Mendhar Sector, J&K: 02 November 1965: The locality, OP Hill!

By: M S Nazki

One man that was to prove that to die for one’s country, is to live forever! Remember the namae Nk. Darshan Singh on whose name the great Darshan Dwar came up in Mendhar!

-‘Lt Col Bhagat Singh faced odds in an exemplary manner, first in Mandi Valley and then during the Battle of OP Hill in Mendhar Valley, where it captured a Ground of tactical importance in a Brigade Attack. 7 SIKH earned the coveted Theater Honor of J and K 1965 and Battle Honor of OP Hill 1965.’

 

OP Hill was a Border Observation Post within the Bhimber Gali – Mendhar Sector, 20 kilometers south west of Poonch and this Observation Post (OP) was being utilized by the Pakistani military to direct the correct artillery fireplace. Commissioned on twenty eighth July 1948, to the Sikh Regiment. It had to be taken out and it was and one man stood out! Naik Darshan Singh 7 Sikh Regiment!’

‘When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back. ― Alexander the Great’

-‘Wherever battles are waged there are casualties, and death is a common occurrence. But what is closest to our hearts is the best interest of the people and the suffering of the vast majority, and when we die for the people, it is an honorable death. Nevertheless we should do our best to avoid unnecessary casualties’ That is what the Indian Army believes and that is what was shown in the bigger canvas at the Op Hill, one of the finest battles fought by the Indian Army!’

-‘The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) (great warrior medal) is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It replaced the British Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The medal may be awarded posthumously. The great soldier Nk. Darshan Singh got it posthumously but the spectacular display of courage under fire and chivalry on Hill that day was absolutely majestic! A task had to be done and it was done with clinical precision!’-

‘-Naik Darshan Singh was commander of a leading section in Mendhar Sector in J&K. On the night of 2nd November 1965, He was ordered to clear a heavily defended bunker along with his regiment. His approach layover a most difficult and steep terrain, which was extensively mined, and completely dominated by small arms fire. It was not an easy task and it had to be done with stealth to take the enemy sitting on the top as the enemy thought none cold approach the Observation Post Hill from the route which Darshan had opted for! It was a stunner and a sucker punch for the enemy and the winner that night could only be one and that had to be the Indian Army! It was and it had to happen that way!’

-‘With the backdrop of development of 1947-48, when Pakistan occupied some areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan tried its luck again in 1965 by sending across an amalgam of regular troops but this time without the looters, plunderers and rapist tribesmen. They were trained men of all hues, of various armed organizations, with army personnel as their leaders.’

-‘Again it was the idiotic reverie in which Pakistan went into as the Generals there thought that the Muslim population of the State, particularly in Kashmir Valley and Poonch area would rise in revolt against the Indian Government and support the infiltrators and intruders. Pakistan failed to understand the social vibes in the State, which were so clear in 1965. The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley and Poonch area gave a cold shoulder to Pakistan.’

-‘Calculations of then Pak strong man Ayub Khan ended up in a mishap of sorts as most of the intruders during 1965 Indo-Pak War were either captured or killed and only a lucky few could retrace their steps to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The story has been repeated time and again by Pakistani Generals and it is time that they should give up on the adventures that have ended in catastrophe for Pakistan over and over again!’

-‘It is said that a failed plan should not be backed again and again. One can find this dictum in any military manual! I still do not understand which manuals do the Pak Generals read? In 1965 they backed a failed plan and the final conclusion had to be a nemesis for the Pak army and it was by all means!’ Op Hill probably was the last nail in the coffin!

 

-‘I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. ― Alexander The Great (Perhaps the greatest Military General at the young age)’

Late Nk. Darshan Singh while he was leading his men in a charge on the enemy, his left leg was blown off by a mine, however, he continued to move forward and encouraged his men to carry on with the charge. While cutting wire obstacles, another mine exploded and he was severely wounded. He neglected his wounds and carried himself forward to an enemy bunker and threw a grenade into it. By his encouragement, the remaining men of his section charged and silenced the Pakistani enemy bunkers. In the process, his entire section had become casualties, but the men had cleared the way for the success of their company in the operations. This is what happened when the action began. The infantry man does this and he was true to the Nation where the last word always is, ‘pal you keep firing but I’m coming to you, if not me someone else will’! That was what the battle of OP Hill was all about!

Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. Darshan was leading perhaps the most risk prone assault where the wager was death screaming and calling the valorous into its lap to call an outrageously btave human into its lap for eternal sleep, on 02 November 1965 it was called Darshan! Darshan Singh died shouting to the follow-up of troops to come by the route, which had been cleared of mines by the charge of his section. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the success of his company and displayed courage and devotion to duty in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. That is what the men in Olive Greens are made of! He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra posthumously!

I The feat by the great Infantry Battalion the Seventh Sikh was simply out of the world!

In conducting operations against the unconventional enemy, a lot of readjustments of forces by own army was adopted. At times, certain momentary vacations, reverses and losses had to be accepted for achieving the major goal of defeating the designs of Pakistan and its army. 7 SIKH engaged Pakistani infiltrators in Mandi Valley, Poonch Sector in the 1965 War. The Battalion under the command of Lt Col Bhagat Singh, a mature, methodical and accomplished leader of men gave a very good account of itself in operations conducted against the enemy. Operationally covering a mountainous area, approximately 300 square kilometers covered with jungles and dealing with an entrenched enemy, single handedly in Mandi Valley, was not an easy task for an overstretched unit. The enemy advance was blunted by resolute Sikh troops at Gali Post, which was a police check post, located in a bowl and most unsuitable for defensive operations.

Troops held the enemy’s advance for eight days despite severe casualties and hardships. This newly-raised Battalion, whose most of the sub-units were commanded by junior but dedicated lot of officers, under the able guidance of Lt Col Bhagat Singh faced odds in an exemplary manner, first in Mandi Valley and then during the Battle of OP Hill in Mendhar Valley, where it captured a Ground of tactical importance in a Brigade Attack. 7 SIKH earned the coveted Theater Honor of J and K 1965 and Battle Honor of OP Hill 1965.

II. So not forget the heroes of OP. Hill!

‘A soldier’s treasure lies in his comrades facing the hail of bullets as they get to the heights to vanquish the enemy who has parked himself up there!’

In order to keep in mind the valour of the martyrs of Op Hill, Indian Army organized a memorial ceremony at Bhimber Gali (BG) Brigade headquarter to pay tributes to martyrs who laid their lives while defending the nation on November 2, 1965. Bhimber Gali Brigade paid big tributes to the spirit of Indian soldiers in a solemn ceremony. This was what my young friend Colonel Devendra Anand was speaking and he was not wrong. He also mentioned that Darshan Singh Dwar to honour Naik Darshan Singh, Maha Vir Chakra (Posthumously) was also inaugurated on the event.

I will end this piece with three great commandments of bravery and those are, one, there is nothing impossible to him who will try, the second, glory crowns the deeds of those who expose themselves to toils and dangers and three, each moment free from fear makes a man immortal;! Perhaps all the three the 7th Sikh man Nk. Darshan Singh had those embedded in his heart and soul! Truly a great soldier!