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Book Review

 Gen. Harbakhash Singh : Hero of 1965 War

Jagpal S. Tiwana  

Lt. Gen. Harbakhash Singh: In the Line of Duty: a Soldier Remembers, New Delhi, Lancer Publishers & Distributors, 2000, pp.440, Rs. 595

A savior of Kashmir in the 1947 War, and a hero of the Indo-Pak War of 1965, General Harbakhash Singh was one of the most gallant and outstanding generals India has produced since Independence. The book, “In the line of Duty: a Soldier Remembers,” is a remarkable account of Gen. Harbakhash Singh's military career.  He gives a graphic description of all the battles he fought and won.  Understandably, given its title, limited space is given to his family life, children and grand children in this autobiographical account.

He belonged to the princely state of Jind, where his father, Dr. Harnam Singh, was in charge of a military hospital. He graduated from the Military Academy, Dehradun, in 1935, and retired from active service in 1969. His long, eventful, military career of 34 years is full of adventures, bold decisions, and brave deeds. He died in November 1999.

In World War II, the Japanese captured him and his brother, Lt. Col. Gurbakhash Singh  in Singapore. He gives an interesting description of his experiences as a prisoner of war, especially his relationship with the Indian National Army. Though he, along with his brother, declined to join the INA, despite the temptations of promotion and luxurious life of an army officer as compared to the hard life of war camp, he did not lack patriotic fervor; the brothers always sang Bande Matram and other patriotic songs at all their functions in the camp. Their reason for not joining the INA was that it did not have the approval of Indian leaders, Gandhi and Nehru.  However, he always maintained cordial relations with the INA officers, and he had one meeting with Subhash Chander Bose whom he greatly admired and respected.  " I was lucky to have had an interview with him in Malaya, and to this day I have yet to meet a more patriotic and devoted individual earnestly committed to the freedom of his country," he observes. Later, at the end of the war when the INA officers were arrested and kept in the Red Fort for trial, he looked after them.

Harbakhash Singh first rose to fame when he commanded the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment during operations in Kashmir in 1947-48. He attacked Shelatang on November 22, 1947, with two battalions - 1 Sikh and 4 Kumaon. In a brilliantly planned operation, he routed the enemy, which had reached within 4 miles of Srinagar. The Battle of Tithwal won him the award of Vir Chakra.  His Brigadier, L.P. Sen, composed the following verse about him:

“With yellow colored jerkin lined with wool from Kashmir sheep,

 In a well-upholstered limousine he flashes down the street;

 Six feet two in height our handsome hero's always in rush,

 Who is he? You ought to know- you've hit the mark - HAIRBRUSH.”(His   nickname)

During the Indo-Pak War of 1965, he was the GOC-in-C of the Western Command. Here he showed his real mettle as a general. It was a critical situation when Pakistan attacked with its ace Armored Division(Patton’s), and made advances in the Khem Karan sector. This created panic in Delhi, and General J.N. Chowdhary, Chief of the Army Staff, ordered Harbakhash Singh to withdraw and hold a line on the Beas River. General Harbakhash Singh refused, and decided to fight it out. According to Maj. Gen. D.K. Palit, former Director Military Operations in 1965 War, " Under Harbakhash's leadership, Centurians and Shermans…and the recoilless 106 mm guns played havoc with the Pakistani Pattons in one of the great victories of the war." Had Gen. Harbakhash Singh carried out the orders, half of Punjab should have been under Pakistani occupation.

He had the courage of his convictions, and he was not afraid to use his own judgement and face the consequences. He does not mince words when he speaks about the incompetence and poor judgement of  several generals of the Indian army, such as J.N. Chowdhary, Nirnajan Parsad, B.M. Kaul, and Kulwant Singh. He writes that Gen. Chowdhary did not go beyond Ambala in the 1965 War because it was too dangerous, but he was the "first" one to go to the Ichhogil Canal after the cease-fire was announced "with a photographer and have his photograph taken for the Press".  The book is a good commentary on the personal ambitions of some army officers, their connections, intrigues, and manipulations for awards and honors.

Gen. Harbakhash had the traits of many Punjabi men. He was tall, athletic, a soldier, a hockey player, and a leader of men who commanded instant loyalty and respect. Like the German General Romel, he would stand shoulder to shoulder with his men in the battlefield. His soldiers would voluntarily cover him by walking or standing in front of him." Sahib, apke goli na lag jae". He has nothing but praise and good words for the Indian Jawans.

Harbakhash Singh was born into a Sikh family, was nurtured in the Sikh Regiment, and spent most of his time with Sikh troops. He had great faith in Guru Gobind Singh, and Guru's composition, “Deh Shiva var Mohe eh hai", was a source of inspiration to him in all situations. As a Colonel of the Sikh Regiment, he made it obligatory for the new recruits to take “ Deh Shiva Var Mohe " as vow, and learn it by heart. After the war when he visited the widow of Lt. Col. N.N.  Khanna, she showed him a letter, which the Colonel had written to his 4-year old son one day before his death in the war. It had lines from Colonel's solemn vow, " Nische kar Apni jeet karun."

Despite his religious belief and faith, Harbakhash Singh was a very open-minded and a secular man. After the 1965 War when India was returning the Pakistani territory, he ordered that all mosques be repaired and repainted, and that prayers offered before handing them back to Pakistan. He recommended Param Vir Chakra, the highest award for bravery, to Havaldar Abdul Hamid Khan who died a gallant death while knocking out the Pattons with his anti-tank guns in the Khem Karan sector in 1965. His eldest daughter, Harmala, is married to a Hindu professor, Dipankar Gupta. 

Though he won many awards and honors, such as Vir Chakra, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan for his gallant service in the defense of his country, it is a pity he was denied full generalship. He was recommended by the then Chief of Staff Kumarmanglam, to be the next Chief of Staff after him, and it was approved by Indira Gandhi’s cabinet, but at the last minute the wily Prime Minister changed her mind and appointed Sam Manekshaw to the top position.

In the Line of Duty: A Soldier Remembers is indeed a splendid work, which will appeal both to the general reader and army personnel. It is military history of India since Independence, written in an easily readable style. It should be added to every library in India, and should be prescribed as a textbook in the military academy.  Consisting of 440 pages, it is well illustrated and has a useful index. There is a minor error about the date of Nehru's death; it is given as June 1963, whereas he died on May 27, 1964. However, nobody will read this book to find out such information.

The book can be ordered from South Asia books, PO box 502, Columbia, Mo. 65205. sabooks@juno.com  for $34.

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