Service No: IC-159

Date of Birth :12 Feb,1911

Service: Army

Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Unit : 4 Dogra

Arm/Regt : The Dogra Regiment

Award :MVC

Date of Martyrdom : 22 Feb,1948

Lt Col I J S Butalia MVC

Lieutenant Colonel I J S Butalia was born on 12th Feb 1911. Son of Shri Iqbal Singh, Lt Col I J S Butalia was commissioned on 31 Jan 1937, into the Dogra Regiment, a Regiment known for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle exploits. By 1948, Lt Col Butalia had put in about 11 years of service and had evolved into a committed soldier and a fine officer. Before taking over as the first Commanding Officer of 4 Dogra battalion, he served in various operational areas with different terrain and working conditions.

 

Battle of Kalal(J & K) : 22 Feb 1948

 

During Feb 1948, Lt Col Butalia’s unit 4 Dogra, also known as “Char Satara”, had been moved to J&K to fight off the Pakistani invaders who had attacked Kashmir and thereby posed a grave threat to the security and integrity of India. Here, as a part of 19 Independent Infantry Brigade, the battalion participated in a series of operations over the next ten months. The battalion played crucial role in the battles of Kalal, Chawa, Jhangar and Barwali Ridge. Lt Col Butalia proved his mettle as a gallant soldier and military leader in the battle of Kalal. In this battle ,On 22nd Feb 1948, Lt Col Butalia was assigned the task of covering the withdrawal of 19 (I) Infantry Brigade without any artillery support.

 

Lt Col Butalia deployed his troops to provide right flank protection to 1 Kumaon battalion which was advancing to Kalal village. He himself supervised the withdrawal of two pickets of the infantry battalion when the enemy was closing on them. During the battle, Lt Col Butalia was seriously wounded by the heavy firing with his left hand having completely blown off. Undeterred, he refused to be evacuated and continued giving directions to his troops. Later he succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Lt Col I J S Butalia was a gallant soldier and an office par excellence, who laid down his life in the service of the nation.  He was given the nation’s second highest gallantry award ” Maha Vir Chakra” posthumously for his cold courage, unfaltering leadership and supreme sacrifice.

The Citation of Maha Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:

 

On 22 February 1948, Lieutenant Colonel I.J.S Butalia, Commanding Officer 4 Dogra, was assigned the task of covering the withdrawal of 19 (I) Infantry Brigade without any artillery support. He carried out the withdrawal successfully and personally supervised the lay back. He gallantly withdrew two pickets of an infantry battalion when the enemy was closing on them. He was seriously wounded by the enemy heavy firing and his left hand was completely blown off Undeterred, he refused to be evacuated saying that a few like him could be sacrificed for the duty assigned to him. He bravely carried the withdrawal of the rearmost party where he himself was.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Butalia showed selfless devotion to duty and a fine example of leadership, which led to the success of the operation.

 
  • A war memorial has been constructed at Seri (Naushera) at the spot of where Lt Col IJS Butalia, had fallen to enemy bullets during the battle of Kalal.
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9 Comments
  • Col Varinder Singh Butalia (Retd)

    2019 at 8:57 pm Reply

    My SALUTE to the Butalia Clan & the National Hero for his Ultimate Sacrifice which is parallel to NONE.

    “DO NOT LAMENT THE DEATH OF A WARRIOR KILLED IN THE BATTLEFIELD.
    AS THOSE WHO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR ARE HONOURED IN THE HEAVEN”.

  • Nafeesa Singh

    2019 at 1:16 am Reply

    As Lt.col.IJS butalia was my grand father from my(Nana), being his proud grand daughter always wanted to atleast know about him ,my mother suniljeet butalia ,daughter of Lt.col.IJS butalia ,now
    is suffering from liver cancer was in her mother’s womb when her father gave his life for the country.She waited long to know about him and now with help of the army officers who knew his history we have been able to know about him.we would try to know about many things about him as I being his grand daughter would want to know more about his life and would want my mother to see all that she had nt seen of her father and proud of the 4 Dogra regiment where he had finally served and laid his life for the country.salute to Lt.col.IJS butalia ,Mahavir Chakra holder ,all of us ,are proud of him .Jai Hind.

    • Rjoginder Singh

      2021 at 1:02 pm

      Sir I contact you for Bhagat Ram VRC 4 DOGRA with your grand fATHER IJS BUTALIA IN BATTEL TOGETHER fight with enemy

    • Dr Maroof Ahmad

      2022 at 11:52 pm

      please provide your contact details ma’am. A book is being compiled incorporating all the MVC winners. We need details of Lt Col IJS Butalia, MVC for inclusion in the book.

  • Lt Col Madan Lal Kanaujia (Retd )

    2019 at 11:56 am Reply

    Lt COL ML Kanaujia (Retd)-Bangalore, Ex 4 DOGRA.
    Lt Col IJS Butalia,MVC , was the FIRST Indian Commanding Officer of 4 DOGRA , and THE ONLY OFFICER , OF THE UNIT SO FAR , TO HAVE BEEN BESTOWED MAHA VIR CHAKRA FOR THE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE IN THE BATTLE FIELD OF NOWSHERA IN J&K DURING 1948. THE UNIT, UNDER HIS COMMAND, WAS ALSO REWARDED WITH BATTLE HONOR FOR THE CAPTURE OF BARWALI RIDGE IN 1948.

    WE ALL , REMEMBER AND SALUTE TO ONE OF THE GREATEST HEROES OF THE NATION , THE DOGRA REGIMENT AND 4 DOGRA , FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE. JAI HIND
    JAI JWALA MATA – JAI DOGRA REGIMENT-JAI CHAR SATARA

  • Yash Pawar

    2019 at 11:46 am Reply

    If you are the kin or related to Lt.Col. I.J.S Butalia, Mahavir Chakra holder, please contact akshay.mvr@gmail.com for a school project honouring martyrs of India

  • HK Butalia

    2020 at 11:15 pm Reply

    So proud of my family and history

    • Sandeep Kumar

      2023 at 11:38 am

      Sir please provide me your contact number. My contact number is 7051718285.

  • Simarjit Singh Butalia

    2020 at 9:29 pm Reply

    So proud of my family. He’s my Great Grandfather Capt Ajit Singh Butalia’s brother.

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