In 1947 Pakistan sent tribal irregulars into the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to capture it and accede it to Pakistan. Brig Mohammad Usman, then commanding the 77th Parachute Brigade, was sent to command the 50th Parachute Brigade, which was deployed at Jhangar in December 1947. On 25 December 1947, with the odds stacked heavily against the brigade, Pakistani forces captured Jhangar.......
Not many people must have heard
about Brigadier Mohammed Usman. He is known as the Lion of Nowshera for his
brave exploits in repulsing the enemy in the state of Jammu & Kashmir
fighting the invading Pakistan forces. Brigadier Mohammad Usman MVC was the
highest ranking officer of the Indian Army killed in action during the
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. As a Muslim, Usman became a symbol of India's
inclusive secularism, a true patriot.
He was born on 15 July 1912 in Uttar Pradesh and he died on 3 July 1948
in Nowshera in Kashmir. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallantry in
leading his forces and driving away the invading Pakistan army who launched an
attack on Kashmir to annex the state of Jammu & Kashmir. He also saw action
in World War II. He held the commands of 50 Para Brigade, 77 Para Brigade and
14/10 Baluch.
Brigadier Mohammad Usman was born on July 15, 1912,
in Bibipur in the Mau district of present-day state of Uttar Pradesh. Son of a police
officer Mr Mohammad Farooq Khunambir and Mrs Jamilun Bibi, Brig Usman had three
elder sisters, and two brothers, one of whom, Gufran, joined the Army, and also
rose to the rank of a brigadier. Brig Usman was brave boy who at a young age,
when just 12 years, he jumped into a well to save a drowning child. His father
wanted him to join the civil services, but he was destined to don the military
uniform and joined the Army.
Indians had begun to join the Army as commissioned
officers since 1920, though the competition was very tough, and only the scions
of the aristocracy or landed gentry were given preference. Though Brig Usman
did not belong to the preferred class, he applied for Sandhurst and got
selected, and in July 1932, sailed for England. In fact, this was the last
course at Sandhurst to which Indians were admitted since subsequent batches
joined the Indian Military Academy, which opened in Dehradun in the same year.
Brig Usman passed out from Sandhurst on 01 February 1934, along with ten other
Indians.
On 19 March 1935, as a young officer he was
appointed to the Indian Army and posted to the 5th battalion of the 10th Baluch
Regiment (5/10 Baluch). He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 April
1936 and Captain on 31 August 1941. In April 1944, he served in Burma and was
mentioned in dispatches as an acting Major in the London Gazette of 27
September 1945. He commanded the 14th battalion of the 10th Baluch Regiment
(14/10 Baluch) from April 1945 to April 1946. During the partition of India,
Brig Usman, being a Muslim officer in the Baluch Regiment, was under intense
pressure from the Pakistani leadership to opt for the Pakistan Army. However,
despite the fact he was promised a future position as the Pakistan Army Chief,
he was unconvinced and remained in India. And the Baluch Regiment was allotted
to Pakistan, Brig Usman was transferred to the Dogra Regiment.
Indo-Pak War: 1947- 48: In 1947 Pakistan sent tribal irregulars into the
princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to capture it and
accede it to Pakistan. Brig Mohammad Usman, then commanding the 77th Parachute
Brigade, was sent to command the 50th Parachute Brigade, which was
deployed at Jhangar in December 1947. On 25 December 1947, with the odds
stacked heavily against the brigade, Pakistani forces captured Jhangar. Located
at the junction of roads coming from Mirpur and Kotli, Jhangar
was of strategic importance. On that day Brig Usman took a vow to recapture
Jhangar a feat he accomplished three months later, but at the cost of his own
life.
In January–February 1948 Brig Usman repulsed fierce
attacks on Nowshera and Jhangar, both highly strategic locations in
Jammu and Kashmir. During the defence of Nowshera against overwhelming odds and
numbers, Indian forces inflicted around 2000 casualties on the Pakistanis
(about 1000 dead and 1000 wounded) while Indian forces suffered only 33 dead
and 102 wounded. His defence earned him the nickname Lion of Nowshera. Frustrated
Pakistani forces then announced a sum of Rs 50,000 as a prize for his head.
Unaffected by praise and congratulations, Brig 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 had to withdraw in late 1947.
The then astute Lieutenant General K M
Cariappa (later General and Chief of Army Staff and years after
retirement made Field Marshal), who had taken over as Western Army
Commander, brought his tactical headquarters forward to Jammu to
oversee the conduct of two important operations, namely the capture of Jhangar
and Poonch. The operations commenced in the last week of February 1948.
The 19th Infantry Brigade advanced along the northern ridge, while the 50th
Parachute Brigade cleared the hills dominating the Nowshera-Jhangar road in the
south.
The enemy was eventually driven from the area, and
Jhangar was recaptured. Pakistan brought its regular forces into the fray in
May 1948. Jhangar was once again subjected to heavy artillery bombardment, and
many determined attacks were launched on Jhangar by the Pakistan Army. However,
Brig Usman frustrated all their attempts to recapture it. It was during this
defence of Jhangar that Brig Usman was killed on July 3, 1948, by an enemy
25-pounder shell. He was 12 days short of his 36th birthday. His last words
were “I am dying but let not the territory we were fighting for fall for the
enemy”. For his inspiring leadership and great courage, he was awarded the Maha
Vir Chakra posthumously.
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and
his Cabinet colleagues attended the funeral of Usman. He was given a state
funeral as a martyr. A popular Indian journalist, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
wrote about his death, "a precious life, of imagination and unswerving
patriotism, has fallen a victim to communal fanaticism. Brigadier Usman's brave
example will be an abiding source of inspiration for Free India".
Serving with the Dogras in Burma, he had turned
into a vegetarian. He exhorted his men to keep a fast on Tuesdays so that the
food could be distributed to the villagers. A bachelor, a bulk of his salary
would be spent in providing education to poor children. He was religious yet a
staunch loyalist. On receiving reports that 50000 tribal marauders had taken
refuge at a mosque near Naushera and that our troops were hesitant in firing at
the religious structure, he reached there personally and ordered fire to be
opened, stating that the place no longer remained religious as it had been
occupied by marauders. Brigadier Mohammed Usman remains one of the greatest
soldiers and an inspiring military leader India has ever produced.
Usman was buried in the Okhla cemetery near
the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi. Film
directors Upender Sood and Ranjan Kumar Singh produced a film on Brigadier
Usman's life. In 2020, photos of the grave's defaced headstone were widely
circulated and triggered outrage on social media. This led several Army
veterans to condemn the dishonour done to his memory, ultimately leading the
Army to initiate the restoration of the vandalised grave. A memory to the brave
son of India that will inspire generations and remind them of his valor and
courage he displayed on the battlefield.
His birth centenary was celebrated in 2012 by the
Indian Army at Jhangar, Jammu and Kashmir. A Paramotor Expedition was
organized by Gorkha Training Centre in the memory of Brigadier Usman. He was a true patriot who laid down his life for
Kashmir and India. The present and coming generations should learn about the brave men who sacrificed their lives for the nation without thinking about their personal safety.
20 Indian firms in 500 most valuable globally, Reliance top: Hurun report
Apple, worth $2.4 trillion, is the most valuable
company, followed by Microsoft with a value of $1.8 trillion: 2022 Hurun Global
500 report
Twenty Indian companies, up eight from last year,
are among the 500 most-valuable ones in the world, a report released recently
showed. With a valuation of $202 billion, Reliance Industries was the
most valuable Indian company on the list. Globally, it was the 34th biggest
company. Apple, worth $2.4 trillion, was the most valuable company, followed by
Microsoft, with a value of $1.8 trillion.
In the last year, the top
500 companies of the world lost $11.1 trillion of their value, the
2022 Hurun Global 500 report released by Hurun Research Institute said.
"This year the Hurun Global 500 lost $11
trillion of value, losing all the value created last year but still $7 billion
ahead of where the Hurun Global 500 were two years ago," Rupert Hoogewerf,
chairman and chief researcher at Hurun India, said.
Tata Consultancy Services, valued at $139 billion,
was the second most valuable Indian company on the list.
Four companies of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Group featured in the
top 500. These were Adani Transmission, Adani Green, Adani Green Energy and Adani
Total Gas. At $63 billion, Adani Enterprises was the most valued
among these.
Saudi Aramco was the world's most valuable listed
state-controlled company, with a total value of $2.03 trillion. State Bank of
India (SBI), at $62 billion, and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC),
at $45 billion, were the two biggest state-owned Indian companies. These did
not feature in the list as they contained only non-state-controlled companies.
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Ganesha is the most revered deity in Maharashtra.
And the most popular being the Astavinayak, the pilgrimage of eight Ganeshas.
These are unique because it is believed the Ganesh deities here are
swayambhu (self generated) and not man made. Visiting the eight Ganesha
shrine is considered auspicious and can give you a life time of
blessings.....
Lord Ganesh is revered in Maharashtra and other
parts of India. Ashtavinayak, the eight pilgrim centres in the state of
Maharashtra is a must for Ganesh devotees as the of the shrines are considered
to be the incarnation of Lord Ganesh. These are Pali and Mahad in Raigad
district, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon,Theur and Moregaon in Pune district, and
Siddhatek in Ahmednagar district.
According to tradition, one must first visit the
Moreshwar temple at Morgaon and then in sequence visit the temples at
Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Thevur, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon and in last visit
the Moreshwar temple again. This will complete your Ashtavinayak Yatra.
While the Ashtavinayak yatra by road can be done in
two days, but many would recommend stretching it to three days to
really enjoy the beautiful country side, the food, the local cuisine along the
way. One could easily cover it by car, and tourist buses are available that
covers the Ashtavinayak. Hassle-free package tours are available through
numerous travel agents which cover all the 8 centres in 2 days. They take care
of the travelling and food. There are many luxury and semi-luxury buses
starting from Mumbai. Even mini-buses,
on rent private vehicals and taxis are available for groups and families.
Moreshwar is in Morgaon, (Pune District), is 68 km
from Pune on the Pune-Bangalore highway. You can travel by train and alight at
Nira or Kedgaon station on the Pune-Bangalore highway. (Regular buses ply from
the station). According to legend. Moreshwar Ganapati was riding a peacock, in
the form of Mayureshwara and was believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at
this spot.
Ballaleshwar is in Pali, (Kulaba District), 40
km from the Khopoli-Shil Phata road, off the Mumbai-Pune highway, about 11 km
before Nagothane on the Mumbai –Goa highway. The temple faces the east, the
idol with the trunk to the right.According to the legend, Ganesh is believed to
have saved his child-devotee, Ballala, who was beaten by villagers for his single-minded
devotion to the Lord. Moroba, the brother of Nana Phandnavis (the famed Peshva)
and Kaka Baburao, built the temple. A local citizen named Krishnaji Narayan
Ringe between 1824 and 1830 later renovated it later.
Varadavinayak is in Madh, (Kulaba District),
about three km off the Pune. Mumbai highway near Khopoli (80 km from Pune). The
idol has its trunk to the left. The Nandadeep here is always kept aflame continuously
and has been since 1892. The idol was found in the adjoining lake. It is
believed that Ganesha resides here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of
bounty and success. This temple was built between 1690 and 1720 by the Subhedar
of Kalyan,Ramaji Mahadev Biwalkar and presented to the village.
Chintamani is in Theur, (Pune District), 22 km from
Pune off the Pune-Solapur highway. The north facing temple has the idol
with the trunk to the left. Ganesha is believed to have got back the precious
Chinatamani jewel from the greedy Guna for sage Kapila here. It is believedMoraya
Gosavi attained his siddhis (spiritual powers) here. This temple was the
favourite temple of Shrimant Madhayarao Peshwe. He stayed here during his last
years and breathed his last near the temple. It is believed Ramabai, his wife
performed sati nearby.
Girijatmaka is in Lenyadri, (Pune District), is 12 km from Narayangaon, which is about 90 km from Pune on the Pune-Nashik
highway. The temple is on a hill, which has 283 steps. The hill is full
of caves. The idol faces north and prayers offered form the temple’s rear.
According to legend, Parvati performed penance to beget Ganesha here.
This temple is situated amidst a cave complex of Buddhist origin and not much
is known about its antiquity. Archeologists believe that the Ganesh idol came
up after the caves were built. The temple stands at a hilltop and is in a
deserted spot with little or no human habitation close by. Even the archaka
(Priest) lives some distance away.
Shri Vighnahar temple is in Ozhar, (Pune
District), on Pune-Nashik Highway, turn at Narayangaon towards Junnar to proceed
towards Ozhar. The idol has the trunk to the left. The temple faces east and
has several idols. The courtyard has a beautiful traditional deepamala. It is believed that
Chimaji Appa, the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa had a golden kalasha
installed on the temple tower as thanksgiving for his victory over the
Portuguese at Vasai. But records show that the temple was built only on 1785.
It has since been reconstructed.
Mahaganpati temple is in Ranjangaon, (Pune
District), is 50 km from Pune on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway. One can even
reach by train, from Uruli railway station on the Pune-Solapur line. The temple
is situated 16 km from the station. It is believed that Lord Shiva worshipped
Ganesha before vanquishing the demon Tripuraasura here. Sardar Kibe of Indore
Sardar Pawar and Sardar Shinde built the mandap of the temple, Malharrao Holkar
and Yashwantrao Chandrachud maintained the temple precincts. Madhavrao Peshwe
built the sanctum. The samadhi of Shri Limbaraj Maharaj is also found here.
Siddhivinayaka _ Siddhatek temple is in Siddhatek,
(Ahmednagar District), off Pune-Solapur Highway, 48 km from Srigonda; 19 km
from Daund. One can reach it by train, from Boribyal station on the
Pune-Solapur line.The temple is approximately 11 km from this station, across
the river Bhima. Regular State Transport buses ply from the station. One could
also alight at Daund and take a bus. It is believed that Lord Vishnu vanquished
the demons Madhu and Kaitab after propitiating Ganesh here. Moraya Gosavi of
Chinchwad is believed to have performed penance here. Ahilyabai Holkar built
the sanctum of the temple. A dharmashala for pilgrims has been built here.
Most of the Asthavinayaka shrines have decent hotels, dharamshalas and state
run guest houses in in and about the surrounding areas. The surge of tourists
is more during Ganesh festival, summer holidays, Diwali holidays and winter. It
is advisable not to visit the shrines between December and January as winters
are extremely harsh here. Food available here is predominantly Maharashtrian,
however other kinds of food is also available, most of the dharamshalas serve
vegetarian diet.
Religious thinkers have ascribed meanings to each part of Ganesha’s
form
The curled trunk: The symbol Om, intellect and the faculty of
discrimination
The elephant’s head: Superior intellect
Snake around waist: Cosmic energy.
Broken tusk: Knowledge
Large ears: To separate the real (Brahman) from the unreal (Maya) in
life
Head: Previous wisdom through sravana and manana
Human body: Supreme wisdom
Large belly: One who digests all types of experiences.
Leg on the ground: Dealing with the world while ever-rooted in
single-pointed concentration upon the supreme reality.
The food: Material wealth, power and prosperity.
Mouse: Desire
Riding on his rat: A man of perfection trying to use his limited body,
mind and intellect
Ganesha’s four arms: Four inner equipments of the subtle body, namely
mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkar) and conditioned consciousness
(chitta)
Axe in the hand: Destruction of all desires, attachments and their
consequent sorrows and agitations
Rope: To pull the seeker out of his wordly entanglements and bind one
to the everlasting and enduring bliss of one’s self
Modak : Joyous rewards of spiritual seeking
A lotus padma: The supreme goal of human evolution
ORANGES ......How
does one benefit from eating them?
In recent research studies, the healing properties
of oranges have been associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds.
These phytonutrients include citrus flavanones (types of flavanoides that
include the molecules hesperetin and naringenin), anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic
acids, and a variety of polyphenols. When these phytonutrients are studied in
combination with oranges' Vitamin C, the significant antioxidant properties of
this fruit are understandable. Arguably, the most important flavanone in
oranges, herperidin has been shown to lower high blood pressure as well as
cholesterol in animal studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
SPROUTS ......How
does one benefit from eating them?
Sprouts have long been famous as 'health food' but
recent research shows that in addition to being a superb source of nutrients,
they also have important curative abilities. Sprouts like alfalfa, radish and
broccoli contain concentrated amounts of phyto-chemicals (plant compounds) that
can protect us against disease. Studies on canavanine, an amino acid analog in
alfalfa, has demonstrated benefit for pancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers.
Plant estrogens are also abundant in sprouts. They increase bone formation and
density and prevent bone breakdown or osteoporosis. They are also helpful in
controlling hot flashes, menopause and PMS.
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you feel that Aneela Nike Post is making a difference to your life, do take a
minute to consider a comment or contribution. We would also value your
suggestions as how to make ourselves more relevant to you. Please write to akn929@yahoo.com to give your
valuable feedback.
This is a story of a young Indian patriot,
considered to be thebest Indian spy, a
forgotten hero who put his entire life on the line for the benefit of his
country. And serving his motherland he died young, a sad and lonely death in a
foreign country. He couldn’t even see his loved ones and his country again.
Very few people have heard about him and his story. Ravindra Kaushik (11 April
1952 – November 2001) was a Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) operative,
also named as Black Tiger, who is believed to be one of India's best spies.
Not much is written about him, but from time to
time I have read something about him and his supreme sacrifice for the nation.
It needs true courage and dedication for what he did. I am writing this story
about this super spy and forgotten hero with the information I gathered over
the years. Ravindra Kaushik was a Research and Analysis Wing operative, also
named as Black Tiger, who is believed to be one of India's best spies. Kaushik
served the R&AW from 1979 to 1983 in Pakistan. He was able to penetrate the
Pakistan Army and was recruited as an officer.
The media focus and controversy over Indian
national Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence by a Pakistani court puts the
spotlight on spies and their network. One such remarkable story is of Ravinder
Kaushik, who was just 23 years old when he first went undercover for RAW. This
is his courageous and unbelivable story which normally one reads in books or
sees in a movie.
Ravindra Kaushik was born in Sri
Ganganagar, Rajasthan on 11 April 1952 in a Hindu Brahmin family.
His father, JM Kaushik, was an Indian Air Force officer; his mother
Amla Devi passed away in 2006. He did his graduation from SD Bihani PG
College, Sri Ganganagar, earning a Bcom degree and was actively involved with
theatre acting while in college. Kaushik loved theatre and performing
characters as a teenager and that's how RAW spotted him. And he was recruited
by the R&AW.
Kaushik was trained in Delhi for two
years to be an undercover Operative in Pakistan. He was also trained
to live the life of a Muslim and was trained in Urdu language. Being
from Sri Ganganagar, a city near Rajasthan's border with Punjab, he was
well versed in Punjabi as well, which is widely understood in Punjab
(India) and Pakistan as well. In 1975, at the age of 23, he was sent to
Pakistan as an undercover R&AW operative. It was a tough call but he was
confident of executing it.
Kaushik converted to Islam,
underwent circumcision and was given the cover name "Nabi Ahmed
Shakir" and entered Pakistan in 1975. After successfully getting
admission in Karachi University, he also completed his LLB. He
joined Pakistan Army as a commissioned officer and was eventually
promoted to the rank of major. He married a local girl named Amanat,
the daughter of a tailor in one of the army units, and had a child who died in
2012–2013.
From 1979 to 1983, Kaushik worked as a Pakistani
army officer. As trained at R&AW, he was sending valuable information
to R&AW which was of great help to India. He was given the title
of 'Black Tiger' by the Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi for his daring
acts in a foreign country.
In September 1983, R&AW sent a low-level
operative, Inyat Masih, to get in touch with Kaushik. But, Masih was exposed
by Joint Counter intelligence Bureau of Pakistan's ISI and he
blew Kaushik's cover. Kaushik was also captured, tortured for two years at
an interrogation center in Sialkot. He was given the death sentence in
1985. His sentence was later commuted to a life term by the Supreme Court
of Pakistan. He was kept in various jails in various cities, including
Sialkot, Kot Lakhpat and in Mianwali jail for 16 years. He
managed to secretly send letters to his family in India, which revealed the
true scenario, his poor health condition and the trauma faced by him in
Pakistani jails. In one of his letters, he wrote: Kya Bharat jaise bade desh ke
liye kurbani dene waalon ko yahi milta hai?" (Is this what people who
sacrifice their lives for a big country like India get?)
In November 2001, he succumbed to pulmonary
tuberculosis and heart disease in Central Jail
Mianwali in Pakistan. He was buried behind that jail. According to
Ravindra's family, Indian government had refused to recognise him and
had made no effort to help him. Kaushik is regarded as India's best spy to ever
penetrate the ranks of the Pakistan army.
It is believed, in intelligence circles there’s an
unwritten rule, whenever spies or operatives are caught or compromised, the
intelligence agencies all over the world refuse to own or accept them as their
personnel, which makes it difficult for any government to officially intervene
in such cases. And the family members often wonder why the government doesn’t
intervene.
After hearing the news about Ravindra's death, his
father died of shock which caused a heart attack. His mother Amladevi died in
2006. His younger brother, Rajeshwarnath Kaushik, who is two years younger
to Ravindra, lives in Jaipur. Ravindra Kaushik's nephew, Vikram Vashisth,
also lives in Jaipur. The saddest part is, they never got to see Ravindra
Kaushik again.
Seeing in movies or reading spy thrillers, people
have a fancy image of spies like James Bond. But actually their lives are tough
and dangerous as the enemy country’s counter intelligence is always on the
lookout. They gather vital information and pass it on to his intelligence
bosses about latest enemy moves or plans providing them with updated
information on defence installations, army deployment, armaments and weapons,
etc, at the same time keeping low profile and his cover intact. If caught, they
get tortured and killed without anyone’s knowledge.
Ravindra's family claimed that the storyline of the
famous Bollywood flick "Ek Tha Tiger" released in the year 2012 was
based on the life of Ravindra and asked for credit in the movie titles for
Ravindra. But the director Kabir Khan denied their claim. Romeo Akbar Walter,
a 2019 Indian film written and directed by Robbie Grewal is loosely based on
his activities in Pakistan, John Abraham plays the role of Ravindra
Kaushik in the film.
Paytm users
can now make UPI payments to mobiles with third-party UPI apps
Paytm Payments Bank says the move facilitates
interoperability across all UPI-based payment apps, ensuring a superfast and
seamless experience. Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) has announced that
users on the Paytm app will now be able to make UPI payments to
mobile numbers across all UPI payment apps, even if the recipient is not
registered with Paytm.
With this, Paytm app users can instantly send and
receive money to and from any mobile number with a registered UPI ID,
regardless of who the service provider is. The National Payments Corporation of
India (NPCI) has enabled all payment services providers to access its universal
database and make UPI payments interoperable, the firm said in a statement.
This gives users the benefit of interoperability
across all UPI-based payment apps, ensuring a super fast and seamless payments
experience, the statement further said.
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