Sunday, January 8, 2000
M A I L B O X

 


Hans Christian Anderson

THIS refers to the biographical sketch and portrait of Hans Christian Anderson by Illa Vij (December 18). The Little Match Girl is an immortal story by Anderson,which I read about 50 years ago, and I must admit that I could hardly hold back my tears after reading it. The real beauty of the story lies in its personification of innocence, poverty and divine love.

B.S. SAINI
Hoshiarpur

An accident

This refers to Khushwant Singh’s article "Account of an accident (December 18). It was very shocking and to learn that his car was deliberately damaged by a driver of a school bus and the police did not take any action against the driver.
  It is a fact that one cannot have justice from the police if one does not have a good rapport with them. Even genuine complaints are not attended to. The police should mend its ways and help those in need.

SUBHASH C. TANEJA
Rohtak

Gen Harbakhsh Singh

‘Remembering Lt General Harbakhsh Singh’ by Capt Amarinder Singh (December 4) was very informative indeed. The author has described the magnificent role the General had played during the Indo-Pak War of 1947-48, Indo -China War of 1962 and Indo-Pak War of 1965. The author has paid a well-deserved tribute to the late General. However, the date of the Battle of Shalateng, fought on the outskirts of Srinagar has been wrongly mentioned as November 22, 1947, whereas it was actually fought on November 7, 1947. Troops that had taken part in this memorable battle belonged to 1 Sikh 1, (Para) Kumaon, Troop Armoured Cars 7 Cavalry and Royal Indian Air Force fighter aircraft — Tempests and Hurricanes. I was present with 1 Sikh during the battle having landed at Srinagar Airport with the two leading companies on October 27, 1947. Subsequently I served with General Harbakhsh Singh as his 21C when he took over command of 1 Sikh on December 22, 1947.

Later he became a Brigade Commander of 163 Infantry Brigade, which he had led so successfully to Tithwal in the third week of May 1948.

The late Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri presented a siropa to Lt General Harbakhash Singh in October 1965. Eulogising the General’s performance the Prime Minister had further said "India needs many a man like General Harbakhsh Singh who had displayed leadership of the highest order."

HARWANT SINGH
Patiala