THE JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES

THE JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES

The Jammu & Kashmir Rifles has a unique regimental history. It was not raised by the British but by an intrepid Indian ruler called Gulab Singh in 1821. Gulab Singh was one of the ablest Generals of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and later became the ruler of the Jammu & Kashmir state. He and his legendary General Zorawar Singh led many spectacular campaigns to add Ladakh, Baltistan, Hunza and Skardu to the State territories. Zorawar Singh mounted a breath-taking invasion of Tibet in 1841. It was their heroic stand that gained time for the entry of the Indian Army and thus saved the Kashmir Valley. The J&K State Forces are the only erstwhile Princely State Forces of India to be absorbed en bloc into the Indian Army as a distinct and separate Regiment. In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu & Kashmir Rifles. Its Regimental Centre is Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and its Regimental insignia is an oval embracing the sun, the State emblem with Sanskrit inscription which translates as ‘Ever Victorious in War’. Its Regimental motto is ‘Prashata Ranvirta’ (Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy) and its war cry is ‘Durga Mata Ki Jai’ (Victory to Goddess Durga)