir troops, under Brig. Rajendra Singh, fought bravely against the invaders, but had to retreat towards Baramula as they ran short of ammunition. The Brigadier and his soldiers perished almost to the last man, fighting gallantly against the superior force of the enemy. He and his handful of men thus held up thousands of enemy raiders for four most valuable days and were instrumental in saving the Kashmir Valley from pillage and plunder."}}</ref><br />
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=== Maha Vir Chakra ===<br />
On 30 December 1949, for his act of gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajinder Singh was posthumously awarded India's first Maha Vir Chakra. His wife, Ram Dei, received the medal from Army Chief Field Marshall [[K.M. Cariappa]].<ref name=":0" /> The citation reads:<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|Immediately after the partition of the Indian Sub continent in 1947, thousands of raiders assisted by Pakistani regulars invaded the State of Jammu & Kashmir all along its border. The Jammu & Kashmir State Forces, stretched along a 550-mile long border deployed in penn-packets with limited arms, ammunition and supplies, without road communications, and heavily-outnumbered, fought tenaciously holding on to their positions. Kohla-Domel garrison fell to the invaders on 22 October 1947. The fate of the Valley as of the whole State hung precariously on a slender thread.<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajender Singh, Chief of Military Staff, took over the command of a relief column and proceeded to check the raiders. Another column with all available troops (nearly 100) was despatched on 23 Oct 1947 to join Brigadier Rajender Singh with orders from Maharaja Hari Singh, C-in-C as follows:-<br />
"Brigadier Rajender Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Reinforcement is sent with Capt Jwala Singh ......."<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajender Singh and his band of soldiers carried out the orders of the Maharaja to the letter and spirit. Fighting bravely for every inch of land, they delayed enemy advance by two crucial days during which important decisions were taken. The Indian Army joined the fight and the J&K State was thus saved for India by Brigadier Rajender Singh. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life on 26 October 1947 valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders in Uri-Rampur sector.|author=|title=|source=Gazette Notification: 2 Pres 50, 26.1.50<ref>{{cite web |title=Brig Rajendra Singh, MVC |url=http://twdi.in/node/1455 |website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128015851/http://twdi.in/node/1455 |archive-date=28 January 2020}}</ref>}}<br />
<br />
== Legacy ==<br />
For his valiant [[rearguard]] [[Last stand|last-stand]] actions, Brigadier Rajinder Singh is remembered as the "Saviour of Kashmir".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 October 2015|title=Saviour of Kashmir remembered|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/saviour-of-kashmir-remembered-150902|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=26 October 2017|title=Jammu remember 'Saviour of Kashmir', Brig Rajinder Singh|work=United News of India (UNI)|url=http://www.uniindia.com/jammu-remembers-saviour-of-kashmir--brig-rajinder-singh/states/news/1028691.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Col NN|date=16–31 December 2015|title=Rich Tributes Paid to Saviour of Kashmir|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2015/dec16-15/Sainik%20E-book%20English%20HTML%2016-31%20December/mobile/index.html#p=30|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=[[Sainik Samachar]]}}</ref> [[V. P. Menon|V.P. Menon]], an Indian civil servant, had said of Brigadier Rajinder:<ref>{{Cite web|title=The four eventful days that decided the fate of Kashmir - Raid on Kashmir (last week of 1947)|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/the-four-eventful-days-that-decided-the-fate-of-kashmir/the-gallant-300/slideshow/70555207.cms|access-date=2020-08-20|website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lal|first=Dr Makkhan|date=2018-07-04|title=Kashmir, Nehru's Idealism and Article 370|url=https://www.vifindia.org/article/2018/july/kashmir-nehru-s-idealism-and-article-370|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-20|website=VIF India|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
{{Quote|text="He and his colleagues will live in history like gallant [[Leonidas I|Leonidas]] and his 300 men who held the [[Battle of Thermopylae|Persian invaders at Thermopylae]]. It was but appropriate that when the Maha Vira Chakra decoration was instituted the first award should have been given (posthumously) to this heroic soldier."|author=|title=|source=}}<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajinder's native hometown of Bagoona has been renamed as Rajinderpura. A park in Bagoona, Samba and Canal head Jammu have been named after Singh, called the "Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial Park" and Jammu city has paid tribute by renaming shopping road/street "Rajinder Bazar" in his honor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=Saviour of Kashmir's birth anniversary celebrated at Bagoona|url=http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=29800|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Scoop News|location=Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=BJP paid rich triubets to Brigadier Rajinder Singh on his 114th birth anniversary|url=http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=13893|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Scoop News|location=Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref> Both Brigadier Rajinder's birthday, 14 June, and day of martyrdom, 26 October, are celebrated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-06-14|title=119th birth anniversary of Brig Rajinder Singh celebrated|url=http://www.thenorthlines.com/119th-birth-anniversary-of-brig-rajinder-singh-celebrated/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Northlines|location=Samba|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-10-26|title=Rich tributes paid to Brigadier Rajinder Singh|url=http://www.thenorthlines.com/rich-tributes-paid-to-brigadier-rajinder-singh/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Northlines|location=Jammu Tawi|language=en-US}}</ref> Locals honour Rajinder Singh's birth anniversary every year in his hometown.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=15 June 2020|title=Brig Rajinder Singh's supreme sacrifice kept J&K united with India: Manjit|url=https://news.statetimes.in/brig-rajinder-singhs-supreme-sacrifice-kept-jk-united-with-india-manjit/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=JKFFA pays tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh on his birth anniversary|url=http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=293390|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Early Times|location=Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2018|title=Tributes paid to 1947 hero Brigadier-Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/jk-tributes-paid-1947-hero-brigadier-rajinder-singh-1502648489.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 August 2020|website=The Statesman}}</ref> On 26 October 2018, the [[Government of Jammu and Kashmir]] and the Indian Army paid tributes at 'Brigadier Rajinder Singh Chowk' in Jammu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 April 2020|others=PTI|title=J-K govt Army pay tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/10/26/nrg22-jk-tributes.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref> [[University of Jammu]] has an auditorium named after the Brigadier,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 November 2018|title=IIPA organizes 17th Veeranna Aivalli Memorial Debate|url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2018/11/27/iipa-organizes-17th-veeranna-aivalli-memorial-debate/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Kashmir Images Newspaper|language=en-US}}</ref> while two schools in Samba district are also named after the Brigadier.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2018|title=Brigadier Rajinder Singh remembered|url=https://news.statetimes.in/brigadier-rajinder-singh-remembered/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><br />
<br />
''[[Sainik Samachar]]'' reported that on 24 October 2018 a bust of Brigadier Rajindra Singh, presented by his family, was unveiled at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Also at Badami Bagh Cantonment is the Rajindra Villa, now the Signal Regiment Officers' Mess.<ref name=":3" /> The entrance of the cantonment is also named after Rajinder Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-26|title=Army pays tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/army-pays-tributes-to-brig-rajinder-singh/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Greater Kashmir|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Sainik Samachar'' also reported that the family visited Boniyar to pay homage at the Memorial where Brigadier Rajindra Singh died fighting.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1-15 November 2018|title=Bust of Late Brigadier Rajinder Singh, MVC, Unveiled|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2018/nov01-18/Sainik%20E-book%20English%20HTML%201-15%20November/mobile/index.html#p=31|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=[[Sainik Samachar]]}}</ref> Over the years there have been calls to posthumously honour the Brigadier with India's highest gallantry award, the [[Param Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-10-25|title=Announce "Param Vir Chakra" for Brig Rajender Singh: NPP|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/announce-param-vir-chakra-for-brig-rajender-singh-npp/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Daily Excelsior|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 October 2017|others=PTI|title=JKNPP demands Param Vir Chakra for Brig Rajendra Singh|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/jknpp-demands-param-vir-chakra-for-brig-rajendra-singh-1072748-2017-10-25|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Saxena|first=Hori Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DswBAAAAMAAJ&q=brig+Rajinder+Singh+Jamwal|title=The Tragedy of Kashmir|date=1975|publisher=Nationalist Publishers|isbn=|location=|pages=520|language=en}}</ref> In 1999, at the Rajinder Singh Pura Memorial, [[George Fernandes]], the then [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]], had said "I am in agreement [...] that he should have been given [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 June 2019|title=Brig Rajinder Singh Jayanti to be celebrated on June 14th|url=https://www.thenorthernherald.com/newsdetail/4791/jammu/brig-rajinder-singh-jayanti-to-be-celebrated-on-june-14th|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=The Northern Herald}}</ref><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
== Further reading ==<br />
<br />
* Shankar Prasad (2005). [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Gallant_Dogras/_Wxsgt6_0TYC?hl=en&gbpv=0 The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment.] pp 94 – 97. ''Lancer Publishers with the Dogra Regimental Centre''. {{ISBN|9788170622680|}}<br />
* K. Brahma Singh (1990). [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/History_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir_Rifles_1820/psTeAAAAMAAJ History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956]. pp 234 – 236. ''Lancer International''. {{ISBN|9788170620914|}}<br />
* Major K.C. Praval (1987) [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Indian_Army_After_Independence/DdxDcxj_wn4C Indian Army After Independence]. pp 23. ''Lancer Publishers LLC''. {{ISBN|9781935501619|}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
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* [https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/rajendra-singh-1 Official Government of India website for gallantry awards (gallantryawards.gov.in) entry]<br />
* [https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=mMfE2mo6xQ88DMm5s8SLWw==&ParentID=hroGq23U22SEKcVx9PgaKQ== List of Maha Vir Chakra awardees on the official website of the Indian Army (SNO 1)]<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Rajendra}}<br />
[[Category:1899 births]]<br />
[[Category:1947 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian military personnel]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]]<br />
[[Category:People from Samba district]]</div>2409:4063:2112:164D:0:0:7A6:38A5https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rajinder_Singh_(brigadier)&diff=367714Rajinder Singh (brigadier)2022-10-26T19:04:39Z<p>2409:4063:2112:164D:0:0:7A6:38A5: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.</p>
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<div>{{short description|Army officer}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2022}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}<br />
{{Infobox officeholder<br />
| honorific_prefix = [[Brigadier]]<br />
| name = Rajinder Singh<br />
| honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (posthumous)<br />
| image = Brigadier Rajendra Singh 1999 stamp of India.jpg<br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = 14 June 1899<ref name=bio>[http://twdi.in/node/1236 Brig Rajendra Singh, MVC @ TWDI]. Twdi.in. Retrieved on 27 November 2018.</ref><br />
| death_date = 26/27 October 1947 (aged 48)<br />
| birth_place = Bagoona, [[Jammu district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] {{small|(Present-day Rajinderpura, [[Samba district]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]])}}<br />
| death_place = [[Boniyar]]<br />
| allegiance = [[File:Flag of Jammu and Kashmir (1936-1953).svg|23px]] [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]<br />
| branch = [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]]<br />
| serviceyears = 1921–1947<br />
| rank = [[File:Brigadier of the Indian Army.svg|20px]] [[Brigadier]]<br />
| battles = {{plainlist|<br />
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]<br />
}}<br />
| office = Chief of Military Staff<br />
| monarch = [[Hari Singh]]<br />
| primeminister = [[Janak Singh]],<br/> [[Mehr Chand Mahajan]]<br />
| term_start = 25 September 1947<br />
| term_end = 27 October 1947{{KIA}}<br />
| predecessor = [[Henry Lawrence Scott]]<br />
| successor = <br />
| awards = [[File:Maha Vir Chakra ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Maha Vir Chakra]]<br />
| children = 5 daughters; 1 son<ref name=bio /><br />
}}<br />
[[Brigadier]] '''Rajinder Singh Jamwal''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] (14 June 1899 – 26/27 October 1947), also remembered as the '''Saviour of Kashmir''', was an officer in the [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]]. He briefly served as the Chief of Staff of State Forces and died fighting during the [[First Kashmir War]]. Rajinder Singh and his small contingent of about 200 men successfully delayed the advance of a much larger force of [[Pakistani tribal invasion of Kashmir|Pakistani tribal raiders]] near [[Uri, Jammu and Kashmir|Uri]] for several days, during which the Maharaja of Kashmir acceded to India and the Indian forces air-lifted for the defence of Kashmir.<br />
<br />
On 30 December 1949, he was posthumously awarded [[Maha Vir Chakra]], independent India’s second highest military decoration. He was the first Indian to receive the honour.<br />
<br />
== Early life ==<br />
Rajinder Singh was born on 14 June 1899 in Bagoona village (now Rajinderpura, [[Samba district]]) in a military [[Dogra Rajput]] family.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jamwal|first=Ayushman|date=2016-08-15|title=The 1947 War Hero Who Sacrificed His Life For Kashmir|url=https://www.thequint.com/voices/blogs/brigadier-rajinder-singh-the-1947-war-hero-who-sacrificed-his-life-for-kashmir|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Brig Rajinder Singh among greatest Dogra warriors: MLC|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/brig-rajinder-singh-among-greatest-dogra-warriors-mlc-422351|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First war hero of Independent India: Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://news.statetimes.in/first-war-hero-of-independent-india-brig-rajinder-singh/|access-date=2020-09-18|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dogra honor demeaned - Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir|url=http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=278998|access-date=2020-09-18|website=www.earlytimes.in}}</ref> His ancestor General Baj Singh had died serving under [[Maharaja Gulab Singh]]. His grandfather Hamir Singh and father [[Subedar]] Lakha Singh were both war veterans. Rajinder Singh was brought up by an uncle, Lt. Colonel Govind Singh, since he was a small child. Singh passed out from Prince of Wales College (now [[Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College|GGM Science College]]) in Jammu in 1921.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Chib|first=S. S.|date=8 December 2001|title=The valiant Dogra who saved the 'paradise on earth'|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011208/windows/main4.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219172040/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011208/windows/main4.htm|archive-date=19 February 2018|access-date=2020-08-21|website=The Tribune India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 June 2017|title=Brig Rajinder Singh among greatest Dogra warriors: MLC|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/j-k/brig-rajinder-singh-among-greatest-dogra-warriors-mlc-422351|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Tribune India|language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Military career ==<br />
Rajinder Singh was commissioned on 14 June 1921, in to the [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]] as a Second Lieutenant. On 25 September 1947, he took over charge as Chief of Army Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces from Major General H. L. Scott.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Prasad|first=Shankar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Wxsgt6_0TYC&q=maha+vir+chakra+rajinder+singh+dogra&pg=PA321|title=The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment|date=2005|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-81-7062-268-0|location=|pages=95|language=en}}</ref><br />
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=== Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 ===<br />
In September 1947, Pakistan started making preparations for raids into Kashmir, with the aim of capturing Srinagar. On the night of October 21/22, a large number of Pakistani regulars and tribal irregulars gathered near [[Muzaffarabad|Muzzafarabad]].<ref name=":0" /> They were successful in instigating the Muslim soldiers of the 4th J&K Battalion of [[Maharaja Hari Singh]]'s army that was based in the town. The Muslim soldiers rebelled, killing Wazir-e-wazarat Duni Chand Mehta & Col.Narain Singh Sambyal in charge and all the other all Dogra soldiers at the base.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{cite web|last=Jamwal|first=Ayushman Singh|date=29 October 2017|title=Brigadier Rajinder Singh:India's Unsung War Hero|url=https://www.news18.com/news/immersive/indias-unsung-hero.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 August 2020|website=CNN-News18|quote=...independent India’s first war hero, my great granduncle – Brigadier Rajinder Singh...}}</ref> This left the 180&nbsp;km route to Srinagar unguarded, however instead of moving on towards Srinagar, the raiders from Pakistan raided Muzaffarabad. News of the raid only reached the Maharaja the next day. On 22 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh gave his Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier Rajinder Singh, the order to defend the state until Indian troops arrived, that he should fight till death in doing so, "save the state till the last man and the last bullet".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> [[Karan Singh]] was present in the room when Hari Singh gave Brigadier Rajinder Singh the command and remembers the incident, "Brigadier Rajinder Singh was given the order by my father and he just saluted and walked away."<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Digvijaya|date=2018-10-24|title=Brig. Rajinder Singh – The Man Who Saved Kashmir In The 1947 War|url=https://himalayansentinel.com/brig-rajinder-singh-the-man-who-saved-kashmir/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Himalayan Sentinel|language=en|quote="Lt. Gen. L.P. Sen writes about Brigadier Rajinder Singh in his book Slender Was The Thread (Kashmir Confrontation 1947-48): "Available to him in Badami Bagh Cantonment was a total of 1,850 officers and men of the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces of whom 500 were Poonchie Muslims. In view of what had taken place, he may have lost faith in the latter and decided not to put their loyalty to the test.""}}</ref><br />
<br />
With 150-260{{Efn|Various sources give different figures between 150 and 260 men: only about 150 men;<ref name=":0" /> 150 men;<ref name=":5" /> around 200 soldiers;<ref name=":2" /> 200;<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baines|first1=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KIZyylRibYsC&q=brigadier+rajinder+singh&pg=PA38|title=A Slender Thread: An Anthology of Short Shories|last2=Keyte|first2=Brian|date=1987|publisher=Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind Education Centre|isbn=|location=|pages=37|language=en}}</ref> 260 men.<ref name=Jasbir/>|name=|group=}} men and officers from [[Badami Bagh|Badami Bagh cantonment]] and nearby establishments, equipped with out-dated weapons (though some accounts add that the Brigadier had two 3-inch mortars and MMGs),<ref name="Jasbir">{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Jasbir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwSqCQAAQBAJ&q=brig+Rajinder+Singh&pg=PA15|title=Roar of the Tiger: Illustrated History of Operations in Kashmir by 4th Battalion The Kumaon Regt in 1965 War|date=2013-04-25|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-82573-58-6|location=|pages=14–16|language=en}}</ref> and using private vehicles, Brigadier Rajinder left Sringar at 6:30 pm and reached Uri at 2 am on 23 October 1947. Brigadier Rajinder Singh moved on with a small platoon, and after fighting raiders in Garhi, he soon realized that his force was greatly outnumbered against the raiders who also had superior weapons.<ref name=":0" /><br />
<br />
On 23 October, Hari Singh sent a command to Brigadier Rajinder Singh through Captain Jwala Singh, "Brigadier Rajinder Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Reinforcement is sent with Capt Jwala Singh...". On 24 October Captain Jwala Singh arrived with a small number of reinforcements, numbering less than 100 men. Brigadier Rajinder Singh ordered the destruction of bridges to slow down the raiders. However Rajinder Singh's men had to fall further back to Mahura for another defensive position, reaching Mahura at 10 pm. The defense at Mahura held when the enemy decided to resume the attack on the morning of 25 October. Rajinder Singh, also ordered men to blow up the bridges upstream but before the bridges could be destroyed, some raiders had already crossed over. Rajinder Singh once again ordered his men to fall back, moving them to Rampur, where defensive positions were created throughout the night. On the morning of the 26th the enemy launched another attack. The defence held effectively again, and the raiders movement was again halted. At dusk Brigadier Singh ordered a withdrawal towards Baramulla. At 1 am on 27 October the retreating vehicles were attacked at Diwan Mandir, [[Boniyar]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sen|first=L. P.|date=2019-08-11|title=In 1947, Gandhi told Lt Gen Sen that wars were inhuman, but to fight for Kashmir with all means|url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/in-1947-gandhi-told-lt-gen-sen-that-wars-were-inhuman-but-to-fight-for-kashmir-by-all-means/273779/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|quote="That position was held by the Chief of Staff, who, unfortunately, had been killed at Diwan Mandir."}}</ref> and the convoy halted. The Brigadier's driver was soon killed so the Brigadier drove himself; however soon after he was also mortally wounded. The Brigadier ordered his men to continue ahead with the planned defensive strategy, and leave him where he was. Nothing more was heard of Brigadier Rajinder Singh. His men continued the fight until the next day, but nearly all were killed soon after. However the delay the Brigadier and his men caused the raiders, a delay of nearly 4 days, was enough for diplomatic decisions to be taken and for the Indian Army to arrive.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Jasbir" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Cardozo|first=Major General Ian|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9ymBAAAQBAJ&q=maha+vir+chakra+rajender+singh&pg=PT31|title=Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle|date=2003-12-31|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-93-5194-029-6|location=|pages=|language=en|chapter=1947-48 War in Jammu and Kashmir, Battle for the Valley}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakravorty|first=B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9oZUDwAAQBAJ|title=Stories of Heroism|publisher=Historical Section, Ministry of Defence, Government of India|year=1987|isbn=978-81-230-2594-0|location=|pages=18–19|language=en|quote="At Uri, the Jammu and Kashmir troops, under Brig. Rajendra Singh, fought bravely against the invaders, but had to retreat towards Baramula as they ran short of ammunition. The Brigadier and his soldiers perished almost to the last man, fighting gallantly against the superior force of the enemy. He and his handful of men thus held up thousands of enemy raiders for four most valuable days and were instrumental in saving the Kashmir Valley from pillage and plunder."}}</ref><br />
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=== Maha Vir Chakra ===<br />
On 30 December 1949, for his act of gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajinder Singh was posthumously awarded India's first Maha Vir Chakra. His wife, Ram Dei, received the medal from Army Chief Field Marshall [[K.M. Cariappa]].<ref name=":0" /> The citation reads:<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|Immediately after the partition of the Indian Sub continent in 1947, thousands of raiders assisted by Pakistani regulars invaded the State of Jammu & Kashmir all along its border. The Jammu & Kashmir State Forces, stretched along a 550-mile long border deployed in penn-packets with limited arms, ammunition and supplies, without road communications, and heavily-outnumbered, fought tenaciously holding on to their positions. Kohla-Domel garrison fell to the invaders on 22 October 1947. The fate of the Valley as of the whole State hung precariously on a slender thread.<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajender Singh, Chief of Military Staff, took over the command of a relief column and proceeded to check the raiders. Another column with all available troops (nearly 100) was despatched on 23 Oct 1947 to join Brigadier Rajender Singh with orders from Maharaja Hari Singh, C-in-C as follows:-<br />
"Brigadier Rajender Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man. Reinforcement is sent with Capt Jwala Singh ......."<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajender Singh and his band of soldiers carried out the orders of the Maharaja to the letter and spirit. Fighting bravely for every inch of land, they delayed enemy advance by two crucial days during which important decisions were taken. The Indian Army joined the fight and the J&K State was thus saved for India by Brigadier Rajender Singh. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life on 26 October 1947 valiantly fighting the Pakistani raiders in Uri-Rampur sector.|author=|title=|source=Gazette Notification: 2 Pres 50, 26.1.50<ref>{{cite web |title=Brig Rajendra Singh, MVC |url=http://twdi.in/node/1455 |website=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=23 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128015851/http://twdi.in/node/1455 |archive-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>}}<br />
<br />
== Legacy ==<br />
For his valiant [[rearguard]] [[Last stand|last-stand]] actions, Brigadier Rajinder Singh is remembered as the "Saviour of Kashmir".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 October 2015|title=Saviour of Kashmir remembered|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/saviour-of-kashmir-remembered-150902|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=26 October 2017|title=Jammu remember 'Saviour of Kashmir', Brig Rajinder Singh|work=United News of India (UNI)|url=http://www.uniindia.com/jammu-remembers-saviour-of-kashmir--brig-rajinder-singh/states/news/1028691.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Col NN|date=16–31 December 2015|title=Rich Tributes Paid to Saviour of Kashmir|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2015/dec16-15/Sainik%20E-book%20English%20HTML%2016-31%20December/mobile/index.html#p=30|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=[[Sainik Samachar]]}}</ref> [[V. P. Menon|V.P. Menon]], an Indian civil servant, had said of Brigadier Rajinder:<ref>{{Cite web|title=The four eventful days that decided the fate of Kashmir - Raid on Kashmir (last week of 1947)|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/the-four-eventful-days-that-decided-the-fate-of-kashmir/the-gallant-300/slideshow/70555207.cms|access-date=2020-08-20|website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lal|first=Dr Makkhan|date=2018-07-04|title=Kashmir, Nehru's Idealism and Article 370|url=https://www.vifindia.org/article/2018/july/kashmir-nehru-s-idealism-and-article-370|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-20|website=VIF India|language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
{{Quote|text="He and his colleagues will live in history like gallant [[Leonidas I|Leonidas]] and his 300 men who held the [[Battle of Thermopylae|Persian invaders at Thermopylae]]. It was but appropriate that when the Maha Vira Chakra decoration was instituted the first award should have been given (posthumously) to this heroic soldier."|author=|title=|source=}}<br />
<br />
Brigadier Rajinder's native hometown of Bagoona has been renamed as Rajinderpura. A park in Bagoona, Samba and Canal head Jammu have been named after Singh, called the "Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial Park" and Jammu city has paid tribute by renaming shopping road/street "Rajinder Bazar" in his honor.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=Saviour of Kashmir's birth anniversary celebrated at Bagoona|url=http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=29800|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Scoop News|location=Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=BJP paid rich triubets to Brigadier Rajinder Singh on his 114th birth anniversary|url=http://www.scoopnews.in/det.aspx?q=13893|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Scoop News|location=Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref> Both Brigadier Rajinder's birthday, 14 June, and day of martyrdom, 26 October, are celebrated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-06-14|title=119th birth anniversary of Brig Rajinder Singh celebrated|url=http://www.thenorthlines.com/119th-birth-anniversary-of-brig-rajinder-singh-celebrated/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Northlines|location=Samba|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2018-10-26|title=Rich tributes paid to Brigadier Rajinder Singh|url=http://www.thenorthlines.com/rich-tributes-paid-to-brigadier-rajinder-singh/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=Northlines|location=Jammu Tawi|language=en-US}}</ref> Locals honour Rajinder Singh's birth anniversary every year in his hometown.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=15 June 2020|title=Brig Rajinder Singh's supreme sacrifice kept J&K united with India: Manjit|url=https://news.statetimes.in/brig-rajinder-singhs-supreme-sacrifice-kept-jk-united-with-india-manjit/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2020|title=JKFFA pays tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh on his birth anniversary|url=http://www.earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=293390|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Early Times|location=Jammu and Kashmir}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2018|title=Tributes paid to 1947 hero Brigadier-Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/jk-tributes-paid-1947-hero-brigadier-rajinder-singh-1502648489.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 August 2020|website=The Statesman}}</ref> On 26 October 2018, the [[Government of Jammu and Kashmir]] and the Indian Army paid tributes at 'Brigadier Rajinder Singh Chowk' in Jammu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 April 2020|others=PTI|title=J-K govt Army pay tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/10/26/nrg22-jk-tributes.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=The Week|language=en}}</ref> [[University of Jammu]] has an auditorium named after the Brigadier,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 November 2018|title=IIPA organizes 17th Veeranna Aivalli Memorial Debate|url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2018/11/27/iipa-organizes-17th-veeranna-aivalli-memorial-debate/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Kashmir Images Newspaper|language=en-US}}</ref> while two schools in Samba district are also named after the Brigadier.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 June 2018|title=Brigadier Rajinder Singh remembered|url=https://news.statetimes.in/brigadier-rajinder-singh-remembered/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=State Times|language=en-GB}}</ref><br />
<br />
''[[Sainik Samachar]]'' reported that on 24 October 2018 a bust of Brigadier Rajindra Singh, presented by his family, was unveiled at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. Also at Badami Bagh Cantonment is the Rajindra Villa, now the Signal Regiment Officers' Mess.<ref name=":3" /> The entrance of the cantonment is also named after Rajinder Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-26|title=Army pays tributes to Brig Rajinder Singh|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/army-pays-tributes-to-brig-rajinder-singh/|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Greater Kashmir|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Sainik Samachar'' also reported that the family visited Boniyar to pay homage at the Memorial where Brigadier Rajindra Singh died fighting.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1-15 November 2018|title=Bust of Late Brigadier Rajinder Singh, MVC, Unveiled|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2018/nov01-18/Sainik%20E-book%20English%20HTML%201-15%20November/mobile/index.html#p=31|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-22|website=[[Sainik Samachar]]}}</ref> Over the years there have been calls to posthumously honour the Brigadier with India's highest gallantry award, the [[Param Vir Chakra]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2017-10-25|title=Announce "Param Vir Chakra" for Brig Rajender Singh: NPP|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/announce-param-vir-chakra-for-brig-rajender-singh-npp/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=Daily Excelsior|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=25 October 2017|others=PTI|title=JKNPP demands Param Vir Chakra for Brig Rajendra Singh|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/jknpp-demands-param-vir-chakra-for-brig-rajendra-singh-1072748-2017-10-25|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Saxena|first=Hori Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DswBAAAAMAAJ&q=brig+Rajinder+Singh+Jamwal|title=The Tragedy of Kashmir|date=1975|publisher=Nationalist Publishers|isbn=|location=|pages=520|language=en}}</ref> In 1999, at the Rajinder Singh Pura Memorial, [[George Fernandes]], the then [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]], had said "I am in agreement [...] that he should have been given [[Param Vir Chakra|PVC]]".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 June 2019|title=Brig Rajinder Singh Jayanti to be celebrated on June 14th|url=https://www.thenorthernherald.com/newsdetail/4791/jammu/brig-rajinder-singh-jayanti-to-be-celebrated-on-june-14th|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-23|website=The Northern Herald}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
== Further reading ==<br />
<br />
* Shankar Prasad (2005). [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Gallant_Dogras/_Wxsgt6_0TYC?hl=en&gbpv=0 The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment.] pp 94 – 97. ''Lancer Publishers with the Dogra Regimental Centre''. {{ISBN|9788170622680|}}<br />
* K. Brahma Singh (1990). [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/History_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir_Rifles_1820/psTeAAAAMAAJ History of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, 1820-1956]. pp 234 – 236. ''Lancer International''. {{ISBN|9788170620914|}}<br />
* Major K.C. Praval (1987) [https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Indian_Army_After_Independence/DdxDcxj_wn4C Indian Army After Independence]. pp 23. ''Lancer Publishers LLC''. {{ISBN|9781935501619|}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
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* [https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/rajendra-singh-1 Official Government of India website for gallantry awards (gallantryawards.gov.in) entry]<br />
* [https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=mMfE2mo6xQ88DMm5s8SLWw==&ParentID=hroGq23U22SEKcVx9PgaKQ== List of Maha Vir Chakra awardees on the official website of the Indian Army (SNO 1)]<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Rajendra}}<br />
[[Category:1899 births]]<br />
[[Category:1947 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian military personnel]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]]<br />
[[Category:People from Samba district]]</div>2409:4063:2112:164D:0:0:7A6:38A5