Battle Of Barki

By Brig Kanwaljit Singh (Retd) and Kiran Nirvan

1965: Indian Army is preparing for a full-fledged war on its western border. After the Pakistan army’s infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army decides to threaten Lahore to divert Pakistani forces from J&K towards Lahore.
The Pakistani town of Barki, only twenty odd kilometres from Lahore, acts as the strongest defensive position for the Pakistan army. Therefore, its capture, though almost impossible, is crucial. 4 SIKH, commanded by Lt Col Anant Singh, is assigned the task of capturing Barki.
4 SIKH faces fierce resistance from the entrenched enemy soldiers. As casualties rise and the unit gets pinned down by heavy enemy fire, all hopes of taking over the Barki police station now rest on young Lt Kanwaljit Singh.
In the face of heavy odds, Lt Kanwaljit leads his brave men to victory in the iconic BATTLE OF BARKI.
After six days of continuous battle, 4 SIKH is ordered to press forward towards Khemkaran, not knowing that they will be taken Prisoners of War.
Witness the finest blend of human emotions and undaunted soldiering against heavy odds that leads a young officer to discover the true meaning of naam, namak and nishaan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Srishti Publishers
• Release date: Nov 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9789390441853

Book preview

I have known Brigadier Kanwaljit Singh for 53 years and as the Adjutant of 4 Sikh in 1971 Bangladesh War, was an eyewitness to his professional performance while leading his company from the front in battle for 45 days, including four successful offensive operations of the battalion. Battle of Barki is a fascinating first person account of the operations of 4 Sikh in 1965 Indo-Pak War, a saga of leadership, bravery, sacrifice, triumph and disaster.

In 36 hours from the evening of 10 September to the morning of 12 September, Lieutenant Kanwaljit Singh as D Company Commander was part of one of 4 Sikh’s finest hours - the capture of the fortress of Barki – and it’s biggest disaster in 88 years of its history - the debacle at Khemkaran – in which 6 Officers, 5 Junior Commissioned Officers and 121 Other Ranks were taken prisoners of war. All because the higher commanders through a bold, but hastily and poorly planned operation, made 4 Sikh carry the burden of the legacy of the Battle of Saragarhi (12 September 1897), 68 years to the day. The narrative interwoven with his then young life of 23 years makes a riveting read and a lesson in leadership for the public and the soldiers.

– Lt Gen H.S. Panag (Retd)

PVSM, AVSM

Former GOC-in-C Northern Command and Central

Command.

First-Hand account of a battle that

Impacted the course of the 1965 Indo-Pak War

Brig Kanwaljit Singh (Retd)

Kiran Nirvan

An imprint of

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Srishti Publishers & Distributors

A unit of AJR Publishing LLP

212A, Peacock Lane

Shahpur Jat, New Delhi – 110 049

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First Published by Bold

an imprint of Srishti Publishers & Distributors in 2022

Copyright © Brig Kanwaljit Singh (Retd), Kiran Nirvan, 2022

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This is a work of non-fiction based on the author’s life and experiences in the Indian Army. While due care has been taken by the author and publisher to verify contents at press time, any inadvertent miss that is brought to their notice shall be duly verified and updated subsequently. Actual names of people and places have been used with a view to provide first-hand information.

The authors assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers.

Printed and bound in India

This book is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel Anant Singh, Commanding Officer, a leader par excellence in Peace, Field, or War. And to all ranks, 4th Battalion The Sikh Regiment (Saragarhi Battalion), who fought gallantly, with grit and determination, endured sacrifices and captured the formidable Barki and Ichhogil Canal in Indo-Pak War of 1965.

PREFACE

The commonality of interests and urge to work jointly for creation inspired the duo of Kirandeep Singh and Nirvan Singh – known by the pseudonym Kiran-Nirvan – to get in touch with me. Their invigorative interest is to bring out novelty in the description of wars and battles through interaction with those involved in the events. They collaborate with veterans and heroes and put forth these stories to the public in their distinct cinematic storytelling style.

Besides many others, the duo met the serving officers of 4 Sikh, erstwhile XXXVi Sikh, through them to the veterans of Battle of Barki (Lahore – 1965) and Siramani (Khulna – 1971). The most penetrative was their interest in the famous Battle of Saragarhi – the striking episode of bravery, dedication, leadership, patriotism, and sacrifice. Their search found me. I belonged to 4 SIKH since 1962, immediately after 4 SIKH fought a magnificent 25-days record battle at Walong against China, and was then fortunate to participate as a company commander in the 1965 and 1971 wars.

They proposed a meeting of ideas to be transformed into a book on the Battle of Barki. We had already done work on the Battle of Saragarhi, a common topic, through their book 21 Kesaris, and mine The Iconic battle of Saragarhi – Echoes of the Frontier.

Pakistanis were jubilant over india’s debacle in 1962, gasconading over their possessions of latest weaponry, proud of their political stability and comfortable economy. Their failure in 1947 to have the entire Jammu and Kashmir and some other territories spurred them to plunge into another venture. Operations Gibraltar and Grand slam were to this end. They were baffled by Indian riposte, Operation Blaze. The tussle was ferocious, with indians having an upper hand at the end of the day, and yet having adequate wherewithal to defeat Pakistan in her own game, left with less muscle remaining in her kitty to withstand.

Indian Army and Air Force played a grand role, fighting some grim battles, more to win and some to lose. Some battles were spectacular in the fight and their impact on overall strategy and aim. One of these was the capture of Barki, a formidable objective on the way to Lahore, by Saragahi-famed indomitable 4 Sikh. I was fortunate to be a Company Commander with a service of fewer than three years and today, to present the battle as it happened.

To espouse the satisfaction and happiness of participating in this famous battle, I have humbly added my grooming from childhood to a state where I could command elite troops.

The blessings of elders in civil life and the Army must be brought out. Hence my modest nurturing through the memory lane during tumultuous events of the time that shaped india into a country of meaning in substance and business forms a part of the book.

Certain characters in the story like Pakistani guards Mustafa and Naseem as well as indian Prisoner of War (PW) Kuldeep have been created inspired from actual persons and certain events have been suitably dramatized, though inspired from actual happenings to bring out aspects of our confinement during PW days.

It is Kiran and Nirvan who shook me up from a slumber to join them and write a memoir of events, all that makes a man what he becomes. in my heart, there is a whole-hearted appreciation for them for adding their wonderful style of putting across the ideas.

I must take the opportunity to thank all those who helped us in the creation of this book – Mr Suhail Mathur, who knows what co- ordination means. He introduced us to eminent Srishti Publishers, the publishing house that understood the necessity of the book to be published in a short time, thus fine-tuning all aspects that go into the presentation of an eye-catcher. Our profound thanks to this fabulous publishing house, which also organized the astute services of their editor Stuti Gupta.

We, most respectfully, acknowledge the eminent personalities for going through our draft and encouraging us with their fine words of appreciation. We express our foremost gratitude to Lt Gen H.S. Panag (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, former GOC-in-C Northern Command and Central Command, bestselling author Bhaavna Arora and Actor, Singer Karan B Oberoi.

Let us watch out for a heady cocktail of styles and understanding of various people who have brought this book to life, and get intoxicated in the world of words for the stunning Battle of Barki.

Brig Kanwaljit Singh (Retd)

Khemkaran Sector- Area of Operations of 11 Corps including 4 SIKH on morning of 12 Sep 19651

1

THE LEGACY OF SARAGARHI

11 September 1965

‘I t is rare that a battalion is chosen for another operation of such a grand scale right after the success of the first one within a day,’ Major General H. K. Sibal spoke firmly, glazing his words with a sense of delight and confidence. He ran his index finger and thumb over his thin chevron ² while awaiting a reply.

‘With all due respect, sir, I request you to reconsider,’ Lieutenant Colonel Anant said in a persuasive tone as he stood at ease in front of the General seated inside his field office at the headquarters of the Division. it was located somewhere near the international Border between india and Pakistan. Anant wasn’t the usual ‘Yes man’ that Generals usually encountered in their everyday life.

‘Sir, my unit has been in offensive actions continuously for last six days without any rest or recoup. We have already lost three JCOs, 36 jawans and another one hundred and thirty have been wounded. I am yet to take stock of the condition of my battalion. Another offensive at this stage is…’ Before Anant could speak any further; the General interrupted him, ‘And your unit will be rewarded with a battle honour for your contribution. you have done wonders at Barki. Your team of officers and jawans is highly motivated. Your unit is fully geared up to accomplish another crucial task. Besides, only the fortunate get to fight more battles in a war.’

The word fortunate was rather misplaced, Anant wondered as he stood silent. Fortunate were those who would see an end to the war, he thought. But the General’s mind was rather made up, since he had already submitted the battalion to the Army Commander Western Command for another task.

‘All I am requesting is that my unit be given some time for recuperation, sir,’ Anant tried to convince the General for one last time. Usually, the General would have been unnerved by now, but Anant’s words bore fair intent and reason. even the General knew it well.

‘Time is what we’re running short of in this war,’ the General stood up slowly as he spoke. The ribbons over his shirt’s left pocket slightly tilted under their weight caught Anant’s gaze for a moment.

‘We have to force the Pakistanis to shift their forces from the Northern sector to the Western sector. My Division under the overall plan of the Corps has done its share. your unit’s actions at Barki have done half the job. The overall momentum must not be lost. With the withdrawal of enemy’s Brigade from Khemkaran, it should be cakewalk for your men to take Khemkaran back. you’ll be linked up with armour support too. Besides, the Army Commander wants that the XXXVi Sikhs be given an opportunity to add another feather to their cap on Saragarhi Day³ with yet another victory.’

Anant could now understand the General’s plight. There was a sense of urgency in his words, an insurmountable pressure of keeping up with the pace of the Division’s operations in the most heavily defended and unreconnoitred tank country. No wonder no other battalion was sure enough to undertake an offensive at Khemkaran. But Anant had his reasons to let this so-called opportunity go. The weight of hundreds of highly exhausted, battle-stressed soldiers – who had already given their best just the previous night in one of the most iconic battles – rested on his shoulders. Subjecting them to another battle within hours would be unjust.

Anant mustered enough courage, therefore, to put up his situation to the Corps Commander and Army Commander, whom he was to meet soon.

Anant met the Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Joginder Singh Dhillon⁴ and forwarded his plea for time to be given for recuperation. The Corps Commander asked Anant to speak to the Army Commander. The Army Commander, Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh, Vir Chakra⁵, a tall, turbaned Sikh gentleman with a towering stature, happened to be the Colonel of the Sikh Regiment – the regiment to which Anant’s Battalion belonged himself. He was one of the finest field commanders Indian Army had ever had. The Army Commander appreciated the excellent job done by Anant’s Battalion and told Anant in very specific words, ‘I have decided to give you another important task in Valtoha-Khemkaran-Kasur sector. Further orders and instructions shall follow. I shall personally come to you on 12th September, on your Battalion’s Battle Honour Day, ‘Saragarhi’, when you would have added another chapter to your glorious record. Detailed orders shall be given to you by Major General Gurbaksh Singh, GOC, 4 Mountain Division.’

Before long, Anant realized enough to understand that his request would bear no fruit. The Army Commander’s confidence in Anant’s unit was a proof that none of the higher Commanders must have dared to put forth the option for reconsideration, for their own reasons whatsoever.

While Anant walked out of the field office of the Corps Headquarters, he realized why his Battalion had been chosen. it was time for the unit to live up to the legacy of the epic Battle of Saragarhi. However, not in a way the higher Commanders had envisaged, but just how it should be. Only Anant could foresee the consequence. Only he had the heart to bear it.

v

‘Where did you manage this from?’ Lieutenant Kanwaljit Singh asked Second Lieutenant Ajit Singh, the youngest officer of the Battalion who had recently been commissioned. He had joined the unit while the unit had already mobilized to fight the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

‘This?’ a cheerful Ajit brandished a shiny Colt ’51 Navy revolver in his hand. ‘Major Shamsher Singh found it on one of the dead Pakistani JCOs. He asked me to keep it while he was moving to the rear this morning for treatment of his wounds.’

‘Lucky chap!’ Kanwal said with a smile, the first one he had had since the previous night. ‘Shamsher sir must have been in a very good mood so as to motivate a youngster.’

‘I am keen to learn everything about the unit, sir,’ a motivated Ajit said as the duo walked ahead of Kanwaljit’s Company with their Sten guns hung on their shoulders. ‘The way your Company fought last night makes me very proud that I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of this unit.’

‘You joined us in war,’ Kanwal said. ‘That is your good luck in a way. Otherwise, you would have learnt the hard way.’

‘Why, sir?’ a curious and confused Ajit asked. Kanwal thought it best not to disclose the fun part where, after the war, being the senior subaltern he would get plenty of opportunities to put Ajit through physical and mental exhaustion as a part of his grooming, just the way it was done to him. He let the question vanish into thin air with just a faint smile hidden behind his princely rolled beard and handlebar mustache. even though the previous night’s actions had rendered his uniform untidy and torn from places, Kanwal made sure to redo his turban and his beard as a part of his everyday morning ritual. After all, he took pride in it, just how every soldier of the Sikh Regiment should. Ajit stole an admirable gaze at Kanwal’s turban. He adjusted his own turban as Kanwal looked away.

‘Too many questions in the Chhattis⁶ could be harmful,’ Kanwal commented sarcastically, leaving Ajit embarrassed. ‘Now run back and take a count up of the Company. Make sure that nobody’s slouching. Orders have come that we must speed up. Tell the men that another task awaits them. They’d even run for it if they have to.’

‘Yes sir,’ Ajit said and went on the double at once. Kanwal gazed at him with fair amount of admiration. For a young officer to volunteer to join a unit in war and not get bogged down by the sight of the dead and wounded was a feat in itself. it was a promising start to becoming a good soldier in the longer run.

even as the Companies of the 4 Sikh walked towards the rear, tired and starving, Kanwal wondered why Anant had called for the unit to fall back at such short notice. But more than anything, all this while that he walked, he made a mental note of the names of all the men in his Company who had perished in the battle, the previous night. Kanwal, a twenty-two-year-old young officer with hardly two years and nine months of service, was yet too young to deal with the grief of loss of those men with whom he had commanded and trained with. But war hardly leaves any time to grieve. Faces of the soldiers of his unit who were killed in the battle – whom he had known so well – flashed in front of his eyes, with every step of the eighteen kilometers long walk.

How he would ever repay their debt? But then, was the debt his to be paid? He wondered for he could meet with a similar fate any moment in this godforsaken war; the fate that lingers over every soldier’s life.

v

The wounds from the 1962 Indo-China war were not yet healed when Pakistan, sensing Chinese, USA’s, european and Middle eastern countries’ support, launched Operation Gibraltar in 1965 with the aim to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and assisted by an attack in Chamb-Jaurian-Akhnoor, sever the state once and for all from india. By the end of August 1965, numerous provocative actions made it evident that a full-scale war was in the offing.

By 1 September 1965, Pakistan’s plans under Operation Gibraltar laid in tatters. Most infiltrators were killed or driven out from Kashmir and Haji Pir Pass, along with other important objectives, fell to determined indian attacks, viz, Point 13620 in Kargil Sector and Raja-Chand in Poonch Sector. yet Pakistani authorities believed in made-up stories of infiltrators and were expectant of victory. Operation Grand Slam was launched by Pakistan in Chamb Sector to severe Indian lines of communication to J&K. Such a move was anticipated.

On 3 September 1965, Army Headquarters gave the Go Ahead to put Indian offensive plans into effect in Punjab Sector, with the primary objective of threatening Lahore. This would not only pose a danger to Lahore and compel Pakistan to commit large forces at the cost of other operations, but also give an upper hand to the indian side in case of negotiations.

4 SIKH, gloating in the glory of fighting a magnificent twenty- five-days continuous battle at Walong in 1962, was moved to fight battles in Western Sector as a part of the Indian Army’s plan. They had done their job well. Battle of Barki was proof of it.

v

The fourteen-kilometer long walk under the scorching sun after a whole night of fighting and no rest was undertaken. It was done at the promise of hot meal and warm milk, a rare luxury for these uncomplaining soldiers of 4 Sikh who had been surviving on half of dry rations and quenching their thirst from muddy puddles inside abandoned paddy fields of surrounding villages along International Border (iB). even then, when asked ‘how are you, shero⁷?’ by Lieutenant P. P. Singh Virk, the Quarter Master who was ready with a truckload of delicious food for the unit in the rear location.

‘Chardi Kala, Sa’ab ji,’ came as a reply in unison. Chardi Kala is a Punjabi term for a positive and high morale mindset. it is imbibed well into the characters of these battle-hardened men. it enables them to rise above adversity and to accept whatever was going on in their lives with gratitude and a neutral mind. These innocent yet tough men of 4 Sikh were a living testimony to such a mindset. Virk marvelled at the mettle of these men of his unit who, though visibly exhausted, lit up with joy at the sight of mere hot poori, aloo and karah prashad⁸.

‘You’re a sight for sore eyes, Virk,’ Kanwal commented as Virk came forward with open arms to greet him.

‘I heard you and your men raised hell last night,’ Virk complimented as he held Kanwal’s hand with both his hands. ‘even Shamsher sir was all praises for you yesterday.’

‘If he said so,’ Kanwal said, ‘Then I must have done something good.’ Both chuckled.

‘I’ve got some desi ghee for you to go with the pooris,’ Virk said slowly, excitedly.

‘I’m sure you have,’ Kanwal said, trying to look cheerful. ‘But I don’t think i’m hungry right now.’

‘I know how it is,’ Virk said in a consoling tone as he unslung Kanwal’s Sten gun and took him under a tree nearby. ‘Food isn’t your enemy right now. You must eat to keep going. We shall definitely raise a toast to those the Battalion lost later.’

‘Did you meet the Tiger⁹?’ Kanwal asked as he held a platter brought to him by a jawan of the unit upon Virk’s signal.

‘Not yet,’ Virk replied as he pulled a tin can from his rucksack. He opened it and poured semi-liquid desi ghee on top of pooris in Kanwal’s plate. ‘Anant sir left for the Division Headquarters as soon as he came here.’

‘Are they sending us elsewhere?’ Kanwal made a guess. The aroma of the hot food in his plate caught his attention for a moment. He started nibbling at the pooris.

‘I’m afraid, it might be so,’ Virk replied as he scraped the ghee from the tin can’s edge and rubbed it on his mustache and hands ‘Did you look at the boys? They’re exhausted!’ Kanwal exclaimed.

‘What do they expect us to do now? Become superhumans?’

Before Virk could calm Kanwal down, Virk’s runner came trotting to him. He paused in his stride, stamped and saluted, ‘Sat Sri Akal Sa’abji, Tiger’s orders for move to Valtoha have come.’

Kanwal left the plate on the stool at once and stood up.

‘Khadh ja,’ Virk said, telling him to wait. He took Kanwal’s plate and poured aloo onto one of the pooris. Then, he rolled it and forcibly stuffed it inside Kanwal’s mouth all at once. ‘Now go!’ Kanwal nodded with a faint smile around his stuffed mouth