Syed Shahid Hamid
Encyclopedia
Major General
Syed Shahid Hamid MBE
HJ
MC
(September 17, 1910 – March 12, 1993) was a 2 star general in the Pakistan Army
and a close associate of President
Field Marshal Ayub Khan who played an important and an instrumental role in bringing Field Marshal Ayub Khan to power in the 1958 coup d'état that overthrew the government of President Major-General Iskander Mirza. Major General Syed Shahid Hamid was the first Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of Pakistan Army
. A descendant of Amir Kulal
, general Shahid Hamid was an inside player in the crucial months during Independence in 1947. A verten intelligence officer, he authored numerous books, notably the Autobiography of a General which was last published in 1965. His other books are “Courage is a Weapon”, “Early Years of Pakistan” and “So they Rode and Fought”.
However, the most important book written by him was “Disastrous Twilight” which was the diary he kept from 1945 till 1947. This was the time he served as Private Secretry to FM Sir Claude Auchinleck, c-in-c of the Indian Army. In this book considerable doubt is cast on the impartiality and the integrity of the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten.
It was this lack of impartiality that was one of the main factors in creating the chaos of the partition of the sub-continent. This was done by manipulating the findings of the Radciffe Boundary Award.
where he received his B.A in Mathematics
, followed by his M.A
in mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University. He joined the British Army
and was accepted to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, England in 1932 where he did his B.Sc. in War studies
. He was given a commission in 1933 and was inducted in the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire). A year later he joined the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Later he also commanded Guides Cavalry. He was then transferred to the Royal Indian Army Service Corps where he served in Kohat, Fort Sandeman and Risalpur. At this stage tanks were inducted into his unit.
where his eyes were badly injured, He was in the retreat from Rangoon and finally was evacuated from Shewbo to Calcutta. On being declared fit for duty he was posted to Staff College, Quetta in 1943 and was a Senior Instructor at the Command and Staff College
, Quetta
. Auchinleck made him his private Military Secretary and had played an influential role in the decision making of Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck
during in World War II. Shahid Hamid was an inside player in the crucial months leading up to the Partition.
Shahid Hamid was at the centre of the political storm during Partition when Auchinleck attempted to keep the army united and was then forced to divide it between India
and Pakistan
, while the Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, went ahead and divided the subcontinent
. A few months ago, after the partition, then-Colonel Shahid Hamid told the local journalist, Ahmed Rashid, that he was finishing a book on the drawing-up of the Radcliffe Award which delineated the border between India and Pakistan. Hamid told Ahmed Rasid that, in his book, he could prove conclusively that Mountbatten fiddled the boundary in Punjab in favour of India.
and was inherited in Pakistan Army
. As a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1948, he set up the now-famous Inter Services Intelligence from a small office in Karachi. He saw the army in action in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
, and had led the military operations in Kashmir. In 1951, at the age of 41, he became the youngest general in the Pakistan army - a record that is still unbeaten. During the 1958 martial law imposed by Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Shahid Hamid was the adjutant-general of the army, and had played an important role in bringing Field Marshal to power in 1958. In 1960, he was made the first Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of the Army. Major General Hamid took retirement from the Army in 1964, and was given an honorary discharge. After his retirement, he went into private business but was summoned back to public life in 1978 by General Zia ul-Haq, under whom he served as a federal cabinet minister for three years.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Syed Shahid Hamid MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
HJ
Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(September 17, 1910 – March 12, 1993) was a 2 star general in the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
and a close associate of President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Field Marshal Ayub Khan who played an important and an instrumental role in bringing Field Marshal Ayub Khan to power in the 1958 coup d'état that overthrew the government of President Major-General Iskander Mirza. Major General Syed Shahid Hamid was the first Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. A descendant of Amir Kulal
Amir Kulal
Shams ud-Din renowned as Amir Kulal was born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan to the well known scholar Saif ud-Din Hamza a descendant of Nabi Muhammad. Saif ud Din Hamza was also Amir of Tribe of Kulal , hence the title Amir...
, general Shahid Hamid was an inside player in the crucial months during Independence in 1947. A verten intelligence officer, he authored numerous books, notably the Autobiography of a General which was last published in 1965. His other books are “Courage is a Weapon”, “Early Years of Pakistan” and “So they Rode and Fought”.
However, the most important book written by him was “Disastrous Twilight” which was the diary he kept from 1945 till 1947. This was the time he served as Private Secretry to FM Sir Claude Auchinleck, c-in-c of the Indian Army. In this book considerable doubt is cast on the impartiality and the integrity of the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten.
It was this lack of impartiality that was one of the main factors in creating the chaos of the partition of the sub-continent. This was done by manipulating the findings of the Radciffe Boundary Award.
Early life
Born in Lucknow, Shahid Hamid was admitted in 1923 to Colvin Taluqdar school (Lucknow) and at the Aligarh Muslim UniversityAligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
where he received his B.A in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, followed by his M.A
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in mathematics from Aligarh Muslim University. He joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and was accepted to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, England in 1932 where he did his B.Sc. in War studies
War studies
War studies is the multi-disciplinary study of war. It is distinct from military history in that it encompasses a variety of fields:*Laws of war*Philosophy of war**Ethics of war***Just War Theory**Deterrence theory*Psychology of war...
. He was given a commission in 1933 and was inducted in the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire). A year later he joined the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Later he also commanded Guides Cavalry. He was then transferred to the Royal Indian Army Service Corps where he served in Kohat, Fort Sandeman and Risalpur. At this stage tanks were inducted into his unit.
Military career
During the Second World War, he saw extensive service on the Burma frontBurma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
where his eyes were badly injured, He was in the retreat from Rangoon and finally was evacuated from Shewbo to Calcutta. On being declared fit for duty he was posted to Staff College, Quetta in 1943 and was a Senior Instructor at the Command and Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
. Auchinleck made him his private Military Secretary and had played an influential role in the decision making of Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck
Claude Auchinleck
Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE , nicknamed "The Auk", was a British army commander during World War II. He was a career soldier who spent much of his military career in India, where he developed a love of the country and a lasting affinity for the soldiers...
during in World War II. Shahid Hamid was an inside player in the crucial months leading up to the Partition.
Shahid Hamid was at the centre of the political storm during Partition when Auchinleck attempted to keep the army united and was then forced to divide it between India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, while the Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, went ahead and divided the subcontinent
Subcontinent
A subcontinent is a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent. By dictionary entries, the term subcontinent signifies "having a certain geographical or political independence" from the rest of the continent, or "a vast and more or less self-contained subdivision...
. A few months ago, after the partition, then-Colonel Shahid Hamid told the local journalist, Ahmed Rashid, that he was finishing a book on the drawing-up of the Radcliffe Award which delineated the border between India and Pakistan. Hamid told Ahmed Rasid that, in his book, he could prove conclusively that Mountbatten fiddled the boundary in Punjab in favour of India.
Senior Appointments
Shahid Hamid opted for PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and was inherited in Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. As a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1948, he set up the now-famous Inter Services Intelligence from a small office in Karachi. He saw the army in action in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
, and had led the military operations in Kashmir. In 1951, at the age of 41, he became the youngest general in the Pakistan army - a record that is still unbeaten. During the 1958 martial law imposed by Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Shahid Hamid was the adjutant-general of the army, and had played an important role in bringing Field Marshal to power in 1958. In 1960, he was made the first Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of the Army. Major General Hamid took retirement from the Army in 1964, and was given an honorary discharge. After his retirement, he went into private business but was summoned back to public life in 1978 by General Zia ul-Haq, under whom he served as a federal cabinet minister for three years.