AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 124 of 332 2 Tribute To The Valour of My Regiment – J & K Rifles Col A Krishnaswami VrC, VSM & Bar Genre: Reminiscence To Those Who Battled For Glory, Resolute and Undaunted In Adversity, Consecrating the Conquered Grounds with Blood Full Of Forbearance and Remorseless Fury n December 1958, I was fortunate to be commissioned in to this illustrious regiment from the portals of the Indian Military Academy Dehradun. The regiment then comprised of only six battalions. Over the years the regiment has grown in strength and stature and now it has twenty two battalions in the service of the Army and the Country. The regiment of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles owes its rich cultural heritage and strong military foundation, due the diversity it inherited in the form of its soldiers hailing from various sects - the Dogras, Sikhs, Gurkhas and Muslims. The battalions of the regiment have a different class composition varying from pure single community units to two communities to a fair mix of all the four communities forming the pillars of the regiment. It is a true example of ‘UNITY IN DIVERSITY’ as the soldiers bond together in keeping the colours of the Regiment flying high. The fore-runners of the Regiment, Maharaja Gulab Singh and General Zorawar Singh raised the Jammu and Kashmir State Force in 1822. Many stupendous military expeditions at high altitude and across the rugged mountains were undertaken by General Zorawar Singh to consolidate and extend borders of J&K. The ambitious campaigns of conquests opened a window for India into the strategic heartland of Central Asia. His exploits and invasions over the Himalayas and Karakoram outclass the achievements of the legendary Hannibal. It was perhaps a military revival as after centuries of defeats to the hands of invaders; Indians were not only defending themselves but launching I Maharaja Gulab Singh & Gen Zorawar Singh