King granted him wish—a school

SMA Kazmi

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Tribune News service

Dehradun, August 16

It was exemplary bravery of Naik Darwan Singh Negi in the face of tough enemy resistance during the First World War that won him the coveted Victoria Cross. It was on the night of November 23, 1914, that Naik Darwan Singh Negi of 1st Battalion of 39th Garhwal Rifles without bothering about his own personal safety charged into the trenches of the German troops. Twice injured in the head and an arm, Naik Negi did not stop till clearing the German resistance at Festubert in France. It was his indomitable courage that earned him the highest gallantry award. He became the first Indian recipient of the highest gallantry award along with Khuadad Khan.

His citation reads: "His Majesty the King-Emperor has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned soldier of the Indian Army for conspicuous bravery whilst serving with the Indian Army Corps, British Expeditionary Force:—1909, Naik Darwan Sing [sic] Negi, 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles".

Interestingly, when King George V of England while giving away the award to him on December 5, 1914, asked him about his wish, Naik Negi requested him to open a school at Karanprayag town near his Kafarteer village. His wish was promptly granted and a school was opened by the British government at Karanprayag. Naik Negi belongs to Kafarteer village, 25 km from Karanprayag in Chamoli district.

He had another wish to have a rail link up to Karanprayag but it did not materialise till today. However, the Railways has sanctioned the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line. Naik Negi took voluntary retirement in 1924 as Subedar. The regimental museum of Garhwal Rifles in Lansdowne is known as the Darwan Singh Negi Museum. Darwan Negi was born in 1883 and died in 1950.