Life gives us many surprises. Some of them are very pleasant. When I with my brother went to this small village Kili near the Pakistan border, I never knew what was waiting for me there. The old worn out man sitting on a cot under a tree, looked like any other aged man. Just a bit of chat with him and I was just awestruck. This person came out to be a World War II veteran. A decorated soldier, he turned out to be a very cheerful and lively person. Though he was 92 years old, he was full of energy and remembered all his adventures.
Well I am talking about Naik Channan Singh (retd.) Of 5 Mahar regiment. He was born to S. Rala Singh at village Malla (post office Santpura Bawia ka, distt. Gujranwala) Pakistan. He joined as a sepoy the 4-13 Frontier Battalion, which was based at Aftabaad depot (distt. Rawalpindi) of the undivided India. He was posted at Rawalpindi, Noushehra, Panja Sahib and Jamroud.
During the Second World War, his battalion was part of the allied forces. He went to Italy, Egypt, Libya and Cyprus. For six years he was out of India, fighting for the allied nations and earning laurels from his seniors for his swiftness and bravery. With his quickness and efficient handling of light machine gun, he made his CO, Mr. Wuddins so happy that he was sent on a tour to England free of cost. He was captured once in Cairo. He earned three medals for his actions in War. He was awarded one "Italy Star" and two "The 1939-45 War Medals".
In 1947 when India got independence, he was hiding in a gurudwara which was attacked by rioters. He somehow saved his life and reached India. He then joined the 7 Border Scout and was posted at Palampur (Punjab) depot. This regiment was restructured in 1956 and renamed as the "Machine Gun Battalion". After a few years he was sent to the 5 Mahar regiment in Sagar (MP). While in service of Indian Army he was posted at Siliguri, Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Tangdhar and Kupwara.
During the Indo China war of 1962, his regiment was at Siliguri. In this war also he showed many acts of bravery. Once his truck, in which he was carrying supplies for his regiment, was ambushed, and the truck rolled into a gorge. He broke his left knee in that accident. He was awarded a "Sena Medal" for his bravery.
He shared many incidents of the war, he told me about a local girl who took charge of a post at Nefa (Sikkim) when all the soldiers posted there had died. She saved a large area at that time. He shared many things but I did not have a camera with me. So I will go there again to record a live interview with him for PP.
The thing which hurt me most was the apathy being shown by his family. His family members make fun of his memories and laugh at him. His two sons take turns for taking care of him. For them he is not important but the pension he gets is more important.
I just wish Indians learn something from others. We should respect our heroes and preserve their legacy. We are very good at doing symbolic things and organizing events year after year but when it comes to preserve our history and legends, we are the worst. GOD be graceful and bless us.
Well I am talking about Naik Channan Singh (retd.) Of 5 Mahar regiment. He was born to S. Rala Singh at village Malla (post office Santpura Bawia ka, distt. Gujranwala) Pakistan. He joined as a sepoy the 4-13 Frontier Battalion, which was based at Aftabaad depot (distt. Rawalpindi) of the undivided India. He was posted at Rawalpindi, Noushehra, Panja Sahib and Jamroud.
During the Second World War, his battalion was part of the allied forces. He went to Italy, Egypt, Libya and Cyprus. For six years he was out of India, fighting for the allied nations and earning laurels from his seniors for his swiftness and bravery. With his quickness and efficient handling of light machine gun, he made his CO, Mr. Wuddins so happy that he was sent on a tour to England free of cost. He was captured once in Cairo. He earned three medals for his actions in War. He was awarded one "Italy Star" and two "The 1939-45 War Medals".
In 1947 when India got independence, he was hiding in a gurudwara which was attacked by rioters. He somehow saved his life and reached India. He then joined the 7 Border Scout and was posted at Palampur (Punjab) depot. This regiment was restructured in 1956 and renamed as the "Machine Gun Battalion". After a few years he was sent to the 5 Mahar regiment in Sagar (MP). While in service of Indian Army he was posted at Siliguri, Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Tangdhar and Kupwara.
During the Indo China war of 1962, his regiment was at Siliguri. In this war also he showed many acts of bravery. Once his truck, in which he was carrying supplies for his regiment, was ambushed, and the truck rolled into a gorge. He broke his left knee in that accident. He was awarded a "Sena Medal" for his bravery.
He shared many incidents of the war, he told me about a local girl who took charge of a post at Nefa (Sikkim) when all the soldiers posted there had died. She saved a large area at that time. He shared many things but I did not have a camera with me. So I will go there again to record a live interview with him for PP.
The thing which hurt me most was the apathy being shown by his family. His family members make fun of his memories and laugh at him. His two sons take turns for taking care of him. For them he is not important but the pension he gets is more important.
I just wish Indians learn something from others. We should respect our heroes and preserve their legacy. We are very good at doing symbolic things and organizing events year after year but when it comes to preserve our history and legends, we are the worst. GOD be graceful and bless us.
