Ranikhet  to Rewari: The Unbreakable Kumaoni-Ahir War-Winning Camaraderie

How do I talk about God in one page? It’s like endeavoring to capture HIM in a geometry box! There are endless sayings of Yogis, Rishis, Sages and wandering Gurus and endless books and scriptures of all the religions and faiths in the world defining one God in various manifestations! There are many inter- and intra-faith differences and belligerencies in defining our one God and let me leave this subject here only.

Similarly, how do I write about the long winding history of ‘The Kumaon Regiment’ in a page or two?’ Likewise, no one knows exact origin of 2 Kumaon (Berar) so where do I start from writing the unknown origin of ‘The Beraris?’ Therefore, rather than enumerating the entire history and extolling the virtues of my regiment, I will focus on the impact my regiment has had on me, emphasizing the things that are most meaningful to me.

Love, respect, bravery, physical and mental courage, missionary zeal, passion, devotion to duty, sacrifice, and commitment are some of the many traits that unite us as one large regimental family, with numerous Battalions serving as homes for every officer, JCO, and Jawan—collectively referred to as ‘All Ranks’—which is what matters most to us as soldiers. Our regimental home is located in Ranikhet, in the Kumaon hills, which are characterized by their majestic mountains, such as Trishul and Nanda Devi, as well as rivers and Kumaoni surnames, including Adhikari, Airy, Arya, Bhandari, Bhatt, Bisht, Bohra, Goswami, Joshi, Kandpal, Mahra, Pande, Rana, Tiwari, and others. In spite of being worshippers of Lord Shiva and Shakti, the Kumaonis have a rich tradition of folk deity worship. Each folk god or goddess has a separate tale attached to his or her name, remembered through a peak, temple, or folklore song. It is believed that the Kumaonis originally practiced Yaksha Hinduism, which embodies the dual aspects of nature’s bounty and its hidden dangers, while worshipping नाग (Indian Cobra) and honoring their brave warriors.

The Kumaonis’ origin is linked to early Kol settlers and later followed by Vedic Aryans and the Rajputs. The Katyuri dynasty in the 7th century established the Kumaon Kingdom and its name came from Kurmanchal, meaning ‘land of the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu.’ After the Katyuris, the region was ruled by the Chand dynasty until it was captured by Nepal in 1791 and subsequently ceded to the British after the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816. Part of the erstwhile Uttar Pradesh (UP), Kumaon is now one of the two divisions of the Uttarakhand (UK) state, the other being the Garhwal Division.

The valleys in the Kumaon Hills in the upper ranges, with the backdrop of the Eternal Snows, followed by evergreen forests of oak, chinar, pine, and rhododendron trees with red flowers, whisper as the majestic trees light their paths. Amber yields to snow, where green apples lie frosted, awaiting the sun’s warm embrace. Winter sighs into softness, tulips ascend, and renewal breathes again. Valleys are alive, shining, and blooming. The Kumaon division is also known as the ‘Lake District of India’ due to its many scenic lakes, with Bhimtal, Nainital, Naukhuchiyatal, and Sattal being the most famous ones. Bhimtal is the largest lake in the region, named after the Pandava hero Bhima. The legendary Nainital Lake is linked to the eye-shaped Naini Lake, which is associated with the Hindu goddess Sati; according to legend, her eye (nayan) fell at this spot while Lord Shiva was carrying her charred body after her father insulted him. In this context, ‘Nain’ refers to the goddess’s eyes and ‘tal’ means lake. It is famous for boating and its surrounding hills. Naukhuchiyatal, meaning ‘lake of nine corners,’ and Sattal, which is a cluster of seven interconnected lakes, are popular for their serene beauty, connection to nature and paragliding. The Kumaon region is a radiant ode to Mother Nature, sculpted in organic form with mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, and lakes; emeralds; pearls; rubies; and ombre sapphires in a timeless essence alive in spirit with echoes from up in the heavens. No wonder, while Mahatma Gandhi called Kausani in its natural beauty and tranquility the Switzerland of the East, Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore was inspired to compose his Gitanjali in Ramgarh, while renowned Hindi poetess Mahadevi Verma lived in Umagarh village nearby, now managed as a literary museum by the Kumaon University.

The list of notable Kumaoni authors, politicians, scholars, soldiers and sportspeople is extensive. Some are, like authors Sumitranandan Pant, Govind Chandra Pande, Nain Singh Rawat, soldiers and military commanders like Gen Bipin Chandra Joshi and Adm Devendra Kumar Joshi, the first Army and Naval Chiefs respectively, Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his valour during the Kargil War, Mohan Chand Sharma, decorated police inspector posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra (AC) for his bravery during the Batla House encounter, Gobind Ballabh Pant, prominent freedom fighter and a key figure in India’s independence movement and the first Chief Minister of UP and Union Home Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Minister and senior leader of the BJP, known for his academic background as a physics professor, musician actor Mohan Upreti, playwright, theater director and folk singer who  composed the soul stirring Kumaoni folk song ‘Bedu Pako Baro Masa’  widely regarded as  the cultural anthem, Disha Patani, popular Bollywood actress, sportspersons MS Dhoni, the former Indian cricket team captain, Rishabh Pant, national team cricketer, Ekta Bisht, woman national cricketer, Lakshya Sen, international badminton player, Chandraprabha Aitwal, veteran mountaineer and recipient of the Padma Shri and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. Prominent Congress leader ND Tiwari is remembered as the pioneering Indian politician who left a major imprint by serving as Chief Minister of UP and Uttrakhand, holding key central government portfolios and playing vital role in shaping Uttarakhand’s early development. However, due to excessive construction of high rise buildings, dams and roads in the high seismic zone prone to earthquakes and landslides, expanding tourism, lack of job opportunities and reckless commercialization leading to greater vendalisation of these sacred places by the corrupt forest and the bureaucratic mafias, disheartening all those who love these majestic mountains.

Retracing history, we find that the Regiment was born far away in the Deccan, as the Kumaon Regiment’s erstwhile ancestors were the 19 Hyderabad Regiment. In 1935, the Colonel of the 19 Hyderabad Regiment forwarded a unanimous proposal from Battalion Commanders to the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) suggesting that the name of the Hyderabad Regiment be changed to the 19 Kumaon Regiment.

The reasons included the Regiment’s lack of connection with Hyderabad, the perception that its existing name made it seem like a down-country regiment, confusion arising when units were stationed alongside the Hyderabad state infantry, and new officers’ reluctance to join the Regiment. However, the C-in-C rejected the proposal, stating that he was unprepared to alter the 1922 reorganization. During World War II, recruitment of Jats in the regiment decreased as they were increasingly going to the Armoured Corps and Artillery and had their own Jat Regiment. The Ahirs, though they had no regiment of their own, were increasingly recruited in the Artillery and the 8 and 14 Punjab Regiments, while some Kumaonis were recruited in the Frontier Force Regiment; it was minimal and later completely stopped. After considering various factors, the Jats of the Hyderabad Regiment were transferred to the Jat and Grenadier Regiments and their place was taken by the Ahirs. The future class composition of the Hyderabad Regiment was decided as 75% Kumaonis and 25% Ahirs. At the same time, on October 27, 1945, the name of the regiment was changed to the 19 Kumaon Regiment. Later, the prefix 19 was dropped, and the regiment got its present name, which we all wear with immense pride on our shoulders. It was a long journey and a momentous change, and 27 October ever since is celebrated every year as ‘THE KUMAON DAY,’ coinciding with ’THE INFANTRY DAY.’ Until recently, 2 Kumaon (Berar) also celebrated Berar Day on 27 October, which Col. (later Lt. Gen.) Jiti Bajwa, as CO changed to 19 February, coinciding with the more appropriate Bishanpur Battle Honour Day of the Paltan.

The Regiment is mostly Kumaonis from the Kumaon region and foothills, but there are also minor communities like Rajputs and Brahmins from the plains. Large numbers of Yadav soldiers were enrolled, as the then Colonel of the Regiment, Gen. K. S. Thimayya, DSO, desired to improve the standard of sports and national integration. The Ahirs constitute a single composite group and are an important community from the semi-deserts of what was once southern Punjab, now part of Haryana and northern Rajasthan, which includes Rewari, Narnaul, Kosli, Mahendergarh, and Alwar. This area, called Ahirwal (meaning “abode of the Ahirs”), has 25% of the regiment’s strength. While there are some pure Kumaoni battalions, 11 and 13 Kumaon are pure Ahir paltans. Some units have Ahirs on either a 25% or 50% basis. Gradually, over the period, many Yadavs from UP and other states started pouring in, consequently lowering the strength of the Ahir sportsmen and warriors. The Kumaon Regiment and Ranikhet are our second home. As a veteran, it occurs to me that the Kumaon Hills may have been our first home during our service, as many dedicated veterans settled there, acting as a shield in the past, battling for our regiment’s dignity and honor. While the shield may have cracked often in the wars, our veterans consistently protected the dignity and honor of our regiment and nation.

The Yadavs, Jadavs, or Yadavas’ contribution to the composite kaleidoscopic culture of India is immense. The Yadavs’ contributions include nomadic art forms, the Abhira language, which is Apabhramsa Devnagari, Raslilas, and certain ragas such as Ahir-Bhairav, Abhirika, Gopiksha, and Kannada Guala, with the Krishna Cult being perhaps the most significant. Their origin is controversial. Some historians state that they were a powerful race of nomad cowherds from Eastern or Central Asia who entered India from the Punjab in large hordes around the 1st or 2nd century BC and gradually spread over large parts of Northern, Eastern and Central India, often called the cow belt of the country. Other views are that they came from Syria or Asia Minor at the beginning of the Christian era; were Dravidians; sprang from the Aayars of Tamil Nadu; lived in India long before the Aryan invasion; were descendants of the Yadavs of the Lunar family; and that their original habitat was the region between the Rivers Sutlej and Yamuna, from where they migrated beyond Mathura in the East and Gujarat and Maharashtra in the South. The Ahirs of the Mathura region were known to be peace-loving cowherds, whereas the Ahirs of Rewari and Mahendergarh were powerful and accomplished warriors and sportsmen. The offspring of kidnapped women or widows were known as Yaduvanshis, while the ones with Ahir fathers were called Yadavs. Out of these Yadavs, many have been categorized as backward classes, whereas the rest are flourishing farmers in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. 

Incidentally, very few know that the word “Haryana” has been derived from its ancient inhabitants, the Abhirayana, which got changed to “Ahirayana” over a period and to present-day “Haryana.” Similarly, the name ‘Abhira’ stemmed from Abhira or the fearless, the honor they earned after the Battle of the Mahabharata. In the 1st Century AD, invading Scythians and Kushans forced Ahirs out of their land to lower Rajasthan in the Aravali Region. In Marwar, Saurashtra and Maharashtra, they served the local rulers and established their own Kingdoms. Ishwar Sena, a great Ahir general, became master of the Western Deccan and became king; his descendants continued to rule the region for nine generations. For centuries the Ahirs were eclipsed as a political power in Southern Punjab until Haryana was created as a separate state.                   

Rao Tula Ram was one of the most important dynamic Ahir leaders of the 1857 War of Independence. He was born on December 9, 1825, in the well-known Rao family in the village of Rampura in Rewari. He was educated according to the prevalent customs at the time and knew Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and a smattering of English. In November 1839, Rao Tula Ram ascended the throne on the death of his father. Along with his cousin Gopal Dev, he revolted against the Raj in a big way. He fought many battles against the British Raj, along with the forces of the last Mughal king, Bahadur Shah, the Marathas, and the Rajput princes. The battle of Narnaul was undoubtedly one of the most decisive battles of the ‘Uprising of 1857’ fought by Rao Tula Ram that left the English jubilant over their success. On 6 October 1857, the British sent a column of 1,500 troops under Colonel Gerrard, an officer of conspicuous merit, who captured Rampura mud fort after minor skirmishes. On 16 November, while Colonel Gerrard’s troops were bogged down in the desert terrain at Nasibpur, a small village two miles northwest of Narnaul, the rebel forces under Rao Tula Ram pounced on them. The British forces scattered before Rao Tula Ram’s irresistible first charge. The Patiala Infantry and the Multani Horse of the British forces were completely disheartened and Rao Tula Ram took advantage of the situation, forcing them to withdraw. However, though his forces fought valiantly, suffering heavy casualties, they could not withstand intense artillery bombardment followed by repeated charges by the British cavalry and infantry and were forced to retreat. The pursuit of the fleeing soldiers was quick and inexorable and they were very soon driven out of the town. After a little fighting, Rao Tula Ram lost the day, and when the sun went down, there remained none in Narnaul except heaps of corpses around.  Rao Tula Ram managed to escape to Rajasthan and joined Tantia Tope’s forces. Since he was refused pardon after the revolt, dispossessing his Jagirs, he escaped to Iran in 1862 and then to Afghanistan in the winter of 1862, where he died of dysentery at Kabul on 23 September 1863 at the young age of 38. 

Many raganis have been composed and sung by the Ahirs as folklore glorifying their valor and honor. Though Rewari is the Ahirs’ center, few locals know how it got its name. During the Mahabharata period a king named Rewat, who had a daughter named Rewati, founded a city named ‘Rewa wadi’ after his daughter. Balram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, later married Rewati. The Maratha Ruler Tantia Tope built a fort at Mahendergarh in the 17th century. This fort was named Mahendergarh in 1861 by Narinder Singh, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Patiala, in honor of his son Mohinder Singh.

Lord Krishna, a major figure in Hindu mythology, is thought to be a Yadav descendant. The Yadavs take immense pride in their connection to Lord Krishna and his role in shaping their cultural and religious identity.  Some important Yadav/Ahir personalities are Bali Ram Bhagat, Chandrajit Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, his son Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple, Rabri Devi, Lalu Prasad Yadav and their sons, Rao Barinder Singh, Rao Inderjit Singh, the late Col. Rao Ram Singh, etc. Swami Ram Dev, the modern Yoga Guru, is another notable Ahir from the Ahirwal region and now thrives as a businessman of international fame. Their first love after farming is soldiering.  In a big Kosli-like Ahir village, it is not unusual to find a recruit and a general in the Army from the same family. The villagers maintain simple, frugal vegetarian food habits and enjoy their community hooka, kaddi, lassi, pure ghee, and choorma—a delicacy made from crushed chapattis mixed with a generous amount of pure ghee, nuts, and jaggery—while younger, modern urban Ahirs are increasingly drawn to McDonald’s, non-vegetarian dishes, alcohol, and fast food. In 13 Kumaon, Ahir Jawans accepted officers only if they could run, play, and sing raganis as well as they could. Maintenance of discipline in the Ahir unit is likely the easiest in the Indian Army.

Yadavs are good sportsmen, and in every second house, there are wrestling, Kabbadi, and boxing champions. While Suresh Yadav and Virender Singh Yadav have excelled in wrestling, Ms. Santosh Yadav climbed Mount Everest twice, and Kuldeep Yadav and Surya Kumar Yadav have excelled in international cricket. Yadavs are considered powerful due to their strong presence in Indian politics, historical connections to ancient warrior clans, large population size, and significant political and social organization. Their influence is particularly notable in states like UP, MP, Bihar and Haryana, where they constitute a significant voting bloc and have historically been a key force in electoral politics.

Though the numerous battalions of the Kumaon Regiment have excelled in post-independence wars and earned many gallantry awards and Battle and Theater Honors, the three most inspiring battles fought by 4 Kumaon, 13 Kumaon, and 6 Kumaon, respectively, are briefly narrated below for the motivation of posterity.

Battle of Badgam-4 Kumaon

During the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948, a defensive encounter took place at Badgam, very close to the Srinagar Airport. The skirmishes occurred on 3 Nov 1947, involving a company of the 4 Kumaon led by Maj Som Nath Sharma, who were supported by the Indian Air Force (IAF) under my legendary maternal uncle, Group Captain KL Bhatia, VrC, in their fight against approximately 1,000 Pakistani tribal Lashkar raiders who had occupied Badgam. Maj Som Nath Sharma, born in a family with a strong military background, displayed extraordinary courage and leadership during the Badgam Battle. Despite an injured arm, he insisted on leading his men in the critical battle to defend the Srinagar airport from a large force of Pakistani-backed infiltrators. Outnumbered nearly seven to one, Major Sharma and his 90 men held their ground with fierce resistance, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Even with limited ammunition, he refused to retreat, and a mortar shell martyred him while he was assisting his men. Legendary Maj Som Nath Sharma thus became the first recipient of India’s highest military honor, the Param Vir Chakra (PVC). In Ranikhet, Walking past Som Nath Ground, Nar Singh Ground, and Diwan Singh Hall, named after Badgam’s decorated martyrs, fills us with honor.  

Battle of Rezang La-13 Kumaon

The Regiment won its second PVC in the 1962 Sino-Indian War in the Eastern Ladakh Sector in ‘The Battle of Rezang La.’. On 18 Nov 1962, a tough battle took place at Rezang La, which is about 17,000 feet high and had temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius in Chushul, fought by 120 brave soldiers from the Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon, led by the late Maj. Shaitan Singh, PVC, who successfully defended against a large Chinese attack that came in waves across difficult and harsh mountain terrain. To honor the bravery and the missionary zeal of the legendary Maj Shaitan Singh and his 120 Charlie Company Bravehearts, out of which 110 along with Maj Shaitan Singh, were martyred, a sequel to the Bollywood film Haqeeqat in the sixties, 120 BAHADUR (120 बहादुर), an upcoming Bollywood war film on the Rezang La Battle directed by Razneesh (Razy) Ghai (brother of Kumaoni serving Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai) and produced by Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios, is set to be released on 21 Nov 2025.

Major-General Ian Cardozo, in his book ‘Param Vir, Our Heroes In Battle,’ writes, ‘When Rezang La was later revisited, dead jawans were found in the trenches still holding on to their weapons. Every single man of this Company was found dead in his trench with several bullet or splinter wounds. The 2-inch mortar man died with a bomb still in his hand. The medical orderly Lance Naik Dhaiya had a syringe and bandage in his hands when the Chinese bullet hit him. Of the thousand mortar bombs with the defenders, all but seven had been fired and the rest were ready to be fired when the mortar section was overrun. After exhausting his ammunition, Naik Sing Ram, a renowned wrestler, almost single-handedly killed twelve Chinese. The heroes who were awarded the Vir Chakra in 1962 for defending Rezang La were Jemadars Hari Ram, Surja, Naik Hukum Chand, Naik Gulab Singh, Lance-Naik Singh Ram and Sep/NA Dharam Pal Dhaiya (all posthumous); Jemadar (later Subedar)  Ram Chander; and Nk (later Hony Capt) Ram Kumar. Sena Medals were awarded to Havildar (later Hony Capt) Phool Singh and Sep (later Havildar) Nihal Singh, Havildar Jai Narain and CHM Harphool Singh (posthumously), while Lt Col (later Col) HS Dhingra, CO 13 Kumaon, was awarded AVSM. At all functions held by the Ahir units in the Indian Army and 13 Kumaon, songs such as ‘Attarah November Basath Ko Ik Hua Ghore Sangram Suno Jawanon’ and ‘Rewari Motor Adde Par Unth Par Sawar Tha’ are sung together with great enthusiasm and dedication. In 1994, late Sub Sujjan Singh of 13 Kumaon from Kanina had the unique distinction of being awarded Ashok Chakra—the highest peace time award while fighting militants in Kupwara in the Kashmir valley, thus bestowing the honor of ‘The Bravest of the Brave’ on the Paltan. 15 Kumaon is the other Kumaoni Battalion bestowed with this award, with three Ashok Chakras to its credit.

Battle of Walong

Likewise, in the Battle of Walong, the Jangi Six, as 6 Kumaon is proudly known after the Walong Battle, halted the advancing PLA soldiers for 27 days, which forced them to commit their reserve division from Tawang Sector to Walong as fierce battles unfolded in the unforgiving terrain of Kibithu, Namti Tri Junction (famously known as Tiger’s Mouth), Walong, and adjoining features. Vastly outnumbered and with little ammunition and no resources, the Kumaoni Bhullas nearly won the only counterattack launched on the Chinese in the 1962 War, fighting to the last man and last round until there was an eerie silence! Brave-heart Lieut. Bikram Singh and his D Company not only repulsed and deprived the enemy of gaining an early advantage at Namti Nullah, which gave the PLA a bloody nose, but also the West Ridge on 16 November 1962, where he was martyred fighting in action, inscribing his name in golden letters in the country’s military history. For their tenacity and bravery, Major PN Bhatia, Captain RK Mathur, Captain (Dr.) BC Chopra, AMC, 2/Lieut AS Khatri and the late Naik Bahadur Singh were awarded Vir Chakras, respectively.

Besides 13 Kumaon, many brave Ahir soldiers from Haryana and other parts of the country have made their mark in the various wars fought by the Indian Army and won numerous gallantry medals. Grenadier (later Hony Capt) Yogendra Singh Yadav born in Aurangabad village in Bulandshahr (UP) of 18 Grenadiers was the first Ahir and the youngest recipient of the PVC in the Kargil War. Incidentally, his father served in the Kumaon Regiment and participated in the Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971.  Among the Victoria Cross (VC) winners were Havildar Nandeo Jadhav of 5 MLI, who served in World War II in Italy, and Havildar (later Hony Capt) Umrao Singh from Palra village in Jhajjar (Rohtak), who was the only Ahir gunner awarded the VC during the Arakan Campaign in the Second World War. Smart, erect, slim and handsome when he went for Victoria Cross Reunion in UK some years back, Late Queen Elizabeth II was so impressed by him that she went up to Umrao Singh  and shook hand with him. Late Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav, AC, (The Mahar Regiment) was killed in the line of duty during the Akshardham Temple attack while on deputation to the National Security Guard (NSG). Among the Mahavir Chakra (MVC) winners were Brigadier RS Yadav, Commodore BB Yadav, and Leading Seaman CS Yadav. The Yadav/Ahirs are not only good soldiers but also equally good sportsmen, farmers, businessmen, educationalists, artists, administrators, and politicians. After their military service, they become devoted farmers, valuing the earth more than gold and actively preserving it.

The Larger Family

On 01 November 1970, the NAGA Regiment was raised at Ranikhet as a single-battalion regiment and affiliated to the Kumaon Regiment. The raising of the NAGA Regiment was in fulfillment of the Central Government’s obligation towards the NAGA Peace Accord of 1969. This affiliation with the Kumaon Regiment was made on the specific request of the Nagaland Government, based on the performance of battalions of the Kumaon Regiment in fighting insurgency in Nagaland. The Nagas’ success in 1971 and the Kargil Wars led to the raising of a total of three Battalions.  Even though the NAGA Regiment is affiliated with the KUMAON Regiment, it has its own distinctive dress and flag, and inter-regimental postings are not uncommon.

The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. The regiment has won 2 Param Vir Chakras, 4 Ashok Chakras, 10 Maha Vir Chakras, 6 Kirti Chakras, 79 Vir Chakras (including 1 Bar), 23 Shaurya Chakras, 2 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 1 Yudh Seva Medal, and 129 Sena Medals (including 2 Bars), as well as 1 Padma Vibhushan, 2 Padma Bhushans, 1 Padma Shri, and 1 Arjuna Award. The Regiment has the distinct honor of producing three Army chiefs- Gen SM Srinagesh, Gen KS Thimayya and Gen TN Raina. With nineteen Battalions, 1 Scout Battalion, two Territorial Army (TA) Battalions, three Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Battalions, three former units 1 Kumaon has been restructured into 3 Para (SF), 10 Kumaon is now designated as the Kumaon Regimental Centre, and 14 Kumaon has transitioned to become 5 Mechanical Battalions. Additionally, these units are affiliated with three Battalions of the Naga Regiment, a naval ship, and an IAF Squadron. The Kumaonis demonstrate unparalleled bravery and combat effectiveness.

Lately, some Ahir leaders had been vociferously demanding a separate Ahir Regiment in the Indian Army, which is a political decision to be taken by the Central Government. However, the proud military traditions of the bravery, sacrifices, discipline, leadership, and valor of the Ahirs in the KUMAON Regiment, as well as other arms and services of the Indian Army, are exemplary. Both the Kumaonis from the Hills and the Ahirs from the plains blend seamlessly in our great Regiment, enhancing its combat effectiveness, while their respective soils tell stories of Naam, Namak, and Nishaan. 

The bravery of Majors Som Nath Sharma and Shaitan Singh, along with the troops under their command, is inspired by a strong military lineage, a deep sense of duty, personal discipline, self-sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to their Regiment, fellow soldiers, and nation while facing fearful odds. These towering commanders in Indian military history will be ever remembered for their extraordinary valor in war and their legacy will continue to resonate across various facets of modern India’s military, civic, cultural, social and educational spheres, motivating future generations.

So this is how the story of the composite Kumaon Regiment, an admixture of the Kumaonis and Ahirs in the KUMAON Regiment goes on and on motivating future generations.