Page 61 - Leadership in the Indian Army

with whom he was acquainted, to take another route. On the following day, the
CO again asked him to stop the agitators. Nathu Singh objected, saying that it was
unfair to ask him to shoot at his own countrymen, who were only asking for their
freedom. He requested the CO to give the job to some other officer, but this was
rejected, and he was told that if he disobeyed orders he would be courtmartialled.
Nathu Singh refused to comply and the matter was reported to the District
Commander, Major General Bruce Scott. Most British officers could barely
conceal their glee at the thought that the ‘diehard’ had finally been trapped. When
he was marched up to General Scott, Nathu Singh defended himself as a
‘conscientious objector’, quoting similar cases in Ireland. As luck would have it,
Scott turned out to be an Irishman. He appreciated the stand taken by Nathu Singh
and let him off.
On 20 October 1943, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and given command
of 9/7 Rajput at Chhindwara. When he took over the battalion, it had been graded
‘unfit for war’ after having been mauled by the Japanese in Burma. Nathu Singh
set to work like a man possessed, and within a few months had succeeded in
turning around his battalion. He was full of energy and determination, and his hard
work paid off. During the next inspection, the Brigade Commander could find
little fault with the battalion, which was now graded fit for war. In fact, it was
declared the best battalion in the division, and Major General ‘Tiger’ Curtis, GOC
14 Indian Division, congratulated them at a parade in front of the entire division.
The irony that this had been achieved by Nathu Singh, who had been considered
unsuitable by his CO 20 years earlier, was not lost on his British superiors or his
colleagues.
The Divisional Commander, ‘Tiger’ Curtis, was known as a man who was
difficult to please. Once, Nathu Singh was asked to conduct a demonstration for
all officers of the division. Curtis was so impressed by Nathu Singh’s performance
that he saluted him in front of everyone—a rare honour for a subordinate officer,
and that too an Indian. After this, Nathu Singh became the GOC’s blue-eyed boy.
This was resented by Brigadier Talbot, Commander 109 Indian Infantry Brigade,
who was Nathu Singh’s immediate superior. However, even he admired Nathu
Singh for his professional capabilities. One day, after Nathu Singh had left the
battalion, Brigadier Talbot came to visit 9/7 Rajput. While talking about Nathu
Singh, he remarked: ‘Your previous CO, with his electric moustaches, could get
anything done.’
About a year later Singh received orders posting him as Commanding Officer, 3
Maratha Light Infantry in Italy. He was both surprised and annoyed, as he had
been expecting to get command of his own battalion, 1/7 Rajput. Command of a
battalion in action would entitle him to quick promotion, and he would probably
get a chance to command a brigade in the field and become the first Indian to do