A commemorative function was organised here to celebrate birth centenary of Usman, "who as a Muslim became a symbol of India's inclusive secularism".
Brig Usman had shown unparallelled courage and valour during 1947-48 while defending the Naushera Sector of Jammu and Kashmir and recapturing Jhangar, Vice President Hamid Ansari wrote in his commemorative.
Defence Minister A K Antony, Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh and paratroopers -- both serving and retired -- attended the function.
At the time of partition, Brig Usman with many other officers declined to move to the Pakistan Army and continued to serve the Indian Army despite the lure of becoming the Pakistan Army Chief and intense pressure from the Pakistani leadership to join its army.
Brig Usman was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his role in the 1947-48 operations.