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He is the real-life hero who has fought many battles in life— ranging from World War II to the one with cancer and is still ready to wage a war against adversities of life at 93 with a smile. Colonel Daljit Singh Randhawa (retd.) is perhaps the lone surviving Military Cross winning soldier of Punjab. Randhawa saw action in different parts of the world, including Burma during the World War II. He was a part of the UN Forces in Congo and Lebanon.
"I remember candidly the moment when Lord Mountbatten asked me from where I had got my Military Cross. I told him that I won it for the services rendered by me in Imphal," recalls Daljit Singh Randhawa while, holding the hand of his wife Satwant Kaur at their palatial Model Town residence in Hoshiarpur. For him, it is a matter of pride that he was the youngest officer to win the prestigious Military Cross at the age of 24. Randhawa flaunts another
rare distinction: His seven generations have served in the Army, the
first being his great-grand father taking part in action during the
First War of Independence in 1857.
Randhawa himself was decorated with the prestigious Military Cross in the battle field by Gen. Slim for the chivalry displayed in the 1944 Burma campaign in Kohima. He had bayonetted as many as four Japanese in a hand-to-hand battle in the conflict on the road to Imphal and had to spend some days at the War Hospital in Calcutta and New Delhi. As a Military Cross winner, he was given one murabba of land (28 acres) in Pakistan and it was re-allotted to him at Phuglana village of Hoshiarpur district. He fondly recalls how he used to go hunting with General Wavell at 4 am in the morning at Rajasthan Rifles Centre at New Delhi. "As a soldier of the Indian Army in the Burma campaign, I had killed four Japanese in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese during World War II on the road to Imphal and had to remain hospitalised at the War Hospitals in Calcutta and New Delhi for the injuries sustained in the conflict," says an emotionally charged Randhawa. "I remain a proud soldier as my seven generations have served the Army right from my great grandfather Col. Harnam Singh who, was part of the action in the 1857 mutiny." He said he was part of the Indian contingent deployed in Congo as part of the UN Peace-Keeping initiative. "In January 1963, I commanded 4 Madras as a part of the UN Forces in Congo. We captured three European mercenaries in the 'Lufira River Battle' during their advance to Jadotville. I was also a part of the UN troops deployed in Lebanon," adds Randhawa with a sparkle in his eyes. "After my first posting in 1943 in Mandgobri in Pakistan, I never looked back. I can never forget the demarcation of the LoC by the Pakistanis in the Poonch sector were I discussed the area of deployment and control with the Pakistan Commander. We discussed the area of deployment and control in the 1947-48 seige of Jammu and Kashmir when I was deputed as a Major in the Poonch district," said Randhawa who, was born in 66 Chack village of district Montgomery (now in Pakistan). Like many others, his family too had to migrate to Punjab after Partition. They settled in Phuglana village where they were re-allotted land. A number of medals displayed at his home narrate the story of his chivalry. Colonel Randhawa’s two sons, Colonel Jasjit and Major Amanjit are leading a retired life after having served in the armed corps. His grandson is a serving Major in the 69 Armoured Division. Cancer afflicted him about 12 years ago but, the malady could not dim his enthusiasm for life, says his son-in-law Saravjit Singh Hothi, who retired as an Air Vice-Marshal from the Indian Air Force. Randhawa also served in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after Word War II and remained stationed in Indonesia as a part of the post-World War regrouping.
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Randhawa not only
excelled in the Army in more than one ways but also proved his mettle
in farming. He believes in the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan coined
by Lal Bahadhur Shastri. He turned his crops into gold in his 200-acre
farm at Phuglana village of Hoshiarpur district and won a number of
prizes for his feat in progressive farming. Even at 93, this
Hoshiarpur-based farmer is going strong and remains agile. He was the
first Parade Commander at India's first Independence Day parade India
in Delhi, immediately after Partition where a guard of honour was
given to the outgoing Viceroy Lord Mountbatten.
