Begum Pasha Shah: A Trailblazer in Indian Military History
Begum Pasha Shah etched her name in history as the first Muslim woman to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in India.
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Born in 1925 in Kalanaur, British Punjab, Hafiz joined the 9th Jat Regiment. At just 18, the winds of the Second World War swept him into the maelstrom of the Battle of Imphal, a brutal fight in northeeast India against the Japanese Imperial Army.
On 6 April 1944, in the hills north of Imphal, Hafiz was ordered to lead his men to take a critical enemy position, high up a bare slope which offered minimal cover. Yet, Hafiz led his men with unwavering resolve, in the face of a deadly hail of enemy fire.
A wound tore through his leg, but Hafiz pressed on, his courage a beacon for his comrades. Despite his wound, Hafiz charged a machine gun and helped to overcome the Japanese crew.
Hafiz suffered a second, graver wound to the chest, but he continued to lead, and with his last breaths, he urged his men to hold the hard-won ground.
For his extraordinary bravery, Naib Subedar Abdul Hafiz was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. At 18, he became the youngest Indian VC recipient. His medal was placed in the hands of his widow, Jugri Begum who he left behind alongside a daughter of 3 months, who he never got to hold.
His VC medals are today on display in the Imperial War Museum in London and his name is recorded on the domed pavilion at Memorial Gates, located at Constitution Hill, London.
Begum Pasha Shah etched her name in history as the first Muslim woman to join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) in India.
Gaje Ghale was born on 1 August 1918 in Barpak, Gorkha District, Nepal. Barpak, a small village nestled in the rugged terrains of the Himalayas, is in a region that has produced some of the most esteemed soldiers to have served in the armed forces.
Records indicate that no Victoria Crosses were awarded to Indian soldiers specifically for their actions at Monte Cassino during The Second World War. However, Indian soldiers played a significant role in the gruelling battles for Monte Cassino, with many displaying exceptional bravery. One soldier, Sepoy Kamal Ram of the 8th Punjab Regiment, did receive the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Garigliano River in Italy in May 1944.
The George Cross (GC) is the highest civilian gallantry award given in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
The first of the Trust’s projects is the South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM), which first took place in 2020 and runs from the 18th of July to the 17th of August each year.
SAHM seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities.
It seeks to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia.
© South Asian Heritage Trust | All Rights Reserved
