Page 245 - Leadership in the Indian Army

Sappers on his right shoulder. He had completely recovered from the
wounds he had sustained, except for a slight loss of hearing in his right ear.
In July 1941, Prem returned to India. He was now a war hero, and was

fêted and lionised by everyone. Datelined Bombay, 28 July 1941, The Times
of India wrote:

To all who met him on his landing in Bombay on Saturday afternoon he was a picture of a
dashing but a modest soldier. He was characteristically ill at ease with the press and reluctant to
discuss his daring exploit which won for him the highest award for valour…. Were it not for the
small purple ribbon on his tunic, it would be impossible to guess from his self-effacing conduct
that he has displayed a bravery that makes the imagination reel…. Indeed he might have been
playing golf instead of exploding land mines.

The Victoria Cross was presented to Prem at a formal investiture ceremony
held in the forecourt of the Viceroy’s House in Delhi on 10 November
1941. The VC is traditionally presented by the King at Buckingham Palace
in London, and this was the first time it was awarded by the Viceroy.
Watched by thousands of spectators, Lord Linlithgow pinned the coveted
bronze cross on the chest of Acting Captain Premindra Singh Bhagat, the

first Indian officer to win the award. Prem was wearing a gaberdine service
dress, with a Sam Browne cross-belt and peak cap. Photographs taken at the
ceremony show his cap at the characteristic tilt which was to become his
hallmark.
Prem now began to concentrate on the next battle—wearing down the
resistance of Mohini’s father. Their long separation had brought Prem and

Mohini closer and they were convinced that they were in love. Mrs
Bhandari had always liked Prem and felt that he would be a loving and
caring husband to her daughter. Even Colonel Bhandari agreed that Prem
seemed to have changed. The VC also helped in changing his opinion about
the young man. These signals were conveyed to Prem, and he decided to
meet Colonel Bhandari and formally ask him for his daughter’s hand.
Taking a deep breath, he walked in. Mohini was waiting outside the door.

He emerged a few minutes later, wiping the sweat from his brow but with a
smile on his face. ‘My God!’ he exclaimed. ‘I shouldn’t have got the VC
then. I should have got it now.’
Prem and Mohini were married on 24 February 1942 in Poona. Prem was
then 23 years old, and had just three years of service behind him. They

spent about 15 months together, in Poona. During this period, he had to
undertake a number of tours in rural Maharashtra to encourage young men
to join the Bombay Sappers. His VC ensured that he was treated like a VIP