British officer saved a Sikh platoon from massacre

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 14

A British commander saved a Sikh platoon from massacre during Partition. Capt Didar Singh shares an incident which melts our hearts.

Capt Didar Singh served in the Army as Havildar during the British rule and in the Indian Army after the country got Independence. During Partition, a platoon of Sikh Regiment was going to Fazilka. On the way, a group of Muslims stopped their vehicle and accused one of the Army man of misbehaving with their women.

“They falsely accused one of our fellow men as their plan was to take the entire platoon with them and later kill everybody. But the British Commander of our platoon smartly handled the agitating Muslims and safely took the entire platoon to Amritsar. There were some kind-hearted fellows among the British as well,” remembers Capt Didar Singh.

He was deployed at DAV College, Amritsar, to protect refugees and safely escort them to Khalsa College in the city. In September, the Ravi bridge collapsed. He helped nearly 50-60 people to safely reach Lahore.

Post British rule, he was posted at various places such as Ferozepur and Jalandhar. He started his career as a Havildar in the Army in 1942 and retired as Honorary Captain in 1972. He also took part in World War-II. He was posted in Madras and his duty was to protect the railway line.

Capt Didar Singh says: “The British were very clever. They left the country but divided it into two. They created enmity among Indians, so they keep fighting with each other. This is the reason why even 70 years after Independence, India is still a developing nation.”

“I have served under the British as well as the Indian Government, but the feeling of working in a free nation is something different. Nobody was safe during the British rule and there was no freedom either. But after Independence, the things changed and breathing in fresh air with a free body and mind is an altogether different experience,” signs off Capt Didar Singh.