Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas; Friday, 20th August 1971
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33 years ago, today, i.e. on 20 August it was a Friday like today. Something extraordinary happened at around 11:30 am that made history.
At the Masroor Base in Karachi, a young Pilot Officer of the No. 2 squadron who was scheduled to fly his only second solo flight on the advanced fighter trainer Lockheed T-33A did what no other 20 year old pilot, or fighter pilot had ever done. Rashid Minhas wrote history with his own blood in golden words. he made sure his country lived and prospered no matter he lived or not.
click above Pilot Officer Minhas
As he was taxiing his aircraft for takeoff one of his instructor pilots Flt. Lt. Mati-Ur-Rehman, a Bengali, who had fallen prey to the rebellious thought, waved him to halt. Rashid obeyed and Mati forced his way into the cockpit and before Rashid could realize waht was going on took off and turned towards the Indian border. Rashid Minhas upon realizing what was going on took control of the aircraft with difficulty and decided no matter what happened he wouild not let this hijack take place and would not cross the border at any cost.
click above A painting of a Lockheed T-33A taking off at the Masroor base done by Wg. Cdr. S. M. Hussaini. Most probably an inspiration from that fateful flight of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas.
Everything was happening very quick and rashid didnt have enough time left, in only a few more minutes he realized they would be crossing the border. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas took the final decision and realizing that he wouldnt be able to take control of the aircraft to return to base he began forcing it down. His rival a more experienced pilot forced it up, but Rashid was true in his cause and managed to achieve his goal just 30 miles short of the border, where he crashed his plane into the Pakistani soil to avoid being disgraced by a hijack, to protect his country from the agony and insult of having to lose a pilot and a plane in a hijack, especially during those turbulent times. He couldn't let the glory of his country be stained by the enemy, a traitor, who had been one of them. For Pakistan this young man, a boy, a child of just 20, laid down his life! Had all his dreams, hopes, personal responsibilites left behind, abandoned, shattered because he had to answer to the call of duty towards serving his motherland. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider, the highest possible award for any Pakistani and/or Muslim.
click above Nishan-i-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award awarded posthumously for acts of extreme valour. Its status is higher than that of any other civil or military award.
This Friday 20th of August 2004 lets remember that Friday from 33 years ago, let's refresh the memory of one of our country's greatest heroes, greatest sons Rashid Minhas. May Allah grant him a high position in heaven. may his glory be an inspiration for all of us and mayhe be always remembered and may we all be able to take good care of this land for which so many young warriors have sacrificed each drop of their blood.
Rashid Minhas's grave stone at his grave at the Fauji graveyard off Shara-e-Faisal in Karachi reads the following epitaph:
"Parwaaz hai ik hi fiza mein dono ki
momin ka nishaan aur hai munafiq ka nishaan aur
Hai Rashid ki shahaadat pai Iqbal ka yeh qaul
shaheen ka jahaan aur hai kyrgyz ka jahaan aur"
Translation:
"Both glide in the same air yet
the aim of a momin is another, that of a hypocrite another
On Rashid's martyrdom Iqbal's quote is
the world of a falcon is another, that of a vulture another."
click above
The real face of the hero;
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-i-Haider.
No. 2 Squadron PAF Base Mauripur (Masroor), Karachi.
Born 17 February 1951, Martyred 20th August 1971.
The Official Citation:
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas
(Nishan-e-Haider)
On the morning of Friday, 20th August, 1971, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, a pilot still under training, was in the front seat of a jet trainer, taxing out for take off. An instructor pilot from the same unit forced his way into the rear cockpit, seized control of the aircraft and having taken off, headed the aircraft towards India. With just some 40 miles of Pakistan territory remaining, Minhas had only one course open to him to prevent his aircraft from entering India. Without hesitation, and living up to the highest traditions of the Pakistan Air Force, Rashid Minhas tried to regain control of his aircraft, but finding this to be impossible in the face of the superior skill and experience of his instructor, forced the aircraft to crash at a point 32 miles from the Indian border. In doing so Pilot Officer Minhas deliberately made the supreme sacrifice for the honour of Pakistan and the service to which he belonged. For this act of heroism above and beyond the call of duty, the President of Pakistan is pleased to award the Nishan-i-Haider to Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas.
^Thanks digitals,
we owe these people more than imaginable; least we can do is keep their memories fresh. Rashid Minhas has always been an extraordinary source of inspiration, and i'm sure it will stay that way for every Pakistani forever.
As he was taxiing his aircraft for takeoff one of his instructor pilots Flt. Lt. Mati-Ur-Rehman, a Bengali, who had fallen prey to the rebellious thought, waved him to halt. Rashid obeyed and Mati forced his way into the cockpit and before Rashid could realize waht was going on took off and turned towards the Indian border. Rashid Minhas upon realizing what was going on took control of the aircraft with difficulty and decided no matter what happened he wouild not let this hijack take place and would not cross the border at any cost
There were some top secret documents were with him. Which he was taking to india. Atleaset I heard that.
Ik fursat-e-gunah mili wo bhi chaar din
dekhey hian hum ney hosley, parwardigar ke !
yes Code_Red,
ive heard that too, and it could have some weight to it, the Bengali guy could have gotton hold of some documents, and maybe if he had reached there safe they could have damaged Pakistans security. that makes Rashid an even greater hero.
yes Code_Red,
ive heard that too, and it could have some weight to it, the Bengali guy could have gotton hold of some documents, and maybe if he had reached there safe they could have damaged Pakistans security. that makes Rashid an even greater hero.
Yup, I've heard that he was carrying some documents with him as well. It is interesting to note that the Bengali officer Sqn Ldr Mati-ur-Rehman recieved Bir Sereshto which is the highest gallantary award in B'desh.
Yup, I've heard that he was carrying some documents with him as well. It is interesting to note that the Bengali officer Sqn Ldr Mati-ur-Rehman recieved Bir Sereshto which is the highest gallantary award in B'desh.
Mufakkar, thnks for that info, i didnt know the bengalis bestowed this undeserving honor on matiurRehman. did you read it somewhere or some other source?
its pathetic actually..what was so great about his plan? it was stupid i think, even if he had managed to land in india he woldnt have exactly blown pakistan away with those few docments no matter how relevent thye may have been. and apart from that it sounds weird, he belonged to the PAF, Bangladesh didnt even exist until December 1971 and they give him the highest medal. poor bengalis.
His grave is at the masroor base in karachi.
Originally posted by Haris Zuberi:
33 years ago, today, i.e. on 20 August it was a Friday like today. Something extraordinary happened at around 11:30 am that made history.
At the Masroor Base in Karachi, a young Pilot Officer of the No. 2 squadron who was scheduled to fly his only second solo flight on the advanced fighter trainer Lockheed T-37A did what no other 20 year old pilot, or fighter pilot had ever done. Rashid Minhas wrote history with his own blood in golden words. he made sure his country lived and prospered no matter he lived or not.
click above Pilot Officer Minhas
As he was taxiing his aircraft for takeoff one of his instructor pilots Flt. Lt. Mati-Ur-Rehman, a Bengali, who had fallen prey to the rebellious thought, waved him to halt. Rashid obeyed and Mati forced his way into the cockpit and before Rashid could realize waht was going on took off and turned towards the Indian border. Rashid Minhas upon realizing what was going on took control of the aircraft with difficulty and decided no matter what happened he wouild not let this hijack take place and would not cross the border at any cost.
click above A painting of a Lockheed T-37A taking off at the Masroor base done by Wg. Cdr. S. M. Hussaini. Most probably an inspiration from that fateful flight of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas.
Everything was happening very quick and rashid didnt have enough time left, in only a few more minutes he realized they would be crossing the border. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas took the final decision and realizing that he wouldnt be able to take control of the aircraft to return to base he began forcing it down. His rival a more experienced pilot forced it up, but Rashid was true in his cause and managed to achieve his goal just 30 miles short of the border, where he crashed his plane into the Pakistani soil to avoid being disgraced by a hijack, to protect his country from the agony and insult of having to lose a pilot and a plane in a hijack, especially during those turbulent times. He couldn't let the glory of his country be stained by the enemy, a traitor, who had been one of them. For Pakistan this young man, a boy, a child of just 20, laid down his life! Had all his dreams, hopes, personal responsibilites left behind, abandoned, shattered because he had to answer to the call of duty towards serving his motherland. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider, the highest possible award for any Pakistani and/or Muslim.
click above Nishan-i-Haider, Pakistan's highest military award awarded posthumously for acts of extreme valour. Its status is higher than that of any other civil or military award.
This Friday 20th of August 2004 lets remember that Friday from 33 years ago, let's refresh the memory of one of our country's greatest heroes, greatest sons Rashid Minhas. May Allah grant him a high position in heaven. may his glory be an inspiration for all of us and mayhe be always remembered and may we all be able to take good care of this land for which so many young warriors have sacrificed each drop of their blood.
Rashid Minhas's grave stone at his grave at the Fauji graveyard off Shara-e-Faisal in Karachi reads the following epitaph:
"Parwaaz hai ik hi fiza mein dono ki
momin ka nishaan aur hai munafiq ka nishaan aur
Hai Rashid ki shahaadat pai Iqbal ka yeh qaul
shaheen ka jahaan aur hai kyrgyz ka jahaan aur"
Translation:
"Both glide in the same air yet
the aim of a momin is another, that of a hypocrite another
On Rashid's martyrdom Iqbal's quote is
the world of a falcon is another, that of a vulture another."
click above
The real face of the hero;
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-i-Haider.
No. 2 Squadron PAF Base Mauripur (Masroor), Karachi.
Born 17 February 1951, Martyred 20th August 1971.
The Official Citation:
Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas
(Nishan-e-Haider)
On the morning of Friday, 20th August, 1971, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, a pilot still under training, was in the front seat of a jet trainer, taxing out for take off. An instructor pilot from the same unit forced his way into the rear cockpit, seized control of the aircraft and having taken off, headed the aircraft towards India. With just some 40 miles of Pakistan territory remaining, Minhas had only one course open to him to prevent his aircraft from entering India. Without hesitation, and living up to the highest traditions of the Pakistan Air Force, Rashid Minhas tried to regain control of his aircraft, but finding this to be impossible in the face of the superior skill and experience of his instructor, forced the aircraft to crash at a point 32 miles from the Indian border. In doing so Pilot Officer Minhas deliberately made the supreme sacrifice for the honour of Pakistan and the service to which he belonged. For this act of heroism above and beyond the call of duty, the President of Pakistan is pleased to award the Nishan-i-Haider to Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas.
thank you very much for reminding us of saheed minhas.....
Only an Insane person will try to deliver the documents using a fighter aircraft.... That itself shows either the person is insane or else the fact we are stating here is not correct.
It doesnt really looks like he was carrying any documents. He was just on a sucidal mission which got terminated even before it can do any damage ...
What was the logic of Rashid to down his own aircraft ? The war was allready started or on the verge of getting started...
Originally posted by Haris Zuberi:
Bangladesh didnt even exist until December 1971 and they give him the highest medal. poor bengalis.
His grave is at the masroor base in karachi.
Mujib-ur-Rehman declared independence in March 1971 from Pakistan...The period after that Bengalis call as"The Period of Freedom Struggle".
Mufakkar, thnks for that info, i didnt know the bengalis bestowed this undeserving honor on matiurRehman. did you read it somewhere or some other source?
its pathetic actually..what was so great about his plan? it was stupid i think, even if he had managed to land in india he woldnt have exactly blown pakistan away with those few docments no matter how relevent thye may have been. and apart from that it sounds weird, he belonged to the PAF, Bangladesh didnt even exist until December 1971 and they give him the highest medal. poor bengalis.
His grave is at the masroor base in karachi.
Haris, sorry I forgot to give the source. I read it on the Bangladesh Army website: www.bangladesharmy.info. Right now this site is down, but they have a roll of honor for people who recieved the Bir Sereshto.
I googled and found the following from this website. This website is also not accessible right now so I am just copying and pasting from the Google cached page: Note that not only did they get Rashid Minhas' name wrong but they never even mentioned what happened and how Matiur Rahman's "mission" failed.
Quote:
Rahman, (Bir Srestha) Matiur (1941-1971) martyr in the war of liberation. Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman was born in dhaka on 29 November 1941. He received his primary education at Dhaka Collegiate School. Next he got himself admitted into Pakistan Air Force Public School at Sargoda in West Pakistan. After completing his twelfth class course there he entered Pakistan Air Force Academy. He was commissioned in June 1963 and was posted at Risalpur, West Pakistan. He successfully completed the Jet Conversion Course in Karachi before he was appointed a Jet Pilot in Peshawar.
Rahman made a secret plan of hijacking an aircraft. His aim was to join the liberation forces with the hijacked plane. On the morning of 20 August Pilot Officer Minhaz Rashid was scheduled to fly in a T-33 aircraft from Masrur Airbase in Karachi with Matiur Rahman as his trainer. The T-33 aircraft was code-named 'Bluebird'. During the training flight Matiur Rahman attempted to take control of the aircraft into his own hands, but failed. The plane crashed in Thatta, a place near the Indian border. Matiur's dead body was found near the crash sight, but no traces of Minhaz's dead body could be discovered. Matiur Rahman was buried at the graveyard of fourth class employees at Masrur Airbase.
Matiur Rahman was awarded the highest state title of honour 'Bir Srestha' in recognition of his patriotism and sacrifice.
Haris, sorry I forgot to give the source. I read it on the Bangladesh Army website: www.bangladesharmy.info. Right now this site is down, but they have a roll of honor for people who recieved the Bir Sereshto.
I googled and found the following from this website. This website is also not accessible right now so I am just copying and pasting from the Google cached page: Note that not only did they get Rashid Minhas' name wrong but they never even mentioned what happened and how Matiur Rahman's "mission" failed.
wow Mufakkar, thanks alot for this info, i had no idea he is so much recognized in bangladesh as a liberation hero. very valuable piece of info!
they're right about the call sign of the aircraft, but totally wrong about other facts; they say he was on the aircraft as instructor, which is wrong, it was rashid's solo flight and he eneterd unauthorised on the runway. wonder what the details about the bodies were...whether they were in good shape or not...
and about the grave, its hilarious, do muslims differ between graveyard areas? any muslim can be buried right next to any muslim no matter he was a general or a soldier...
Found this painting of Ft. Lt. Mati-ur-Rehman who was killed in that fateful T-33 crash. Bangladesh holds him in high regard as a freedom struggler, regardless of the fact that his plan was of no serious consequence or use to their 'cause', and as mentioned in posts above he was awarded their highest military award called 'Bir Sreshtho' and an air force base at the Bangladesh airforce academy is named after him.
click above Ft.Lt. Mati-ur-Rehman; born 21 Feb 1945 killed 20 Aug 1971
Rashid Minhas was born on 17 Feb 1951. coincidentally both were born in February.
Found this painting of Ft. Lt. Mati-ur-Rehman who was killed in that fateful T-33 crash. Bangladesh holds him in high regard as a freedom struggler, regardless of the fact that his plan was of no serious consequence or use to their 'cause', and as mentioned in posts above he was awarded their highest military award called 'Bir Sreshtho' and an air force base at the Bangladesh airforce academy is named after him.
Great job Haris. Where did you find the painting? I saw it at the Bangladesh army website.
Besides naming the airbase, I think one of the squadrons at BAF academy is also called Mati ur Rehman squadron (There used to be a Minhas Squadron at PAF college Sargodha, but now they have re-named the squadrons after planes eg Attacker, Sabre etc.)
On a side note, if I remember correctly, they also gave a Bir Sereshto to Sepoy Mustafiz ur Rehman for shooting Capt. Kazim Kamal in the back! (I think I read about it in Brig (R) Saadullah Khan's book East Pakistan to Bangladesh).
Thanks Mufakkar.
I found the painting here along with others Link it's the BA site. and the same images without much further details are available on a few other sites aswell like this one Link
i wonder what the black box/CVR of Rashid's plane had on it...?
The book you mentioned must be a good read, can you let me know the publisher and when it was published etc so i could find it. it must have good accounts of the 71 war.
Mal1k, the TV drama you mention was a great production.
But it showed Mati-Ur-Rehman with a moustache.
Hope i find some real pic of him and more details about him.
Thanks Mufakkar.
I found the painting here along with others Link it's the BA site. and the same images without much further details are available on a few other sites aswell like this one Link
i wonder what the black box/CVR of Rashid's plane had on it...?
The book you mentioned must be a good read, can you let me know the publisher and when it was published etc so i could find it. it must have good accounts of the 71 war.
Mal1k, the TV drama you mention was a great production.
But it showed Mati-Ur-Rehman with a moustache.
Hope i find some real pic of him and more details about him.
I thought they read from the transcript of Rashid Minhas's CVR in that play. Thats one of the things that made the play very special. Let me confirm this.
The book I am talking about was published by the MT directorate GHQ back in 78 I think. The author Brig Saadullah Khan was Brigade commander 33 infantary Bde in East Pakistan and took part in all the major battles including Ashuganj. It is a very moving account. Thats where I got the account of Captain Kazim Kamal and his killer. At the time a small time near Khulna was named Kamalpur in his memory. I don't know if it still has the same name.
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