Born on July 1, 1933, his bravery earned him the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honour, for his heroic fight against Pakistan’s Patton tanks
FAIZABAD — The nation on Tuesday remembered a hero who was born in the Dhamupur village of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh, 92 years ago. Born on July 1, 1933, Veer Abdul Hameed etched his name in the annals of the country’s history by his display of incredible courage and legendary acts during the Indo-Pak war of 1965.
Abdul Hameed joined the Indian Army on 7 December 1954 and served in the 4th Grenadier Regiment. During the 1965 war, Pakistani forces launched attacks under ‘Operation Gibraltar’ and targeted Kashmir. One of the fiercest battles took place in the Khemkaran sector of Tarn Taran district in Punjab, where Pakistani Patton tanks, believed to be undefeatable, advanced towards Indian positions.
Despite the odds, Abdul Hameed showed great bravery. He used a gun-mounted jeep to attack the weak spots of the enemy tanks. His actions destroyed eight Patton tanks one by one, turning the battlefield into a graveyard for enemy vehicles.
Abdul Hameed’s bravery not only dealt a heavy blow to the Pakistani army but also led the United States to review the design of its Patton tanks. Sadly, during this fight, a shell hit Abdul Hameed’s jeep, causing serious injuries to him that led to his martyrdom on 9 September 1965.
The Government of India honoured his supreme sacrifice by awarding him the Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest military award, posthumously on 16 September 1965.
Abdul Hameed’s story remains a proud example of courage and dedication. As one army officer said, “His bravery inspired us all. He showed that with courage, even the strongest enemy can be defeated.”
The memory of Veer Abdul Hameed lives on in the hearts of Indians as a symbol of true heroism.
