Mohindar Singh Chopra
Mohindar Singh Chopra | |
|---|---|
 Major General Mohindar Singh Chopra in uniform. | |
| Born | 1907 Amritsar, Punjab, British India |
| Died | 1990 New Delhi, India |
| Allegiance |  British India India |
| Service/ |  British Indian Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1928–1956 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | PIFFERS ("Black Puttees") Royal Fusiliers 7th Rajput Regiment Persian and Iraq Force XIV Army Jullundur Brigade 13 Frontier Force Rifles 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) 20th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Third Anglo-Afghan War Burma Campaign<Anglo-Iraqi War North African Campaign Partition of India |
| Relations | Pushpinder Singh Chopra (son) |
| Other work | Ambassador of India to Philippines Ambassador of India to Taiwan Director of National Institute of Sports, Patiala |
Major General Mohindar Singh Chopra (1907–1990) was an Indian Army General Officer who was known for being in charge of stopping the Partition Riots in both corners of India; Punjab and Bengal. He stopped riots and genocides from taking place through military force.
As the Brigadier he was responsible for a voluntary flow of migration. He had managed to do a referendum in Sylhet, East Pakistan and stopped riots in Amritsar-Lahore along with the rest of Punjab after the Partition of the British Indian Army.
After retirement he became India's Ambassador to the Philippines and Taipai (as Taiwan was known). Later, he was Director, National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
Early life[edit]
Mohindar Singh Chopra was born to a Sikh background in Amritsar, and at an early age was selected for military training as an 'A' recruit.[1]
Military career[edit]
Training[edit]
Chopra, as a young subaltern freshly commissioned from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, had joined his first Regiment, the Royal Fusiliers of the British Indian Army, on a year's attachment in 1928. He was a King's Commissioned Officer.[1] His army career progressed steadily, he saw action on the North West Frontier Province with the 1st Bn. 7th Rajput Regiment at Bannu after which he was posted to his permanent regiment, the 6th Royal Bn, 13th Frontier Force Rifles (Scinde) as part of the elite "PIFFER Group", the legendry "Black Puttees" as they were known. They helped to keep the peace on the turbulent North West Frontiers, with their wild and warlike Pathan tribesmen.
Various professional courses were attended but Mohindar Singh Chopra excelled in army physical training (being a Sandhurst blue for Athletics) and he was sent for advanced courses to Aldershot just before World War II broke out.
World War II[edit]
He was first sent as part of the British Indian Army Head Command to secure the area from Iraqi rebels.[2] The region fell under the indirect occupation of the British Raj at the time hence he administrated and sent communications from Iraq to India.[2] This phase was short, since he was sent to the Burma front which had the worst fighting between Great Britain and Japan.
Mohindar Singh Chopra then served with the Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom) on the Assam-Burma front, also known as the Forgotten Army.[3] He was a company commander of a war he raised battalion of the 13 Frontier Force Rifles, operating deep behind Japanese lines in the Burma Campaign.[3] He had beaten back the Japanese forces in the Arakan Jungles and was promoted to Lt Colonel by the British Indian Army for his service.[3] His role was also to fight against the Indian National Army, under the Indian Independence League of Subhas Chandra Bose since they were working with the Japanese and trying to get Indians to revolt across the country, though they were militarily unsuccessful.
He was then sent to North Africa in 1944, although he did not see any military service in the region.[4] He was later rewarded with being promoted to Brigadier and becoming the first Indian Commanding Officer of the 1st Assam Regiment in Shillong.
Partition of India (Bengal)[edit]
In the region of Bengal, there were barely any riots, excepting the Noakhali riots and Direct Action Day, due to the presence of the SYL Force (Sylhet Force) in the area under the overall command of Mohindar Singh Chopra, now a Brigadier.[5] He prevented any riots or armed violence during the Sylhet Referendum despite massive religious tension in the area, as the people were almost equally split between Hindu and Muslim- the former generally wanting to be part of India and the latter Pakistan.[3] The Sylhet Referendum concluded on 6 July 1947 with most of the region joining East Pakistan. He stayed till early September and then left to Delhi where he was given the job to partition the British Indian Army.[6]
During his time in Bengal he had written to Master Tara Singh, Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur and other Akali leaders to keep peace in the area- although they did not listen since there was no army presence.[7]
Partition of the British Indian Army[edit]
In Delhi, in September 1947, he had started to chalk out a plan to Partition the British Indian Army into the newly formed Pakistani Army and Indian Army. They settled on the battalions moving from and to India/Pakistan along with the transportation.[8] He also helped Muslims settle in tents in Delhi near Humayun's Tomb and the Red Fort who were all refugees coming in from Uttar Pradesh and mostly East Punjab.[9]
Partition of India (Punjab)[edit]
In Punjab around 800,000 Muslims from East Punjab and the rest of India were killed by Sikh jathas while trying to reach the Western side, whereas around 200,000 Hindus and 50,000 Sikhs also died in riots in, mainly, Pothohar.[10] For three months (October–December) Mohindar Singh Chopra commanded the 123 Indian Infantry Brigade to stop the riots going on in Punjab.[11] He took over at the height of violence from a British Officer-Brigadier Solomons, a highly decorated officer.[12] He was the first Indian to take over the post.[12] Brigadier Solomon had under him three battalions while he was given seven more to look after the border and to protect the refugees.[12]
He was able to set up organized militia to keep peace in localities around the border, the Ajit Dal, Punjab Defence Force, Sher-I-Punjab Dal, Amritsar Raksha Dal, Hindu-Sikh Milap Dal, National Volunteer Corps, Ajit Fauj, Dashmesh Sena, Nalwa Dal, Desh Sevak Sena all did their part to protect the citizens no matter which religion; Muslim, Hindu or Sikh.[13] These, although, were not able to combat the overwhelming Sikh jathas who were organized under the Shiromani Akali Dal, Maharajas of Sikh princely states like Patiala, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Nabha, Kalsia and Jind and local armed Sikhs who formed groups and raided Muslim villages and homes.[13]
Amritsar Conflict[edit]
In early October 1947 M.S. Chopra along with his troops, was escorting a large Muslim convoy from Beas to Amritsar.[12] Nearing the camping ground at Amritsar hundreds of Amritsar citizens shouting hysterically waving swords and spears.[12] The situation was explosive, he stood on top of a standing bullock cart and shouted the Sikh war-cry, "Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal."[12] He stressed that if they killed the lot of Muslims there would be further retaliation and revenge.[12] He told them two wrongs do not make one right and moreover Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had given explicit instructions that those Muslims who did not want to stay in India, should be allowed to go unmolested.[12] The crowd, miraculously, listened and dispersed.[12]
Every protection and facility was given to the Muslims to proceed to Pakistan without any molestation at all.[12] They were escorted by Indian troops up to Attari border.[12] Every Muslim was given protection after his taking over in September 1947.[12] He had under his command over ten battalions numbering over eight thousand soldiers, including six battalions of Gorkhas.[12]
Wagah-Attari Border[edit]
He and his counterpart and former associate and friend, Brigadier Nasir Ahmad, had devised a plan to create a joint check post to make sure that the border is created.[14] They both founded the famous Wagah-Attari Border which, at that time, was 3 drums on each side and a line of chalk drawn on the Grand Trunk Road.[14] Visitors can still see a plaque at the bottom of the flagstaff at the check post which bears the words: "Foundation stone of this flag staff was laid by Brig Mohindar Singh Chopra on 11th Oct 1947".[15]
"Gentlemen, this is India's North-West border: the most unnatural ever created."
— Brigadier (later Major General) Mohinder Singh Chopra, 12 November 1947, referring to the Radcliffe Line, 1947: A Soldier's Story
India's First Border Skirmishes[edit]
Although, Pakistan, before the 1947 Indo-Pakistan War, also tried to infiltrate East Punjab like they did in Kashmir although he had cleverly foiled their plan by creating check-posts along the border to capture them, there were around fifty Pakistanis who were caught by the Indian Army and sent back to the other side.[9] The first gunshots fired between India to Pakistan was during an incident near the border in the Amritsar district, some journalists were shot at by the Pakistani Army, they were not killed and managed to escape.[13] The Pakistani raiders outnumbered the journalists escort, and hence two platoons from the 2 Bihar under Major Yadhav arrived from Attari and took action and after 4 hours and cleared the pockets occupied by Pakistani troops in Indian territory.[13] It was further disclosed that the raiders belonged to village Thehpur in Pakistan.[13] The East Punjab Police of the Boundary Force chased the raiders and recovered their cattle.[13] The raiders returned with renewed strength.[13] Brigadier Mohindar Singh Chopra took over command of the Police Force, reorganized it, and returned the fire.[13] Lt Col Randhir Singh Grewal was noted to be one of the more competent assistants during the Partition saga.[12]
There was a similar encounter near Qadian on 12 November when Brigadier Mohindar Singh Chopra personally directed operations and recovered improvised anti- personnel land mines and 3 " mortars from the fleeing raiders.[13] With open warfare having broken out in Kashmir the Lahore-Amritsar border was getting restless.[13] On 3 November, large concentrations of Pathans and other tribals at Lahore were reported to be preparing for raiding Amritsar, 3 lorry-loads of Pathans were observed at camping around Wagah, although they were thwarted as reinforcements were placed.[13] During the major chunk of the 1947 Indo-Pakistan War, there was no fighting on the neighboring Punjab front, and he later invited Jawaharlal Nehru for a parade in Gobindgarh Fort, Amritsar to inspire the people that Punjab would be safe, Brigadier Chopra stayed there till October 1949.[9][13]
During the 1947 Indo-Pakistan War, he moved his Infantry Division to Fazilka to look after that border of the Punjab.[12]
Relief Work[edit]
Hundreds of separated women were rescued by the Indian troops from Pakistan in cross-border operations, under his command (other than Sikhs and Dogra troops) who were not permitted to enter Pakistan just as the entire Baloch Regiment was not allowed to come to India, as they had played havoc in Sheikhupura.[12] When the womenfolk were brought back to safety at Amritsar, some parents were in hysterics at the happy reunion, whilst others refused to accept them back as they had lost their virginity.[12] However, many of the Indian 'jawans' in the army volunteered and married these girls.[12] To rescue the womenfolk he dispatched British officers; a few were under his command, to assist in recovery work.[12] They went deep into Pakistan as far as Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat and Peshawar to rescue unfortunate girls.[12]
He formed the Military Evacuee Organisation, Amritsar that came into being on September 1, 1947.[12] He flew with Wing commander Mehar Singh to over-see the caravans of refugees marching from Pakistan to India and drop 'food parcels and cooked chapattis and vegetables in sacks'.[12] He revealed that he sent the belongings of Sir Zaffar Ullah, Pakistani representative at the United Nations from Qadian to Lahore.[12]
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With the 5th Infantry Division[edit]
In late 1949 he was promoted to Major General and given the responsibility to resurrect the famous 5th Infantry Division, then scattered along most of North and Eastern India.[6] In 1950 he was given the singular honor of being appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the 5th Royal Gurkhas Rifles (Frontier Force) being then and remaining the senior Piffer in the Sub-Continent.[6]
The 5th Division was built up into a formidable fighting force and mobilized twice for the Korea War of 1950–53, wherein he did not see service although had represented the Indian Army.[6]
In 1953 he took over as GOC 20th Infantry Division, the last Division to have troops stationed in Tibet before the Chinese invasion there.[6]
1952 Devon Plane Crash[edit]
In 1952 the Devon Plane Crash could have wiped out the entire top brass of the Indian Army, although they miraculously survived.[16] Among them were the then GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen SM Shrinagesh, Maj Gen KS Thimayya, Maj Gen SPP Thorat (later GOC-in-C, Eastern Command), Maj Gen Sardanand Singh, Maj Gen Mohindar Singh Chopra and Brig Ajaib Singh.[16] Shrinagesh, who died in December 1977, wrote, "I gazed out of the cabin window and saw flames coming out of the engine.[16] The plane could explode the moment the fire reached the fuel system."[17] Flt Lt S Biswas was attempting desperately to extinguish the fire when suddenly the plane flipped and plunged down to almost 4,000 feet."[17] In Shrinagesh's own words, "We disembarked from the plane unscathed, apparently in order of precedence, and walked to the nearest village a couple of miles away. We obtained a lift from the village to the main Lucknow road in the only means of conveyance available – a bullock cart!"[17]
Major General Mohindar Singh Chopra retired from the Indian Army in 1955.[14]
Diplomatic career[edit]
Philippines[edit]
He became the first Ambassador from India to the Philippines and held the position till 1959.[18] Due to his arrival, for the first time, the Cabinet meeting was held in the Malacañang state dining hall.[18] For a short time he became the Ambassador to Taiwan as well in the 1960s. Around half of all Indians in the Philippines were Sikhs, and most of them shaven.[12]
Director of Sports, Patiala[edit]
After a few years of civilian life, from 17 July 1964 to 30 April 1967 he was Director of National Institute of Sports in Patiala.
Later Life[edit]
In 1988 he was invited to Manchester where he formed the Jullundur Brigade Association between India (5th Battalion, Sikh Regiment), Pakistan (1st Battalion the Frontier Force Regiment) and Great Britain (1st Battalion, Kings Regiment).[19]
"There is something unique and central in the faiths that the men in arms professed- to have been made incumbent upon men of different religions (Christian, Sikh, Hindu) to have lived, fought and died together."
— Major General Mohinder Singh Chopra about the Jullundur Brigade, Jullundur Brigade Book
Death[edit]
He passed away in New Delhi at the age of 84.
His memoirs were collected and published with explanations by his son, famous aviator Pushpindar Singh Chopra in '1947: A Soldiers' Story' which depicted the military side of the Partition of India.[20]
Some of his relics are currently on display in the Town Hall Partition Museum, Amritsar.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "SHORTS: Maj Gen Mohinder Singh Chopra, The Architect of Attari-Wagah Border Check Post". Khalsa Vox. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b Kochhar, Aashish (11 October 2020). "The Making of the Attari-Wagah Border". PeepulTree. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Chopra, Mohindar Singh (1997). 1947, a Soldier's Story. Military Studies Convention.
- ^ "1947 : a soldier's story : from the records of Maj. Gen. Mohindar Singh Chopra". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Menon, Jisha (2013). The Performance of Nationalism: India, Pakistan, and the Memory of Partition. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-00010-0.
- ^ a b c d e "26. 2. STAR GENERALS – RHINO VETERANS". Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Jennifer, Leaning; Shubhangi, Bhadada (22 July 2022). The 1947 Partition of British India: Forced Migration and Its Reverberations. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5479-312-7.
- ^ "1947 : a soldier's story : from the records of Maj. Gen. Mohindar Singh Chopra". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Chopra, Mohindar Singh (1997). 1947, a Soldier's Story. Military Studies Convention.
- ^ Singh, Jogindar (1993). Behind the Scene: An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947–1971. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 978-1-897829-20-2.
- ^ Studies, Partition. "1947- A Soldier's Story From the Records of Maj. Gen. Mohinder Singh Chopra". Partition Studies. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x www.DiscoverSikhism.com. The Makers Of Modern Punjab - What They Had To Say.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Chopra, Mohindar Singh (1997). 1947, a Soldier's Story. Military Studies Convention.
- ^ a b c "Independence Day: The man who set up the joint check post at Attari-Wagah border in 1947". The Indian Express. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Livemint (15 August 2023). "77th Independence Day: Beating the Retreat ceremony held at Attari-Wagah border". mint. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Coonoor crash turns spotlight on high-profile military air accidents". Hindustan Times. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Devon, destiny, drama in the skies". The Times of India. 10 February 2006. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b "https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1958/01/31/official-month-in-review-january-16-january-31-1958/".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Jullundur Brigade". the-south-asian.com. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Studies, Partition. "1947- A Soldier's Story From the Records of Maj. Gen. Mohinder Singh Chopra". Partition Studies. Retrieved 8 May 2024.