Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, MVC (1913 - 1947) was an Indian Army officer who played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Under the command of Rai, the battalion fought with tremendous spirit and bravery and played a key role in saving the valley of Kashmir from the invaders.

Rai led his troops to defend the Baramulla-Srinagar highway near Pattan against the numerically superior Pakistani tribal irregulars who were moving towards Srinagar after looting, raping and burning people of all religions in Baramulla.

[4][5] The citation for the Maha Vir Chakra reads as follows:[6] Gazette Notification: 2 Pres 50, 26.1.50 Operation: 1947 Indo Pak Kashmir War Date of Award: 27 Oct 1947

By his complete disregard of personal danger and his determined and inspired leadership, the raiders were stopped sufficiently far away to enable a build-up for the eventual decisive defeat.