1965 war diamond jubilee: Kin recall how martyr was inspired by Dharmendra film

In 1964 movie “Haqeeqat”, celluloid Captain Bahadur Singh, the role played by Dharmendra, led a platoon fighting the Sino-Indian war of 1962 holding fort for their country, inspiring future generations. As the nation celebrates the diamond jubilee of the 1965 India-Pakistan war in September this year, the families of many unsung heroes who laid down their lives for the country, deserve special mention.

A year after the movie was released, Lt Kuldip Singh Ahluwalia of the 7th Punjab Regiment (now 8 Mech), a hero of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, wrote a letter to his family where he desired to die like a martyr on the lines of soldiers in the movie “Haqeeqat”. A few months later, he died of bullet injuries in Lahore, living his dream to lay down his life for the country.

Six decades after his death, family members of the late Lt Kuldip Singh Ahluwalia gathered in Patiala to recall the supreme sacrifice of 23-year-old Kuldip Singh who was also posthumously awarded Sena Medal. The family members held a prayer meet, where all relatives and friends of late Kuldip Singh Ahluwalia ensured their presence.

“My elder brother was only 23-year-old and all I recall about his sheer bravery. His fellow soldiers told us how he was on an Observing Officer duty during which he had to keep an eye on enemy soldiers from merely 100 yards and inform Indian Army about their actual movement,” recalls Paramjit Singh Ahluwalia, now settled in Patiala.

“My brother’s diary dated January 24, 1965, mentioned that he was inspired by “Haqeeqat” movie and wanted to die a brave soldier’s death. On September 18, he fulfilled his dream and even when he was shot he told his fellow soldiers to tell his family that he died in the battlefield with bullets on chest,” said Paramjit with moist eyes.

Earlier this year, the district administration unveiled the statue of Ahluwalia, at NIS Chowk, Patiala.

“Since childhood we have heard stories about my uncle from our grandparents and other relatives. We feel proud of his achievement at that young age. I still read the handwritten letter by the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri appreciating the role played by my uncle in the 1965 war,” said Anmoljit Singh, nephew of the martyr and District Attorney, Patiala.

“My uncle sacrificed his life while defending the nation at the Ichogil Canal, Lahore sector. Our generations continue to take inspiration from him and narrate his stories of bravery to the youth,” he said.

Another letter by the then Officer Commanding to Kuldip Singh’s father Shamsher Singh Ahluwalia described the last few hours before his death. “Your son was in good health on September 17, 1965, and was fighting the enemy. He was one of my able officers who devoted himself entirely to his duty. By his death he has become a martyr. At the time of his death he was in command of my forward most sub-unit. He was discharging his duties with utter disregard for his personal safety,” reads the letter dated September 29, 1965.