Kashmir Singh Katoch. Image Source: Xwhos? 

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Born on this day in 1915 in the Land of Lakes and Gardens, amidst the picturesque valley was a boy named Kashmir Singh Katoch, with eyes so beautiful and skin as soft as snow, his parents probably named him after the place of his origin. On top of this, his family had its roots deeply embedded in the soils of Kashmir, for his father, Janak Singh was one of the Prime Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, making Katoch’s name even more apt as he did not stray away from his familial ideals. Katoch wanted to protect the land that had given him so much and decided to join the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, to do his military training, as a way of giving something back to his land. Yet little did he know, that his future story was so glorious indeed, that one day Kashmir would find itself being indebted to its namesake.

Katoch’s career took off with him being appointed to the 1st battalion, East Surrey Regiment for a year, and in 1937, he was posted to the 6th battalion Frontier Force Rifles. With his path gaining momentum, he soon was attached to the 10th (training) battalion Frontier Force Rifles by April 1942. At a young age itself, Katoch later on in October of the same year became the Lieutenant, war substantive Captain and temporary Major. 

> Looking at his impressive record, Katoch was appointed by the British to fight in WW2, serving in Italy in the Battle of Monte Cassino, which led him to get awarded the Military Cross. To no one’s surprise at this point, 31-year old Katoch became a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Indian Army.

During Pakistan's infamous invasion of Kashmir in 1947, the then ruler Hari Singh found himself in dire straits. Requesting aid from the Government of India, he asked for the secondment of an officer to head the State Forces, which coincidentally was none other than our Katoch who was chosen for the job. Yet Katoch’s humbleness denied this offer, for he felt he was too junior to hold this position and was instead given the post of the Maharaja’s 'military adviser'. Yet Brigadier Rajinder Singh who was selected in place of Katoch as the Chief of Staff soon succumbed to death in the battle in September, leaving no choice to Katoch to succeed him as the commanding officer of the State Forces after the accession of Kashmir to the Indian Union.

Yet, Katoch’s story had just begun, for he achieved multiple milestones in his career in a span of just a few years. For instance, On 18 November 1950, being only 35 years old, Katoch was promoted to acting Brigadier and given command of a brigade. Then, he went on to become a colonel in September 1955, a brigadier in September 1958, major-general in September 1960, acting lieutenant-general and Adjutant General of the Indian Army in May 1963, subsequently commanding the XV Corps in the Kashmir Valley.

> The final post in which he was appointed as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) in 1970, completed his dedicated years of service from 1936-1970.

His life full of achievements in the civil service did not go unnoticed, for he was awarded the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1965. In his retirement, Katoch continued to live a healthy life, sticking to his land of origin for as long as he could, dying in the year 2007 at the age of 91.

Kashmir Singh Katoch was an Indian Army General, Military Adviser to the Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, and held a series of posts in his glorious service from 1936-1970.

The Man Named Kashmir

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