User:Saleem.suleman/Brigadier Suleman

BRIGADIER MUHAMMAD SULEMAN Signals Officer-in-Chief (SO-in-C) 10 December 1955 to 09 November 1962 Indian Commission (IC No -792) (On first Commission) Commissioned on 1 October 1941 Pakistan Army (PA No- 327) (After Independence) Retired from Service on 6 August 1966 Date of Birth 2 November 1918 Date of Death 21 December 2008 The most beautiful and the rarest thing in the world is a complete human life, unmarred, unified by intelligent purpose and uninterrupted accomplishment, blessed by great talent employed in the worthiest activities within the parameters of the commandments of Allah, with a deserving fame never dimmed and always growing. Such a rarely beautiful life was that of Brigadier Suleman.

Brigadier Muhammad Suleman was born to a renowned Janjua Rajput family on 2nd November 1918 (as recorded in official documents, however the correct year is perhaps 1916 as gathered from other evidence) in village Mehra Sangal about 22 miles from Rawalpindi on Rawat - Kallar Sayedian Road. The circumstances of his birth were fortunate. His father was a soldier of First World War days and could afford to respectably support his family; however, Suleman was able to earn a scholarship during early education which carried him through with his studies without any difficulty. He passed Matric examination from District Board High School Kallar Sayedian in 1934.

Joined the army in the Boy’s Company of Indian Signals Corps (part of Signal Training Center Jubbulpore) in April 1934 and soon proved to be a man of exceptional qualities by dint of sheer hard work. He was selected to attend Kitchener College Nowgong (a pre-school before IMA) in 1938 as a prospective candidate for Indian Military Academy (IMA). He joined IMA in August 1940 and passed out on 1 October 1941 with flying colours being 4th in the order of merit. He was commissioned in 4/15 Punjab Regiment, presently 12 Punjab Regiment. He has the distinction of being its first Muslim Officer. On 13 March 1942 he was transferred back to the Indian Signals Corps at his own request however he always fondly remembered his days with 4/15 Punjab. Before leaving for Burma in April 1942 he served with Peshawar District Signals. He saw action in Burma during World War II and was mentioned in a despatch for gallant and distinguished service in December 1943. On return from Burma he took up the appointment of Second-in-Command of 4 Indian Division Signals. In April 1946 he was appointed as GSO-2 at Signals Directorate GHQ New Delhi, India. Later, at the time of Independence of Pakistan he was the only Muslim officer on the Staff of Supreme Commander’s Headquarters New Delhi [the British colleagues often called him SO-in-C, Pakistan (Signals Officer-in-Chief). In view of the situation at the time of partition of India while in New Delhi, he along with some other Muslim officers (Wing Commander (later Air Commodore) Muhammad Khan Janjua, Major (later Brigadier) Shams ul Haq Qazi and some others met Quaid-e-Azam to offer their services in the creation of Pakistan. Quaid advised them to keep away from politics and concentrate on their job.

On arriving in Pakistan he was amongst the first few officers to establish the Signals Directorate at GHQ Rawalpindi. In July 1950 he took the command of 12 Division Signals and was later selected to attend Command and Staff College Quetta in 1951. He was appointed as Chief Signal Officer (CSO) of the only Corps at that time (equivalent to CC Signals) in January 1952. In August 1952 he went to attend Staff Course at School of Signals Catterick, UK. After a short spell of being Commandant Signal Training Centre from September to December 1955, he was selected to lead the Corps of Signals at the age of 37. (He has the honour to be the first officer to be promoted to the rank of a brigadier in the entire Khauta Tehsil of Rawalpindi District). He remained Signal Officer--in-Chief and Director of Signals from 10 December 1955 to 9 November 1962. On relinquishing the appointment of SO-in-C he was entrusted with command of two Infantry Brigades in succession (a Sector Command in Azad Kashmir and then the only Para Brigade of Pakistan Army), a rare distinction for any Signals Officer. He also commanded two Sub Areas before retiring from Service on 6 August 1966.

Brigadier Suleman was a self made man who had an exemplary life marked by continuous and sustained self development which lifted him from a modest beginning to the summit of the Corps. He not only maintained the pace of progress of the Corps set by his predecessors but had succeeded in accelerating it to a very high pedestal. The Corps in its formative years had undergone a complete metamorphosis during his tenure and had achieved true maturity, stability and cohesion through his devotion, zeal and unstinted efforts. He never missed any Corps function be it in Rawalpindi or Kohat right till the end. (Signals Training Center moved to Kohat from Khuldana during his tenure as Commandant and later as SO-in-C)

In June 1995 Brigadier Suleman was invited to participate in the 75th Anniversary Celebrations of The Royal Signals in England. The veteran officers from India, Pakistan and Britain attended the celebrations. Lieutenant General Raj Batra, Brigadier Harry Chukerbutti and Brigadier Suleman were the only officers who had served in pre-independence days and the old British friends Major General RJ Moberly and Major General DR Horsfield.

Soon after his ninetieth birthday he left this mortal world at 07:05 am on 21 December 2008 to meet the creator; may Allah Bless his soul. He lived a life that speaks volumes about his honesty, integrity, humility and straight forwardness He always kept himself above board. He was a religious man, a humble human being, a great father, a sincere friend and a true Pakistani. His personality displayed a unique trait, he was a friend to all, young and old alike (Abaji for everyone), always ready to reach out with a helping hand. We will always miss him. Let’s pray to Allah to bless his soul and grant him the best of heavens.

Begum Zubaida Suleman left this mortal world for eternal peace on 22 July 1986