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Syed Mahdi Hasnain

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Major General

Syed Mahdi Hasnain

PVSM
Allegiance
Service / branch
Rank Major General
Unit1 Garhwal Rifles
Commands
Awards Param Vishisht Seva Medal
RelationsLieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Son)

Major General Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM was a former General officer of the Indian Army. He was the raising commanding officer of the 4th Battalion, The Garhwal Rifles. He was commissioned in the British Indian Army in the 1st Royal Garhwal Rifles in 1941.[1]

Early life and education

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He obtained his Master of Arts (MA) in History and LLB from the University of Lucknow.[1]

Military career

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He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1941, as a Second lieutenant in the Royal Garhwal Battalion (now Garhwal Rifles). After commission, he participated in the Second World War, during which his battalion was deployed in the Burma campaign for the liberation of Burma from the Japanese forces. After Burma, he went with his battalion to Sumatra (Indonesia) to repulse the Japanese invasion.[1]

After the war in November 1946, his battalion was posted in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province. In 1947 after the Partition of India, he chose to remain in India and serve in the Indian Army, even though both his elder and younger brothers had chosen to move to Pakistan. While moving back to India, he and his battalion saved over 1000 non-Muslim refugees who were being attacked by locals and brought them safely to India.[1]

In 1959, as a Lieutenant colonel, he raised the 4 Garhwal Rifles battalion and became its commanding officer. Then in 1966, he went on to raise the 115 Infantry Brigade and became its first Brigade Commander. He then commanded the Indian Army's 20 Mountain Division. In the last, he held the post of Director-General, Infantry at Army Headquarters, New Delhi till his retirement on 27 January 1972.[1]

Children

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His son Syed Ata Hasnain was also a general officer in the Indian Army. His other son, Raza, was an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, who retired early, and is working in the corporate sector.

Dates of rank

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Insignia Rank Component Date of rank
Viceroy's Commissioned Officer British Indian Army 26 February 1941[2]
Second Lieutenant British Indian Army 28 February 1943 (emergency)[2]
Lieutenant British Indian Army 28 August 1943 (war-substantive)[2]
28 February 1944 (substantive)
Lieutenant Indian Army 15 August 1947[note 1][3]
Captain Indian Army 28 February 1949 (substantive)[note 1][4]
Captain Indian Army 26 January 1950 (recommissioning and change in insignia)[3][5]
Major Indian Army 28 February 1956[6]
Lieutenant-Colonel Indian Army
Colonel Indian Army 22 December 1965[7]
Brigadier Indian Army 5 October 1967 (substantive)[8]
Major General Indian Army 3 June 1969 (acting)[9]
2 February 1970 (substantive)[10]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Upon independence in 1947, India became a Dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a result, the rank insignia of the British Army, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star ("pip"), was retained, as George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Ashoka Lion replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the "pip."

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Tiwari, PREM Kant (6 August 2006). "They regretted their decision to leave India and settle in Pakistan". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947. Government of India Press. 1947. p. 754.
  3. ^ a b "New Designs of Crests and Badges in the Services" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 July 1949. p. 917.
  5. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 11 February 1950. p. 227.
  6. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 23 June 1956. p. 127.
  7. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 22 July 1967. p. 558.
  8. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 10 February 1968. p. 98.
  9. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 2 August 1969. p. 739.
  10. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)". The Gazette of India. 18 April 1970. p. 509.
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