Page 141 - Leadership in the Indian Army

through the citation, he felt that the action merited a VC rather than an
IOM. After this, Sen had no hesitation in sending a fresh recommendation
and Bhandari Ram was awarded the VC, which he deserved. But had it not

been for the stand taken by Usman, this would not have come about.
Incidentally, 51 Infantry Brigade later became famous as the ‘All Indian
Brigade’, since all three battalions of the brigade were being commanded
by Indians. Lieutenant Colonel S.P.P. Thorat was commanding 2/2 Punjab,
Lieutenant Colonel K.S. Thimayya was in command of 8/19 Hyderabad,
and Lieutenant Colonel L.P. Sen was the CO of 16/10 Baluch. In the battle
of Kangaw in January 1945, all three were awarded DSOs. After World War

II, 25 Indian Division was disbanded, and had not been re-raised when
Usman fought and died in Jhangar many years later. Today, the same
division is responsible for the defence of the sector.
Soon after Zoru had captured the hill, another attack was launched on a
different objective. This one was carried out by a senior subaltern, who had
never led an attack before and Usman felt that he needed the experience.

But the officer went to pieces during the action and made a sorry spectacle
of himself in front of the men. Usman was extremely angry and wanted the
officer to be courtmartialled, but the CO did not agree. Usman then vowed
to get rid of him as soon as possible.
After operations ceased in Burma, the battalion was sent back to India for
rest and refit, and was located at Pollachi near Madras. Most of the officers
and men were sent on leave. Usman, Zoru and the senior subaltern were the

only three officers left. One day, they received a message asking for
volunteers for parachute duty. Usman told Zoru to advise the officer to
volunteer, but the latter refused. Usman told him that if he did not sign on
the dotted line, he would have him courtmartialled for cowardice in the face
of the enemy. The officer signed and was soon packed off for parachute
training. Usman sighed with relief, thinking he had seen the last of the

officer. Little did he know that very soon he would himself join the
paratroopers.
The battalion did not stay in India for long; it was soon moved to
Malaysia with the rest of the division. However, as soon as they landed, the
Japanese surrendered after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Usman
was promoted Lieutenant Colonel, and given command of 14/10 Baluch,
which was in the same division. Since the war was over, there was little to

do, though the troops remained in Malaysia for almost a year before being