Opinion | October 1947: The Invasion, The Sacrifice And The Stories Jammu & Kashmir Must Never Forget

As India observes Infantry Day, personal memories of survival during the 1947 Kashmir invasion underline why the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians must never be forgotten

Got Question about the News?

History survives in books, official documents and archives. But it also survives in the memories of people who lived through it, in stories told by grandparents to their grandchildren, and in the recollections of families who carry the scars of events that changed their lives forever.

Some of these stories are eventually documented. Others remain confined to family conversations, passed down from one generation to the next until the people who remember them are no longer around to tell them.

100 Soldiers vs 5,000 Raiders: The Battle That Saved Kashmir for India | News18

US Shifts Diplomats From Multiple Countries In West Asia As Intel Warns Of Iranian 'Terror Plots'

Karwa Chauth 2026: Why Do Women Look At The Moon Through A Sieve? Significance Of Karwa Pot And Moon Ritual

Kerala Mercedes Crash Row: Police Lapses, Bail Controversy and the Fight for Justice | BRASS TACKS

My grandmother, who passed away in 2007, was one such storyteller. She would recount the ordeal her family endured during the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1947. I listened to those stories, but I regret that I never recorded her testimony. Today, nearly two decades after her death, I wish I had preserved her words in her own voice, with the details and emotions that only someone who lived through those terrible days could convey.

Her story is one reason I believe that preserving history is not merely the responsibility of historians and archivists. It is a responsibility we all share.

As India observes Infantry Day on October 27, 2026, commemorating the landing of the first Indian Army troops in Srinagar in 1947, the occasion offers an opportunity to revisit the invasion, the military resistance that followed, and the immense suffering inflicted on civilians. It is also an opportunity to reflect on how much of this history has been documented, how much survives through oral tradition, and how much may already have been lost.

October 22, 1947: When the invasion began

The story begins on October 22, 1947, when the Pakistani army aided by the tribal forces from Pakistan’s North-West Frontier region crossed into the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The invasion, supported by elements from Pakistan, advanced through Muzaffarabad and along the Jhelum Valley road towards Srinagar.

1.The tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir began on October 22, 1947, when forces from Pakistan crossed into the princely state.

The tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir began on October 22, 1947, when forces from Pakistan crossed into the princely state.

2.Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India on October 26, 1947, which was accepted by Governor-General Lord Mountbatten on October 27.

Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India on October 26, 1947, which was accepted by Governor-General Lord Mountbatten on October 27.

3.The first Indian Army troops, including the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, were airlifted to Srinagar on the morning of October 27, 1947.

The first Indian Army troops, including the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, were airlifted to Srinagar on the morning of October 27, 1947.

The first line of defence was the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, whose soldiers faced a rapidly advancing force amid a breakdown of communications, defections and fierce fighting.

One of the most consequential episodes occurred in the Muzaffarabad sector. Muslim personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces’ 4th Battalion mutinied and joined the invading raiders. Historical accounts report that Lieutenant Colonel Narain Singh, the battalion’s commanding officer, and his adjutant were killed during the collapse of the defence.

The episode was a grave blow to the state’s military position. The loss of the Muzaffarabad defences opened the route towards Srinagar and exposed the Valley to the advancing raiders.

This history must be recounted with precision. The actions of the mutineers were consequential, but they should not be confused with the conduct of an entire religious community. The conflict also saw people of different backgrounds make very different choices, including soldiers who remained loyal and civilians who helped others survive.

As the raiders advanced towards Uri and Baramulla, reports of killings, looting and abductions spread.........

© News18