Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon

Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (18 March 1914 - 6 February 2006), popularly known as Col. G.S. Dhillon (known to those close to him as TATU JI) was one of those (with Gen. Shah Nawaz Khan and Col. Prem Kumar Sahgal.) from the Indian National Army charged with "waging war against His Majesty the King Emperor". They were tried by the British at the end of World War II in the historical trial that began on 5 November 1945 at Red Fort, and was important in the Indian independence negotiations.

Childhood

Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was born at Algon on 18 March 1914. His father and mother were descendants of the Dhillon and Dhariwal Sikh Jat clans, respectively. He was the fourth child of his parents. His childhood name was Bakshi. His father was Sardar Takhar Singh and was employed in 8th King George’s Own light cavalry. He was promoted to post of Veterinary surgeon. Gurbaksh Singh was born when Takhar Singh was posted at Ferozepur.

His father Takhar Singh was of a humble origin from Narwar in Lahore district, now in Pakistan. It is 28 km from Amritsar across the border. His grandfather was Sardar Harbhajan Singh. He was a Patwari. Towards the end of nineteenth century with the advent of canals he was awarded a murabba, 25 acres of land, under the Upper Bari Doab canal in Chak number 32 near Changa Manga in Chunian tehsil of Lahore district. After retirement Harbhajan Singh migrated to this place.

Dhillon’s childhood was spent at Deolali in the Bombay Presidency, now in Maharashtra. Here the Army Remount Base Depot was set up during World War I. His father came on transfer as head Veterinary surgeon at this Depot. In 1919 he left Deolali as his father got an appointment at home in the Army Remount Department, with headquarters fixed at village Chak No. 32, commonly called Batti Chak. This special facility was extended to his father for his services rendered during war.

Education

Gurbaksh Singh got his primary education at Changa Manga in Government primary school. After passing 4th class he got education in number of schools, namely, Government High School, Chunian in Lahore district; Government High School, Dipalpore in district Montgomery; Vernacular Middle School, Raiwind in district Lahore; Victoria Dalip High School, Solan in Baghat State of Simla Hills; Dayanand Anglo Vernacular High School, Montgomery and lastly Gordon Mission College, Rawalpindi. Chunian was the birthplace of Raja Todar Mal.

He got education from teachers belonging to various religions that made him a secular person. He was a member of the Boy Scout Association. He has knowledge of Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English languages.

In 1931 he passed his High School from Dayanand Anglo Vernacular High School, Montgomery and joined Faculty of Science in Gordon Mission College, Rawalpindi. He failed to qualify F.Sc. examination of Punjab University in 1933. This ended his dream of becoming a doctor. Early that year his father had retired from service. With matriculation only he was unable to get any job.

Joined army

Mr. J.F.L. Taylor, a friend of his father, suggested to join the Indian Army as a combatant in the lowest rank as sepoy and further improve his educational standard. So he joined as a sepoy in Training Battalion, the 10/14th Punjab Regiment on 29 May 1933. As a recruit his pay was fifteen rupees per month. He completed his training in first week of March 1934.

During June 1936 he was selected for training at Kitchner College, Nowgong as a perspective candidate for Indian Military academy Dehradun. From Nowgong, he was sent to his parent unit and from there to Dehradun. At IMA he was an average cadet. World War II cut short his training in the Academy by one term and he graduated in March 1940. He was posted to 1st Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment, which was called “Sher Dil Paltan”. He joined his Battalion on the last day of March 1940 at Lahore in the same barracks where he had been a sepoy in the 4th Battalion of the Punjab Regiment. His Battalion moved from Lahore to Secunderabad in September 1940.

Moved overseas

Soon after the second week of February 1941 they were ordered to move overseas. Left Secunderabad on 3 March 1941 for Penang Island and from there to Ipoh, north of Kuala Lumpur in Malaya. After about two months stay at Ipoh, their Battalion moved to Sungei Pattani in South Kedah as a part of the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Garrett.

The 3rd Cavalry was allotted the defence of the Island of Penang. He disembarked at Singapore and reported at 7 MRC, Mixed Reinforcement Camp at Bidadari. From Singapore he was sent to Jitra situated on the main road to Thailand, 16 miles south of the border. He arrived Jitra on 5 December 1941.

Dhillon in World War II

The war in Europe was well underway, when, after the undeclared attack on Pearl Harbour and the bombing of Singapore on the early morning of 7 December 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. The Japanese forces destroyed the Royal Air Force completely at Sungei, Alor Star and Kota Bharu airfields. The 1/14th Punjab Regiment was ordered to go up to the Thailand frontier and delay the enemy’s advance between the frontier and the Asun line and then fall back to form the Brigade reserve in Jitra. They advanced with speed and delayed the enemy’s advance for full three days in spite of the heavy rains. On 10 December 1941, the Japanese Air Force sank HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, two battleships, and the pride of the British Navy in the area. This was a great blow to the defenders of Malaya and Singapore. On 11 December 1941, 1/14th Punjab Regiment fought a pitched battle at Changlun near the Thai frontier. Dhillon was Battalion Signal Officer with his C.O. Col. Fitzpatrick who remained nearest to the front line. The Battle of Changlun went on for eight hours and was lost. The Alor Star had also fallen.

On 13 December 1941 they arrived at Miami Beach? near Penang. They were taken to 3 M.R.C. in Penang. At the same time it was ordered to evacuate Penang. They were given the duty to guard a railway bridge at Nibong Tabol. They guarded the bridge for another two days till the arrival of Japanese. Then they were ordered to withdraw to Ipoh where Dhillon fell ill with malaria. He was hospitalized and sent to Singapore.

By the dawn of 9 February 1941, almost two divisions of the Japanese had landed on the soil of Singapore. On 10 February 1941, 7 MRC was moved to Raffles Square, a business area. By that time it was apparent that the surrender of Singapore was imminent. On 13 February 1941, Raffles Square was bombed. 7MRC suffered heavily with about 300 killed and many more wounded. The second-in-Command of 7 MRC, an English Major and Dhillon had a difficult job disposing of corpses. They dropped them in ocean. Singapore capitulated on 15 February 1941 and British Forces surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese.

The surrender of the British forces

The defeated and demoralized Indian soldiers collected themselves at Farrer Park in Singapore converging from all corners of the Singapore battlefield where they and their comrades had fought and lost the war. Lt. Colonel Hunt, a British staff officer of the Malayan Command, had come to hand over to the Japanese all the Indian troops who had now become prisoners of war. He handed all the POWs to Japanese commander, Major Fujiwara.

Major Fujiwara addressing the POWs expressed that it was his firm belief that world peace and the liberation of Asia could not be achieved and maintained without a free and independent India. He further said that if Indian POWs in Malaya were prepared to fight the British imperialism for the noble cause of achieving the independence of their motherland, the Imperial Japanese Government would advance all out support. He suggested the formation of Indian National Army. He handed over all the POWs in Malaya to Capt. Mohan Singh, the G.O.C. of the Indian National Army.

Formation of Indian National Army

At the stage on Farrer Park Capt. Mohan Singh addressed the POWs and decided to form an organized and disciplined power in the form of Indian National Army. The erstwhile POWs were to become now the soldiers of India’s Army of Liberation, the army that was to fight under its own leadership, with a real and just cause to wage war.

Mohan Singh was from the same unit from which was Dhillon. He was a close friend of Dhillon. On 17 February 1942, Dhillon decided to join the Indian National Army and took the vow not to drink till India became free. Next morning Capt. Mohan Singh issued orders to march off all the units of various camps on the island where the units were to occupy their allotted accommodation. Dhillon’s unit was to proceed to Neesoon Camp.

After the conclusion of the historic meeting at Farrer Park, 45,000 Indian prisoners of war, moved to different camps, each commanded by the senior-most officer who was designated as Station Commander. Capt. Mohan Singh set up his own headquarters, generally known as Supreme Headquarters, at Mount Pleasant, a European residential area in Singapore where mostly the British police officials lived before the capitulation of Singapore.

Gen.Mohan Singh called meetings of senior officers from time to time to discuss the problems of raising the Indian National Army. He had made it absolutely clear that membership of INA would be strictly on a voluntary basis. He advocated freedom of political thought so far unknown in the Indian Army under the British.[citation needed] The senior officers did the imparting of political education. Dhillon took up this work in Neesoon Camp. Neesoon village was situated 13 miles away from main town of Singapore. This camp was the Regimental Centre of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery.

The Japanese Headquarters had asked the Supreme Headquarters to provide 200 officers to guard the British and Australian prisoners of war at Changi Camp. Dhillon took the risk and volunteered his services for this unpleasant task.

At Changi Camp, Dhillon and other Indians were asked by the Japanese to give up the British drill and words of command and adopt Japanese ones. Within a fortnight they learnt the Japanese drill and words of command. Here they kept the Allied POWs in five separate Camps – Australian Camp, Hospital area, 9th Indian Division Camp, 11th Indian Division Camp and 18th British Camp. Its own officer, usually a General residing in the Camp, commanded each Camp. Changi was under military control of Japanese as well as Dhillon. Dhillon inculcated amongst the prisoners the feelings of national unity, discipline and keen sense of duty through daily lectures personally delivered by him.[citation needed] After some time at Changi Camp Dhillon fell seriously ill. He was released from the command of the Changi Garrison and sent to Seletar Camp and was admitted to POW Hospital.

Shaping Indian National Army

Dhillon’s health improved at Seletar Camp. He along with over thirty important senior officers from among the Indian Prisoners of war attended the Bidadari conference called by Captain Mohan Singh at Bidadari Camp in Singapore on 24 April 1942. The resolutions of this Conference, came to be known as the “Bidadari Resolutions”, formed the backbone of formation of INA. As resolved at the Tokyo Conference, a representative conference of the Indians who lived in East Asian countries was held at Bangkok on 15 June 1942, which continued for 10 days. 30 INA volunteers nominated by Mohan Singh among the Indian prisoners of war attended it. A resolution was passed at this conference known as “Bangkok Resolution”.

Armed with Bangkok Resolution, General Mohan Singh went around all the POW Camps. He addressed all the officers and men and appealed to them to volunteer themselves for the INA. The response was so good that some 42000 POWs volunteered their services. Immediately enough of volunteers were available to raise three divisions. Looking to readily available weapons it was decided to go ahead with the raising of 1st Division of the INA. Mohan Singh appointed Lt. Col. Mohammad Zaman Kiani as Chief of the General staff of the INA. Along with chosen team of capable officers, Zaman Kiani took his job in right earnest with his headquarters at the Bidadari Camp. Dhillon got his National Commission on 1 September 1942 and was posted as major on the 10 September 1942. He was still ill so he was attached to the Reinforcement Group. The first review of INA was held at Singapore Padaung in front of the Municipal Buildings on 2 October 1942, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Dhillon attended this function as an observer. The progress in recuperating Dhillon’s health was slow. He was recommended a month’s leave and sent to Penang. He returned to Singapore in the middle of November 1942. The Japanese had not yet ratified the Bangkok resolutions not recognized the INA as an independent army. General Mohan Singh had lost confidence in the Japanese. In the beginning of December 1942, the Japanese asked the INA Headquarters to dispatch an advance party to move to Burma so as to prepare camps and accommodation for the main body of INA. Meanwhile differences developed between Mohan Singh and the Japanese. The Japanese arrested General Mohan Singh on 29 December 1942. There was a period of crisis due to suspense and indecision. On the advice of Rash Behari Bose Dhillon continued in INA. They went all over the Island and up-country to urge men to remain in the INA.

Meanwhile Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji) was trying to come to the East. In anticipation of Netaji’s arrival, the revived INA was reorganized under its new headquarters known as Directorate of Military Bureau (DMB) with Col. J.K.Bhonsle as the Director. Dhillon was appointed as Deputy Quartermaster General (DQMG) in the “Q” Branch at the Army Headquarters. He was to look after the Technical Branch and was responsible for the accommodation also. The Army Headquarter was organized by the middle of March 1943 and was duly gazetted on 17 April 1943. On appointment Dhillon took up the task of collection of kit and clothing of those personnel who decided to leave the INA. When Netaji arrived on 2 July 1943 in Singapore and the Army was enlarged in December 1943, Dhillon was transferred to be the 2nd-in-Command of the 5th Guerilla Regiment.

Provisional Government of Free India

On 5 July 1943 Subhash Chandra Bose reviewed the INA in a spacious maidan in front of the Municipal Building of Singapore. It was here that he gave the war cry of ‘Chalo Delhi’. To the soldiers and the slogan of total mobilization to the civilians. The following day, 6 July 1943, General Tojo, Prime Minister of Japan reviewed the INA at the same place. This was a signal to Netaji to go ahead with his idea of the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India, known in Hindi and Urdu as Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind. On 21 October 1943 about 1000 delegates from all over East Asia, officers, men and women of the INA and the IIL, Officers of the Japanese Army and Government and distinguished citizens of Singapore gathered in the Cathay Hall at Singapore. At this gathering Netaji announced to the world the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India. Subhas Chandra Bose was the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War and Foreign Affairs. The Provisional government decided war against Britain and the United States of America. Within a week of its establishment, the Provisional government was recognized by nine sovereign States namely Germany, Japan, Italy, Independent State of Croatia, Wang Jingwei Government of China, Thailand, Manchukuo, Burma and Philippines.

The 5th Guerrilla Regiment

Dhillon was appointed Second-in-Command to Major J.W. Rodrigues in December 1943. Rodrigues raised the 5th Guerrilla regiment at Bidadari in Singapore. Apart from helping in raising the regiment Dhillon was responsible for training, discipline, morale and welfare of the troops. The 5th Guerrilla Regiment was formed as part of the 2nd INA Division, which was organized under the command of Col. N.S. Bhagat consequent on the 1st Division’s move to the Front.

On 30 March 1944 the 5th Guerrilla Regiment moved to Ipoh in Perak state of Malaya. Dhillon proceeded with the advance party to make necessary arrangements for the Regiment.

Dhillon moved to Burma

Dhillon was sent to front at Alor Star in Infantry Regiment at Jitra. On 15 July 1944 they left Jitra for onward journey Kawashi, Mergui and Tavoy through Thailand and then to |Moulmein and Rangoon in Burma. They had a period of long stay at Bangkok. From Bangkok they flew on 21 August 1944 over to Rangoon by Netaji’s personal aircraft, the “Azad Hind”. At Rangoon they were accommodated in Mingaladon Camp about 14 miles from Rangoon. Dhillon was here officiating as the Deputy Adjutant General (DAG) and also the Deputy quartermaster General (DGMG) in the Divisional headquarters when the first anniversary of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind came about. As part of the celebrations of the anniversary, the review of the 2nd Division of the INA was arranged at Mingaladon. It was part of duties of Dhillon to make arrangements and issue orders for the ceremonial parade at the vast parade ground. The parade was held on 18 October 1944.

Dhillon meets Subhas Chandra Bose

Dhillon met Subhas Chandra Bose on 15 October 1944 at his residence in Rangoon. He again met him on 26 October 1944 after which Dhillon was made Brigade Commander of the Nehru Brigade. Towards the end of 1943, “The Nehru” was put under the First Division. It moved to Burma in early 1944 and arrived at Mandalay. The Nehru Brigade was deployed in the Myingyan area with the object of defending it against enemy attack, which appeared imminent consequent on their withdrawal from Imphal.

In the middle of December 1944, the Japanese Army Commander General S. Katamura visited The Nehru Brigade along with the general came Col. I. Fujiwara, the greatest supporter of the INA and one of the originators of the idea among the Japanese. Dhillon was advised to expect the worst so that there was no disappointment later.

The Nehru Brigade held Irrawaddy

Towards end of 1944, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave him the command of 4th Guerrilla Regiment also called the Nehru Brigade. His regiment distinguished itself in the battlefield.

The Nehru Brigade was to hold the Irrawaddy River from Nyaungu in north to Pangan in south, both towns inclusive, and to hold the enemy crossing the Irrawaddy at those places.

Dhillon formed an advance party from 9th Battalion and left for Pagan on 29 December 1944. Dhillon ordered the move of battalions to leave Myingyan by 4 February 1945 so as to be in their respective positions by 8 February 1945. Dhillon ensured all the arrangements. The Nehru Brigade held the Irrawaddy as planned. Dhillon kept his Headquarters at Tetthe during this operation. On 12 February 1945 the enemy planes carried out saturation bombing on INA defences. On 13/14 February night enemy launched an assault in front of the 8th battalion deployed at Pagon. These assaults were failed and the enemy had to withdraw. The Nehru Brigade kept on holding the Irrawaddy and this was the first victory of INA. After the failure at Pagan the enemy tried another assault crossing opposite Nyaungu by using outboard motors and rubber boats. This assault was also failed and hundreds of enemies were killed or drowned. Having failed the enemy had no other choice but to retreat. This was another victory of INA. This could not sustain and INA had to withdraw and Dhillon had to proceed to Pagan.

Dhillon reached Pagan on 17 February 1945. On 23 February 1945, General Shah Nawaz visited the Commander of Khanjo Butai and discussed co-ordination of Indo-Japanese operations in the Popa and Kyauk Padaung area. Col. Sahgal was given the task to prepare Popa as a strong base with the view to take up an offensive role. Dhillon’s Regiment, the 4th Guerrilla, was assigned the duty to check the enemy advance on to Kyauk Padaung from the west, where the British had established a strong bridgehead at Nyaungu. This was to be achieved by carrying out an extensive and persistent guerrilla warfare in the area between Popa, Kyauk Padaung line in the east and as far forward towards the Irrawaddy as possible as to deny the enemy the use of Nyaungu-Kyauk-Padaullg-Meiktila metalled road for supplying reinforcements and supplies to his forces fighting in the battle of Meiktila. Shah Nawaz arrived Popa on 12 March 1945 and relieved Dhillon forthwith to join his regiment.

On 4 April 1945 his Division Commander, Colonel Shah Nawaz Khan, ordered Dhillon to return from Khabok to Popa. By then 4th Guerrilla regiment had been in that area waging guerrilla warfare for over five weeks. Mount Popa and Kyaukpadaung was one pocket of resistance, which had so far defied all British attacks. Under constant raids by INA the British forces were forced to use longer routes that caused the British loss of time, greater consumption of petroleum products and frequent breakdowns of vehicles.

From the beginning of April 1945 the strategic situation began to change rapidly. The enemy launched a three-pronged attack on Mount Popa and Kyaukpadaung area. On 5 April 1945 Dhillon was allotted the defence of Kyaukpadaung, south of Popa. In the second week of April there was daily bombing from air. Under the cover of this barrage the British forces advanced in their heavy tanks and armoured vehicles. There were very heavy casualties. The INA could not organize any defence. 2nd Division of the INA was to withdraw to Magwe, 100 miles south on Irrawaddy. After completing the task of withdrawing from Magwe, they came to a village called Kanni.

In the meantime, the Burmese army has declared war against Japan, and as such, the villagers did not co-operate with INA. Their retreat was fully under the control of General Aung San’s Army under the new name of People’s National Army, after having established a parallel government extending their hold over about 50 villages. They crossed Irrawaddy at Kama to reach Prome on 1 May 1945. Most of INA officers and men could not cross the river and they were stranded on the east bank of Irrawaddy. It was apparent by then, that they had lost the war. Rangoon had already been vacated. From Prome they took southeasterly direction to retreat through the jungles of the Pegu Yomas. Eleven days after leaving Prome, they reached at village called Wata about 20 miles west of Pegu. There they learnt that Germany had surrendered. Japan was being heavily bombed daily. The British forces had occupied Pegu. Rangoon fell during the last week of April. Herein they decided that the surviving forces of INA should surrender to the British.

Surrender of Indian National Army

On The 17 May 1945 the enemy encircled The Indian National Army. So they surrendered without any surrender ceremony. They were put into prison at Pegu. Shah Nawaz and Dhillon were taken to No. 3 Field Interrogation Centre under command of Major C. Ore on 18 May 1945. Later on 31 May Dhillon was sent to Rangoon Central Jail. On the 9 June 1945 Shah Nawaz was brought from Pegu and put up with Dhillon in Rangoon Jail. On 1 July 1945 Dhillon was brought to Calcutta by plane and from there, sent to Delhi by train. On 6 July 1945 he was put in the Red Fort and interrogated by Mr. Bannerjee of the Central Intelligence Department. The interrogation was over by the third week of July. On the 6 August 1945, Shah Nawaz, Sahgal and Dhillon were jointly summoned to the CSDIC for the first time. It was the beginning of the first INA trial at Red Fort. On 17 September 1945 the trio were served a copy of charge sheet. The main charge was waging war against the King. The news of trial was made public through the press and All India Radio.

The Red Fort trial

The historical trial of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Prem Kumar Sahgal and Shah Nawaz Khan at the Red Fort began on 5 November 1945 by a General Court Martial for the charge of waging war against the King. When the trial began a mass demonstration was going on outside the Red Fort. People gave voice to their resentment on the trials by shouting:

Lal Qile se aaee awaz, Sahgal Dhillon Shah Nawaz, Teenon ki ho umar daraz

(Meaning – Sahgal, Dhillon, Shah Nawaz, comes the voice from the Red Fort. May the trio live long)

--this was the slogan that stirred the entire nation, particularly the youth who marched through the streets of the country in 1945.[citation needed]

The New Year's eve 31 December 1945 was the last day of trial. The trial marked a significant turning point in India’s struggle for Independence and Col. Dhillon along with his two colleagues Col. Prem Kumar Sahgal and Maj. Gen. Shah Nawaz Khan became symbol of India fighting for freedom.

The verdict of trial came on 1 January 1946. All three were found guilty of waging war against the King Emperor. Having found the accused guilty of the charge of waging war, the court was bound to sentence the accused either to death or to deportation for life. No finding or sentence by court-martial is complete until confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief. Commander-in-Chief Auchinleck, taking into consideration the prevailing circumstances decided to treat all three accused in the same way in the matter of sentence, and decided to remit the sentences of deportation of life against all of the three accused, and they were later released.

Dhillon released

The incidence of release the three members of the INA was of momentous significance at national level. The unprecedented publicity in the national papers and the media during the proceedings of trial enhanced the credibility and legitimacy of the freedom struggle launched by Indian National Army.

On the following day of the release, 4 January 1946 the whole of Delhi and its neighbourhood had gathered to participate the rally never organized in the history of Delhi.

Award

Mr. K.R. Narayanan, president of India, awarded Padma Bhushan to Col. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon on 12 April 1998.

Memorials

Indian Postal Department issued a stamp in 1997 in the memory of Dhillon’s contribution to liberation of India.

Col. Dhillon accompanied an 18-member Azad Hind Expedition in 1995 in which there were three battle-scarred veterans of the INA: Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Colonel Lakshmi Sahgal and Captain S.S. Yadava. The expedition departed from Delhi to Singapore on 14 December 1995. The expedition traversed 8000 km long route of the Azad Hind Fauj through thick jungles, deep rivers, high mountains and scorching plains treaded by the braves of the INA. The veterans recalled those glorious days through the mists of memory.

As Author

Col. G.S. Dhillon had also written a book “From my Bones” in which he has recorded experiences that contributed so significantly to India’s Independence. In this book Col. Dhillon narrates his experiences of INA and the nostalgic memories of the trial. The story narrated in the book is not the history of INA. The narrative is of the events, which concerned the author or were to his knowledge in connection with his duties and status in the movement. It is more like a historical account of his actions. He was also a poet. Though not a prolific poet, his poems vividly capture some of the momentous happening of recent history.

About his family

Dhillon married to Basant at age of fourteen in 1928. Their first child, Amrita, was born on 15 April 1947 at Simla. Amrita studied at Banasthali Vidyapith for eleven years and later became a doctor. Dhillon has two sons Amarjit and Sarvjit. Both are settled at Shivpuri. His wife Basant died on 19 March 1968 at Shivpuri. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was living in Dhillon’s Den at the village Hatod in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh during his last days of life.

Death

Col G S Dhillon died on 6 February 2006 in the Intensive-Care-Unit of J.A.Group of Hospitals, Gwalior (M.P.) following a cardiac arrest after prolonged illness. His last rites were performed at Shivpuri with full military honours on February 8, 2006.

First Death Anniversary

At the First Death Anniversary of Col.Dhillon, on 6 February 2007, A large number of people from different sections of society, gathered at his Memorial - AZAD HIND PARK (the place in village Hatod of Shivpuri where his cremation took place on 8 February 2006) to pay their tributes. Various freedom fightors, government officials, politicians, large number of school children, his friends & relatives along with local residents paid their homage to Col. on the occasion