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MOST soldiers who take up the pen after retirement, write because they could not crib and complain or express their anguish during the service career over certain issues they strongly feel about. However, only few have the courage to write their experiences in an honest manner. Major General Gurbakhsh Singh, who proved his mettle under extreme adversity without compromising the dignity and self-respect of a true soldier, is one who belongs to that rare breed. The decade of the 1940s was turbulent for British Raj - World War II was raging and the Indian subcontinent was swept by a popular freedom movement. As the War ended, the Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947. India as a fledgling nation rose to the aftermath of Partition — violence, exodus and influx of population; and a War imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. Indelible Reminiscences by Major General Gurbakhsh Singh, Padma Shri, DSO, OBE is a testimony to those turbulent times. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was commanding his Battalion Jind Infantry in Singapore when the British Forces in Malaya surrendered to the Japanese. He became a Prisoner of War along with his Battalion and faced unprecedented ordeal and privation for over three years. During captivity, he held his Battalion together, even spurning a personal offer from Subhash Chandra Bose to defect and join the Indian National Army. The tide of war turned with the Japanese surrender in Singapore; the General brought back his battalion intact to India. For his outstanding leadership under extreme adversity, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was the Deputy Force Commander of the Indian Custodian Force in Korea overseeing the repatriation of Prisoners of War. Indian Custodian Force did a commendable job and earned praise from every quarter. The general served in various capacities in the army, civil and even corporate sector. In every field he excelled and brought about changes and new order due to his foresight and diligence. Written with remarkable frankness and simplicity, the book is a must read for military professionals and students of military history.
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With many distinguished firsts to his credit, he proved himself worthy of emulation by every young officer and man. This book of memoirs which was completed by his wife after General’s death, is a testimony of turbulent decade of the 1940s when World War II was raging and India was swept by the independence movement spearheaded by many great patriots. The General was inducted as a commissioned officer in Jind State Forces as desired by the ruler of the state, while studying in Khalsa College Amritsar. When World War II started, his unit, the Jind Infantry Battalion was moved to Baluchistan.