Category Archives: Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024)

Major Mahmood Hassan Khan Vir Chakra

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Martyrs of the Nation, , , , , ,

Dhanuri Village (Jhunjhunu District), RAJASTHAN :

Major Mahmood Hasan Khan hailed from Dhanuri village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan and was born on 02 March 1941. Son of Risaldar Nawab Mohd Hasan Khan, he was born into a military family but lost his father at an early age. He was brought up by his uncle Major Akbar Ali Khan who was serving with the then Nizam of Hyderabad. He completed his school education in Hyderabad and later went to Aligarh Muslim University for higher studies. He joined the Indian Army in the year 1962 as a Sepoy and subsequently got commissioned as a commissioned officer. He was commissioned into 14 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers with a rich history of various battle honours. In 1971, Maj MH Khan got involved in the thick of operations as his unit got deployed on the western border when the war with

Atian Supply Point Raid (Naushera Sector): 06 Dec 1971

During the Indo-Pak 1971 War, Maj MH Khan’s unit 14 Grenadiers was deployed on the western front. In December 1971, India had to go to war with Pakistan as the genocide perpetrated by the Pakistani army in their erstwhile eastern part of the country had resulted in an unprecedented influx of millions of refugees into India. Though the war was concentrated on the eastern front, Pakistan launched operations on the western front too. When the war was declared on 03 Dec 1971, 14 Grenadiers under the command of Lt Col Inderjit Singh was functioning under the operational control of 25 Div and was spread all over the Div AOR (Area of Responsibility) from Naushera to Poonch. On 06 Dec, 14 Grenadiers along with the elements of 8 Mahar battalion were tasked to raid the enemy’s Atian Supply Point to cause maximum damage to it.  Maj MH Khan as ‘Raid Commander’ was tasked to carry out the assault along with two more officers, Capt Roy Chowdhary and 2nd Lt Prakash, and 49 OR (Other Ranks).

The raid involved going through a heavily guarded area and destruction of the objective of platoon strength. The team led by Maj MH Khan and divided into three groups planned a multi-directional attack on the enemy to achieve an element of surprise and cause maximum possible damage. The attack commenced at around 1800 hrs on 06 Dec and Major Khan led his men to the objective by shrewd manoeuvres, destroying post after post. The raid was thus successfully carried out after twelve hours of constant action. Maj MH Khan and his soldiers fightly valiantly, destroyed the enemy’s 12 storehouses, and 6 timber stocks, besides eliminating several mules and personnel. Maj MH Khan was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his act of conspicuous gallantry, unyielding fighting spirit, and leadership. By the second week of Dec 1971, India had almost achieved victory on the eastern front but the border skirmishes were still going on, on the western front. Maj MH Khan’s unit 14 Grenadiers was involved in operations in the “Battle of Daruchhian” during that period. 

“Battle of Daruchhian” (Indo-Pak War): 13/14 Dec 1971

After the failure of the Pakistani divisional attack on Poonch, the Indian Army decided to carry out local and limited actions all along the ceasefire line to improve its defensive posture. One such attack was launched by an infantry battalion in the area opposite Madarpur on the night of 10/11 December, and having captured Nangi Tekri, Jungle Tekri, Bump and other features denied the use of the Kotli-Madarpur-Hajira road to the enemy. As a follow-up to these operations, it was decided to secure Daruchhian, a feature blocking the Balnoi neck of the Kotli-Balnoi road between the Poonch River and the ceasefire line. Daruchhian was a conical feature, narrow and rugged at the top and with steep projections. It was forested on all sides except the southwest spur and was reportedly held by less than one Pakistani company of regular troops and some Mujahids as part of the main picquet line. 14 Grenadiers battalion under the command of Lt Col Inderjit Singh was tasked to launch an attack on Daruchhian and it was allotted an additional company and artillery support of four to six fire units. Maj MH Khan was functioning as a Company Commander of “D” Company at that time.

The capture of Daruchhian was planned to be carried out by 0800 hrs on 14 Dec in three phases. It was a multi-pronged attack involving primarily B, C, and D companies of 14 Grenadiers and elements of other outside resources. As per the plan, in Phase-I ‘B’ Company was to capture OP (Observation Post); in Phase-II ‘C’ Company was to capture West Spur and in Phase-III ‘D’ Company was to capture South West Spur. Besides the commanding officer Lt Col Inderjit Singh, Maj MH Khan, Maj HS Chahal(‘B’ Company Commander), and Capt Hamir Singh(‘C’ Company Commander) as company commanders were involved in planning and executing the operational plan. ‘A’ Company under the command of Maj SR Dogra was responsible for marking the FUP(Forming up Point) for Pase-I and then acting as a reserve for Phase II. The attack was launched on the night of 13/14 Dec 1971 in three phases with three assault groups attacking from different directions.

In Phase-III of the battle, Maj MH Khan’s ‘D’ Company was given orders to attack SW Spur at about 0400 hrs on 14 Dec. Maj MH Khan moved swiftly and ordered his platoons to give him fire support when he with one platoon moved towards the objective. Despite heavy enemy firing, Maj MH Khan and his men kept moving and reached the flat ground west of the OP position. While moving forward, Maj MH Khan noticed one of the enemy MGs that was impeding the advance and causing casualties. Maj MH Khan along with a few men in a daring move charged towards the bunker with grenades. However while doing so, Maj MH Khan was shot and got injured. But despite the injury, he moved forward and lobbed the grenade in the enemy bunker, before falling to another burst of fire on his head. The enemy gave a very stiff resistance and the battle for Daruchhian continued for over 12 hours. Maj MH Khan as the Company Commander of ‘D’ Company fought valiantly and led his men to give a befitting reply to the enemy firepower. In the fierce exchange of fire, during the battle, a total of eight officers, seven JCOs, and one hundred and forty-five other ranks were martyred, wounded, or missing in action. Besides Major MH Khan, the other martyred brave hearts included five officers (Maj HS Chahal, Maj SR Dogra, Capt OP Dalal, Capt Bakshish Singh, and 2nd Lt GP Bahukhandi), 4 JCOs ( Sub Jai Singh, Sub Taj Mohd Khan, Nb Sub Hasam Khan and Nb Sub Ram Sarup Singh) and 44 ORs. 

Major MH Khan displayed commendable gallantry and devotion to duty during the operation and laid down his life in the service of the nation. Though he was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his act of gallantry on 06 Dec 1971, he did not live long enough thereafter and made the supreme sacrifice on 14 Dec 1971 during the heroic ” Battle of Daruchhian”. 

____________________________

2 Comments
  • Shaheen KhanReplyLate Major MH khan is my grandfather. We obviously have a lot of relevant information about him. Pease contact us so we can give as much info for the page of this great man.
  • Salim khanReplyPuri gatha batao plz

  • Honourpoint is an online memorial to honour, appreciate and remember the spirited and valiant sons and daughters of India who had the distinction of serving the country in “military uniform”, and are no longer with us. It is an endeavour to ensure that supreme sacrifices of our soldiers and their families do not fade away and are given their rightful place in our nation’s collective consciousness. Read more…

source: http://www.honourpoint.in / HonourPoint / Home> Profile / headline edited

‘Jo laut ke ghar na aaye…’ Naik Abid’s last call

Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Martyrs of the Nation, , , ,

Moh-Kazi Sarai (Hardoi), UTTAR PRADESH :

The last conversation between Kargil hero Naik Abid Khan and his wife Firdaus Begum was a poignant one.

“It was the morning of June 30, 1999, when my telephone rang .

I received the call, and on the other side, my husband Naik Abid Khan said, ‘Apna aur bachchon ka dhyan rakhna, mera wapas aana mushkil hai. Maine poochha aisa kyu bol rahe hain to wo bole mushkil hai aur duaa karna mere liye aur meri battalion ke liye’ (Take care of yourself and the children, it is difficult for me to come back.

When I asked why are you saying this, he replied it would be difficult to return and asked me to pray for his battalion).”

On July 5, 1999, two soldiers arrived at Firdaus Begum’s house and spoke to her father and father-in-law. Her father informed her that Abid’s leg was fractured, but she intuited that had it been merely a fracture, the army soldiers would not have come to inform them personally. Her worst fears came true when she was informed that her husband had been killed in action.

Sena Medal awardee Naik Abid Khan, a native of Moh-Kazi Sarai in Hardoi, was born on May 6, 1972.

After completing his early education, he joined the army on Aug 4, 988, at the tender age of 17. He was inducted into the 22 Grenadiers Battalion of the illustrious Grenadiers Regiment.

“Three months before Operation Vijay, he had come home on leave for 8-10 days during Bakrid. When he was leaving, he asked me to accompany him to the railway station to see him off, but I refused saying that I always feel very sad when he leaves and that I would have to return home from the station alone. I regret I didn’t go to see him off.”

“I was pregnant and had the responsibility of two daughters and a son. At that time, my elder daughter was seven, my son was five, and the youngest daughter was just two. Abid’s posting was in Hyderabad, but he was sent to Kargil. Twenty- five years have passed, but his uniform and one of his diaries still provides me the strength to live. On the last page of his diary, there are names of the soldiers from his battalion and all of them were killed in action,” she said.

During Kargil War, Abid was first shot in the leg, but he climbed the hill and fired indiscriminately at Pakistani bunkers, killing 17 enemy soldiers before succumbing to a second bullet that struck his neck.

In June-July 1999, Naik Abid’s unit was deployed in Batalik sector of Ladakh as part of Operation Vijay. The unit was functioning under the command of the 70 Infantry Brigade, with overall control being exercised by the 3 Infantry Division. The attack began on the night of June 30. Abid and his comrades led by Major Ajit Singh Shekhawat, managed to reach the objective but were counter-attacked by the enemy.

Heavily outnumbered, the Grenadiers fought continuously for three nights, inching forward, unmindful of the losses. The Pakistanis became impatient over Naik Abid Khan and his comrades’ resilience and asked their artillery to redouble the barrage. The fighting continued at an elevation of thousands of feet, amidst heavily fortified bunkers equipped with artillery and automatic weapons. The battle of Khalubar culminated in its capture.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> India News / by Fazal Khan, TNN / July 31st, 2024

Rajasthan’s Major Mustafa Bohara Honoured With Shaurya Chakra Posthumously

Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Martyrs of the Nation, , ,

Kheroda Village (Udaipur District), RAJASTHAN :

(Photo: X/@rashtrapatibhvn)

New Delhi :

Major Mustafa Bohara, an esteemed officer of the Indian Army Aviation Corps, was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra at a solemn ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 5, 2024. President Draupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award to Major Mustafa’s grieving parents, Fatima and Zakiuddin Bohara, recognizing their son’s exceptional courage and sacrifice.

Major Mustafa Bohara SC / pix: honourpoint.in

Born on May 14, 1995, in Kheroda village, Udaipur district, Rajasthan, Major Mustafa Bohara’s journey was defined by unwavering dedication to his country. Educated at Uday Shiksha Mandir Higher Secondary School in Kheroda and later at St. Paul’s School in Udaipur, he harboured a childhood dream of serving in the armed forces. His ambition led him to the National Defence Academy (NDA), where he excelled in the 128th course and was part of the distinguished November Squadron. Graduating from the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, he was commissioned as a lieutenant before specializing as a helicopter pilot in the Army Aviation Corps.

Major Mustafa’s mother, Fatima Bohara, spoke with both pride and sorrow, saying, “Martyrdom is not just a word but a true testament. Mustafa always aimed for excellence and believed in swiftly moving forward towards success.”

On October 21, 2022, Major Mustafa and Major Vikas Bhambhu, alongside three crew members, undertook a mission in Arunachal Pradesh’s challenging terrain. Unfortunately, their helicopter encountered an emergency near Mugung in Upper Siang district, known for its hostile weather and difficult conditions. Despite their extensive training and experience, the helicopter caught fire, compelling Major Mustafa and Major Vikas to manoeuvre the aircraft away from populated areas and ammunition depots. Their valiant effort to land safely ended tragically at 10:43 am, claiming their lives.m,

The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, honoured both Major Mustafa and Major Vikas Bhambhu with the Shaurya Chakra. Their exemplary bravery in the face of grave danger was acknowledged, underscoring their selfless dedication to duty.

Deputy Secretary of the Shaheed Major Mustafa Trust, Virender Singh Solanki, announced that Major Mustafa’s family would return to Udaipur on July 7, 2024. They will receive a heartfelt welcome at Dabok Airport from Vallabhnagar MLA Uday Lal Dangi, political dignitaries, members of the Bohra community, and various social and religious organizations.

Major Mustafa Bohara’s legacy remains an enduring symbol of courage, dedication, and sacrifice. His heroic actions serve as a profound inspiration, embodying the unwavering spirit of India’s armed forces.

source: http://www.clarionindia.net / Clarion India / Home> Editor’s Pick / by Mohammad Alamullah, Clarion India / pix source: replaced with (Photo: X/@rashtrapatibhvn) (2) pix added source: honourpoint.in / July 07th, 2024

Lest We Forget Kargil War Hero Vir Chakra Captain Haneefuddin!

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Leaders, Martyrs of the Nation, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW DELHI :

Pakistan’s misadventure in Kargil will be remembered not only for the convincing win of the brave Indian army but also for some of the heroes who sacrificed their lives for our dear motherland. Prominent among those heroes was a 25-year young Captain Haneefuddin of 11 Rajputana Rifles who led from the front and made the ultimate sacrifice. Martyr Vir Chakra Captain Haneefuddin had to be from the Dilwalon ki Dilli! Truly, he had a large heart for he volunteered to command an operation to capture a post which would give a vantage position to observe the enemy’s movements.

It was quite early days of Kargil war when there was hardly any information available about the enemy troops. A company of 11 Rajputana Rifles was deployed in Operation Thunderbolt on June 6th, 1999 led by Captain Haneefuddin. It was at an altitude of 18,000 feet in the Turtuk region. The Mission: To capture a position in the region which would facilitate the Indian army to monitor the movements of the enemy troops better. The capture of this position would give the troops a strategic advantage in those early stages of the war. Captain Haneef volunteered for this Operation Thunderbolt as it was his ingrained in his nature to lead from the front. He set off for the vital operation with one junior commissioned officer and three other ranks. They made significant strides on the nights of 4th and 5th June 1999. They captured nearby positions. They captured the adjacent position and set out their advance on 6th June 1999 to capture the position they desired. They were undaunted by an altitude of 18,500 feet and extremely cold temperatures. They were however spotted by the enemy and fired upon. A firefight followed, against an enemy equipped with heavy artillery.

Captain Haneefuddin was concerned about the safety of his team more than himself. He took up a position and fearlessly showered bullets on the enemy. In the exchange of bullets, he was severely injured. But he kept engaging the cunning enemy, until his boys were safe from the enemy fire. Unfortunately, he ran out of ammunition and he was shot from all directions. He succumbed to his injuries, just 200 meters from the position they valiantly set out to capture. He displayed extraordinary valor in the face of the enemy and cared more about his team’s safety than his own. Captain Haneefuddin attained martyrdom at the young age of 25. It was exactly two years after he was commissioned in the army. But his body could not be retrieved due to heavy firing till a brave Colonel Bhatia and his illustrious team set out to retrieve the body. It was on 18th  July, 43 days after Haneef’s martyrdom, Captain S K Dhiman, Major Sanjay Vishwas Rao, Lieutenant Ashish Bhalla, Havaldar Surinder and Rifleman Dharam Vir volunteered for the task.

Col. Bhatia and his team carefully negotiated the deadly precipices. The team managed to locate the brave heroes Haneef and Parvesh. They extricated the frozen bodies. Dragging them behind the boulders, the team carried the fallen heroes on their backs. They walk quietly through the night, reaching Zangpal by early morning. A helicopter carried the bodies away as the brave Colonel Bhatia watched the body bags with moist eyes for one last time.

Vir Chakra Captain Haneefuddin’s mother Hema Aziz had paid tribute to her martyr son thus:  “As a soldier, Capt Haneef served his country with pride and dedication. “There cannot be a greater statement on his valor than his death which came while fighting the enemy.” Later, a subsector in the battle zone was named as Subsector Captain Haneefuddin.

It is interesting to note that Captain Haneefuddin had gone to fight for 11 Rajputana Rifles whose war cry is ‘Raja Ram Chandra ki Jai’. Twenty years later, in February 2020, in Captain Haneefuddin’s hometown – Delhi, a similar war cry —  Jai Sri Ram was used by the rioters who looted, raped, killed innocents, destroyed 11 mosques and burnt down the copies of the Holy Quran, according to the just released report of the Delhi Minorities Commission. Those who carried out this pogram do not have guts to go to the borders and fight the enemies Pakistan and China. Instead, they choose our own citizens!

Where have the Dilwallas disappeared from Dilli?  Lest we forget Kargil War Hero Vir Chakra Captain Haneefuddin and other heroes!

source: http://www.beyondheadlines.in / Beyond Headlines / Home> Lead / by Dr Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui / July 27th, 2024

Shahbaz saves running train from crash, gets accolades; recommended for National Child Award

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024)

Patna, BIHAR :

Patna :

Mohammad Shahbaz was felicitated by DRM (Divisional Railway Manager), Samastipur on Wednesday for his effort that averted a possible train collision. DRM Samastipur announced the name of Shahbaz would be recommended for the National Child Award.

Twelve-year-old Shahbaz raised a red piece of cloth (Gamchha) on June 1 near Tajpur road to caution the loco pilot of the Howrah-Kathgodam Bagh Express as the track was cracked which could have caused an accident. The train was carrying around 1500 passengers, and was running at a modest speed. The loco pilot stopped the train after watching the red piece of cloth. The loco pilot came down from the engine and asked Shahbaz the reason for raising the red Gamchha. Shahbaz took him to the spot of the cracked track. It was a vertical crack. Then the track was repaired in half an hour and the operation of trains was restarted.

DRM Vinay Srivastava awarded Shahbaz, a class 7 student, with a school bag and autobiographies of great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Stephen Hawkins. Mr. Srivastava said that Shahbaz exhibited exemplary alertness and performed the duty of a citizen.

Srivastava said he wished that the story of Shahbaz be a message for all the children and youth. He said every citizen carries some responsibility. He said the story of Shahbaz should inspires the children of the country.

According to Mohammad Shahbaz, he was returning after taking breakfast to his father Mohammad Salim, who runs a small shop. Shahbaz said that when he saw the vertical crack, he raised his red Gamchha. “We were going home. I saw that there was a crack in the track. I raised my Gamchha and ‘driver uncle’ stopped the train.”

source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Focus / by Sami Ahmad / by Radiance News Bureau / June 06th, 2024

THE INDIAN HERO : Resham Fatma – Acid reflex

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BIHAR / Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

It burnt her face, but not her spirit. Resham Fatma, National Bravery Award winner, is confident about tomorrow

Sometime last summer, Resham Fatma, 17, decided that she needed to score 98 per cent in her twelfth standard board examinations. For days, she had been scouring the newspapers to find the best college to pursue her favourite subject, mathematics. St Stephen’s College, Delhi, it was. “Last year’s cut off was 97.2 per cent, so with 98, it will be smooth sailing,” says the Lucknow girl.

Resham has planned her future in detail. After graduation, she will do an MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad. Then, she will take the Union Public Service Commission exams, get into the Indian Administrative Service and work towards the post of district magistrate, a post from which she believes she can implement all the glorious government policies that remain on paper. “If I set my mind on something, I can achieve it,” she says. But, the future does not always work out the way you plan it. The last year has been, to put it bleakly, scarring for Resham.

The day is etched into her memory. It was February 1. On the previous day, her class had given their seniors a formal farewell. Her hair was a curtain of black satin, glossy from all the shampooing and conditioning. “See, this is me, in the centre,” she says, fishing out her smartphone and showing a groupfie with friends at the farewell.

The next day, she headed for her tuition, getting off the autorickshaw and walking the last mile as per routine. Suddenly, Riyaz, 38, her mother’s cousin, pulled up in his Tata Indica. He had been pestering her for a few years, and she had learnt to avoid him. On farewell day, he had asked her to meet him and she had said, “Main pagalon se baat nahi karti [I don’t talk to madmen].” She had no idea how mad he was.

After dragging her into the car, he held a butcher’s knife to her throat and asked her to marry him. She struggled; he got forceful. When she loosened his grip on the knife, he pulled out a barber’s razor from under the seat. “The car was auto-locked,” she says. “I was in his grip, struggling with all my strength. He banged his head on the steering and asked why I was refusing him. Then, suddenly, he pulled out a plastic bottle from the recess in the car door. It was filled with a yellowish liquid. He asked me if I knew what it was and said it was shakkar pani ghol [sugar solution]. He poured the liquid over my head.”

For a fraction of a second, she did not know what it was. Then it began to burn and she immediately shut her eyes. Her face, arm and thigh were on fire. He pulled her by the hair, still holding the knife to her throat. “I do not know how I got this phenomenal strength at that moment,” she says. “I pushed him and he crumpled towards the door. I fumbled blindly with the ignition, unlocked the car and tumbled out.” It was a dark winter evening and the road was desolate. Presently, an autorickshaw drove by and she pleaded to be taken to the police station. Luck was on her side, the occupants rushed to help. Later, as she was taken from the police station to hospital in an autorickshaw, they had to stop at a railway crossing. Passers-by peered into the auto, clucking in sympathy or gasping in horror. “That’s when I learnt that my face was black and I had my first shudder,” she says. “Riyaz mama ko mat chodna [Don’t let Riyaz get away], I screamed.”

Resham had so far known only unconditional love. She was the eldest grandchild from her maternal side, and her mother’s brothers doted on her so much that when she entered primary school, she moved from Bihar, where her father is an automobile dealer, to her grandfather’s residence at Amausi, near the Lucknow airport. Both her uncles have sons, she grew up as the only girl and the apple of everyone’s eyes. She has a younger sister and brother, who live with her parents. “I am more comfortable here, this is my home,” she says.

Resham means silk. But in the months ahead, the teenager discovered reserves of steel within her. Her long tresses were shorn, there is a huge patch on the scalp where follicles are dead. Resham, for the first time in her life, started wearing a scarf and headed for her evening coaching. She had to skip regular school at Stella Maris; her skin was not ready to face the onslaught of the sun.

In between, she kept popping into the hospital for surgeries. Her thigh needed grafting and her face needs a lot more work, but that has not deterred Resham from going out with nonchalance. A few months after the incident, her uncle declared she could do her own shopping without being escorted around like an invalid. “People ask me what happened, most ask whether it’s an allergy,” she says. “I tell them blankly, ‘No allergy, I survived an acid attack.’’’ Does she miss her old face? “Well, I am a girl, I like looking into the mirror and I’d want to like what I see,” she says. “I am still not bad looking, am I? This is my new identity.”

Most of her friends broke down when they visited and she consoled them. Her best friend is her diary. One day, she wrote about her dream: “I wanted to become the district magistrate and visit Riyaz in jail and tell him, see where you are today and where I am.” But these Bollywood-type situations are not meant for off-screen lives, even if they are as extraordinary as Resham’s.

Riyaz was arrested and was in lockup, where on December 28, he committed suicide. “I read about it in the newspaper next day and felt blank,” Resham says. “He got away so easily. He should have lived a long life, regretting every moment.”

Her earliest recollections of Riyaz are of sitting on his shoulders as he ran across the lawn. As she grew up though, his presence began getting uncomfortable. He would enter her room, force her to leave her books and talk to him. At one point, her grandfather, a former policeman, banished him from their house.

Resham today prefers to look at the possibilities that the future offers. “I have bad days, though I don’t cry in public,” she says. “Some days ago, I was very angry with Allah pak. But then, I got this call from Delhi that I was getting the Bharat Award at the Republic Day celebrations. I am so happy today. I have met big people, Modiji himself. I am a heroine, isn’t that great?” The scar tissue on her face hurts a lot, especially when she has to receive injections for treatment. But now she is complaining happily about how her cheeks are hurting with the constant smiling. “I am posing for cameras all day. Yaay,” she shrieks.

President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the ‘National Bravery Awards 2014’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan . January 22nd, 2015. pic credit: facebook.com/Muslims.of.India.Page

There’s a bit of regret, though. “When I came to Delhi, I learnt that all the other children had been felicitated by their states. But no one from my state government ever came to me. A Supreme Court order says the state has to give an immediate relief of 03 lakh to an acid attack victim. I have not got anything yet, though my family has sent several Right To Information pleas. We could afford my treatment, but there are those for whom this money means a lot more. You know, there is a lot of good intent and great laws, but what we lack in this country is implementation. That’s why I want to be an IAS officer,” she emphasises with all her Taurean determination.

source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> Web Specials> Features> Heroes / by Rekha Dixit / Headline Edited + Additional image inserted courtesy of Facebook.com/Muslims.of.India.page / February 08th, 2015

REAL HEROES : ‘Bharat ki Beti’ Uzma Fatima Leaves Blazing Trail of Bravery in Srisailam Power Plant Fire; Saving 4 Lives Cost her Own Life

Amazing Feats, Bravery Awards, Citations, Commendations etc (since April 14th, 2024), Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA:

Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi fondly refers to girls as Bharat ki Beti. One such Bharat ki Beti Uzma Fatima, 26, an assistant engineer at the Srisailam Power Plant in the Telangana State left a blazing trail of bravery as she saved 4 of her colleagues from the fire reportedly caused due to short circuit a few days ago.

Modi also says: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save girl child, educate girl child). Young Hyderabadi Uzma’s bravery can make us say: Beti Padhao, Beti Bachaati (Educate girl child, she will save you)!

Thousands of girls have been raped and burnt to death. Many others have been burnt to death for dowry. But when girls get a chance, they save the families and the nation. Uzma Fatima was a notch higher in the sense that she saved those 4 colleagues, who were not even her own family. She put humanity first!

Uzma Fatima’s father Mohammed Zubair runs a footwear business at Chappal Bazar in Hyderabad. He has three daughters and a son. The elder daughter is married. Uzma Fatima was his second daughter and was unmarried. His youngest daughter is in the eighth standard.

Mohammed Zubair’s son Mohammed Minhaj who is a degree college student told that his family is in a state of shock due to the sudden tragedy. According to him, Uzma Fatima was working in Srisailam Power Station as an Assistant Engineer for the past four years. The CCTV footage of the fire accident shows that Uzma had come out of the fire engulfed place. According to the survivors, she saved 4 (four) of her colleagues. She went back to bring out the other assistant engineers trapped there. She could not come of the tunnel along with eight other colleagues. The brave engineers perished in the fire.

It may be recalled that women were finally given combat roles in the Indian Army after a long struggle. Uzma’s sacrifice proves that women are second to none in bravery. Women are our best bet to save our country within and on our borders. Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi proved her bravery in the battlefield against the British. Every girl in our country is a potential Rani Laxmi Bai. They prove it when they get chances. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi may certainly be feeling proud about the sacrifice of Bharat ki Beti Uzma Fatima.

A fitting tribute to Uzma’s memory would be institute a gallantry award her name and also rechristen Srisailam Power Plant as Uzma Fatima Power Plant. It will not only generate electricity but it will also generate bravery for our future generations of girls to emulate.

The Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) should pay tribute to Telangana’s daughter Uzma Fatima by naming a major road in Hyderabad after her. The Malakpet Railway Station near her residence can be named as Uzma Fatima Railway Station. Are Modi ji and KCR Garu listening?

source: http://www.beyondheadlines.in / Beyond Headlines / Home> Real Heroes / by Dr. Ahmed Moinuddin Siddiqui / August 25th, 2020