Page 53 - Leadership in the Indian Army

2

L IEUTENANT G ENERAL T HAKUR N ATHU S

INGH

A Fearless Nationalist

Thakur Nathu Singh was the second Indian officer to pass out from Sandhurst and
achieve three-star rank in the Indian Army, the first being Maharaj Rajendra
Sinhji. Though not very well known outside the army, he was one of the most
colourful of our military leaders. He rose only to the second-highest rank and
appointment in the profession, but this was more by choice than merit. He could
have become the first Indian Commander-in-Chief had he so wished, but he
declined in deference to Cariappa, who was senior to him. Though trained by the
British, he was a true Indian and never allowed anyone to forget this. A nationalist
to the core, he was frequently in trouble for his anti-British views. His brushes
with authority were many, and were it was not for the legendary British sense of
fair play and justice, he would not have survived in uniform.
Nathu Singh was born in 1900 (although school records show his birthdate as 10
May 1902) at Gumanpura in the princely state of Dungarpur in Rajputana. He was
the only child of Thakur Hamir Singhji of Gumanpura, a nobleman from the
vassalage of Dungarpur. Unfortunately, he lost both his parents before he was
seven years old. During a visit to his village, Maharawal Vijay Singhji, the ruler of
Dungarpur State, was impressed by his intelligence and quick wit and took the
young boy under his wing. The orphaned Nathu was educated at the Maharawal’s
own alma mater, the prestigious Mayo College in Ajmer, along with other scions
of the Rajput nobility. In school, he topped his classes and was nicknamed ‘Baghi’
(rebel) by his colleagues for his outspoken and forthright ways.
The Maharawal, who was a descendant of the senior branch of the Udaipur royal
family—one of his ancestors, Jaimull, had died defending Chittor against Akbar—
was himself a great patriot. It was the Maharawal who had planted the seed of
nationalism in Nathu Singh’s heart, which took root and flowered as he grew
older. In 1911, he visited Delhi to attend the Grand Durbar being held for the
coronation of King George V. Far from being impressed by the pomp and
pageantry, he was filled with shame and revulsion at the subservience of the
Indian rulers who had gathered there to pay obeisance to the Crown. This incident
made a deep impression on the young boy, awakening the first stirrings of