Mohammad Usman

Brigadier Mohammad Usman (15 July 1912 – 3 July 1948) was the highest ranking officer of Indian Army killed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, who as a Muslim became a "symbol of" India's "inclusive secularism". At the time of partition of India he with many other officers declined to move to the Pakistan Army and continued to serve the Indian Army. He died in July 1948 while fighting the raiders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Birth and Education
Brig Usman was born at Bibipur, Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh on July 15, 1912. His Mother Was Jamilun Bibi D/o Abdul Karim Ansari Belongs to Ansari Family of Yusufpur And Father Was Mohammad Faqooq Khunambir of Bibipur (Azamgarh) Was Shaher Kotwal Benaras.

Young Usman was educated at Harish Chandra High School in Varanasi. he was an alumnus of the prestigious Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

Indian Army
He was commissioned in the Baluch Regiment. At the time of partition he was offered to become Chief of the Pakistani Army but he chose to stay in India.

When the Baluch Regiment was allotted to Pakistan, Brig Usman was transferred to the Dogra Regiment. At the time of Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Brig Usman, Commander of 77 Para Brigade was given command of 50 Para Brigade, deployed at Jhangar in December 1947.

At the time of Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 Brigadier Usman was posted at the Jammu and Kashmir front as the brigade commander of the 50 Para Brigade. He led his soldiers from front and in January–February 1948 repulsed a fierce attack on Nowshera and Jhangar, two highly strategic locations in Jammu and Kashmir. He was thence known as the Lion of Naoshera. However, he was killed in action while fighting the Pakistan Army and the tribal raiders on July 3 of that year.

An 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". Brigadier Usman was awarded the Indian military honour Mahavir Chakra posthumously.

Memorial
He is buried in a grave in Jamia Millia Islamia campus in New Delhi.

Upender Sood a film director has produced a film on life of Brigadier Usman.

His birth centenary was celebrated in 2012 by Indian Army at Jhajjar. A Paramotor Expedition was organized by Gorkha Training Centre in the memory of Brigadier Usman.