Page 55 - Leadership in the Indian Army

patriotism, he did not share his creed of non-violence and considered his methods
of achieving independence through non-cooperation as impractical. He believed
that apart from causing delays, such tactics would only serve to antagonise the
British and harden their attitude even further. A better strategy would be for
Indians to gain a strong presence in the services, both civil and military. They
could then weaken the British structure from within and take over at an opportune
moment.
Addressing the cadets at Sandhurst, General Jacob of the Indian Army told them
that since the British were likely to be in India for a long time, the best among
them should join the Indian Army. Nathu Singh immediately sought an interview
with the Commandant and told him that if the British had no intention of leaving,
he was not interested in getting his commission.
While in England, he also met Subhas Chandra Bose, who was in the Indian
Civil Service (ICS) at that time. They had a common meeting ground in their
dislike of British rule and the desire to be rid of it. However, they differed in their
views regarding the best method to achieve this goal. Both were strong
personalities, and their frequent interactions helped in fuelling the fires of
nationalism, which burned in the hearts of these great patriots. Their meetings also
generated a feeling of mutual respect and admiration. Two decades later, when the
British government ordered the trial of the Indian National Army (INA) prisoners,
one of the few men in uniform who protested against the decision was Nathu
Singh.
On passing out from Sandhurst, Nathu Singh was commissioned on 1 February
1923 and assigned to the 1/7 Rajput Regiment. All newly commissioned Indian
officers had to do an attachment with a British battalion. Second Lieutenant Nathu
Singh was attached to the 2nd Battalion, the Prince of Wales’ Volunteers, which
was located at Mhow in central India. His CO, Lieutenant Colonel B. Ritchie,
found him a keen and energetic officer who was very popular with both officers
and men. Recommending his retention in the army, he wrote: ‘I certify that, in my
opinion, the retention of Second Lieutenant Thakur Nathu Singh 1/7th Rajput
Regiment, attached 2nd Bn. The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers, is, in every respect,
desirable, and likely to be advantageous to the Service….’ It seems that Major
General L.R. Vaughan, the GOC Central Province District was also of a similar
opinion. On 28 August 1924, while endorsing his remarks in the annual
confidential report on Second Lieutenant Nathu Singh, he wrote: ‘One of the most
promising Indians I have met. He should make good if he continues trying.’
After a year with the British battalion, he was posted to his parent unit, the 1/7
Rajputs—also known as QVOLI—then located at Dardoni in the NWFP. He
served with the battalion from 1923 to 1926. During these three years, he worked
hard to learn the ropes. However, unlike most subalterns, he did not follow the