Hav. Bachittar Singh, Ashok Chakra
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A brief biography
Mandeep Singh Bajwa, Sep 13, 2023: The Indian Express
The armed forces were called upon to defend free India for the first time from October 1947 onwards in Jammu and Kashmir. Thereafter a serious threat emerged to the unity and integrity of the fledgeling nation in the shape of the ambitions of the rulers of the princely state of Hyderabad who bolstered by external forces, including Pakistan, sought to establish themselves as an independent entity in defiance of the Indian Independence Act and the people’s will.
Protracted negotiations over more than a year having failed to make the Nizam of Hyderabad and his clique see reason, the stage was now set for the launch of Operation Polo on September 13, 1948.
This operation gave India its first Ashok Chakra awardee. From the West of Hyderabad, the 1st Armoured Division with its famous formation sign of the Black Elephant commanded by a dashing Major General (later Army Chief 1962-66) launched one of the main thrusts towards the capital of the breakaway State. One of its four combat commands was Kill Force which comprised 7 Infantry Brigade of Western Desert and Italy fame. Its units were 2nd Royal Battalion the Sikh Regiment (2 Sikh), the famous Ludhiana Sikhs, 1st Indian Grenadiers, 14th Rajputs, and a squadron of Sherman tanks from 1st Skinner’s Horse.
Havildar Bachittar Singh was officiating in command of a platoon of Bravo Company of 2 Sikh. An only child, he was born in 1917 in Lopon village in what is now Moga district, Punjab. He studied only up to the eighth class but excelled in swimming and wrestling in his youth. His lifelong ambition to join the Army was realised when he was enrolled into the Sikh Regiment in 1937 and posted to the 2nd Battalion. After service on the North-West Frontier in the operations against the Faqir of Ipi he accompanied the battalion overseas during World War Two. Initially 2 Sikh took part in the Allied invasion and occupation of Iran. Later Bachittar Singh took part in the desperate fighting against the Germans at the Battle of Mersa Matruh in 1942 and the rest of the victorious campaign in North Africa. The battalion then fought in the Italian Campaign distinguishing itself and winning a number of battle honours. A sojourn in Greece followed during the effort to prevent a Communist take-over after the German withdrawal in 1944. Returning home, the unit was based at Bombay and took part in the integration of the princely state of Junagarh after Independence.
Here was Havildar Bachittar Singh at the head of his thirty odd men with a wealth of battle experience to guide him. On 13th September the battalion was ordered to infiltrate overnight into Hyderabadi territory in Naldurg (now in Osmanabad/Dharashiv district of Maharashtra) and set up a road block. This having been accomplished two vehicles full of enemy soldiers were seen approaching Bachittar’s platoon position. There was a heavy exchange of fire but the doughty war veteran overawed the Hyderabadis with a deadly hail of gunfire forcing them to surrender.
Later in the day soldiers of a battalion of the Hyderabad Infantry established a firm base in front of the Sikhs’ roadblock and launched a fierce attack with a view to clearing it. Bachittar Singh, with great skill and determination, led the counterattack on the enemy forces. He was in the forefront and while 30 metres from the enemy defences was hit by a light machine-gun burst and fell to the ground. Despite being severely wounded, Bachittar crawled towards the enemy position and lobbing two grenades silenced the machine-gun. Even though by now his wounds were critical he refused to be evacuated and kept on motivating his men and urging them to press on with the attack.
Buoyed on by his inspiring leadership and matchless courage Bachittar’s platoon made short work of the enemy and captured their objective. Their gallant commander however had lost a lot of blood by now and succumbed to his wounds. Havildar Bachittar Singh was given the nation’s highest gallantry award during peacetime, the Ashok Chakra for his conspicuous bravery, indomitable spirit and supreme sacrifice. He was the first ever Ashoka Chakra awardee.
A meeting hall at Bachittar’s mother’s village, Dhudi in district Faridkot, Punjab has been named the Ashoka Chakra Hall in his honour. This is surely not the way to commemorate the valour and sacrifice of the nation’s first Ashoka Chakra awardee! The Central and State Governments must do the right thing. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Bachittar Singh’s valour and sacrifice as well as that of the Indian armed forces’ first successful operation in free India its time to honour the memory of the braveheart in the appropriate way.
