Home > Indian History > History of India > Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was an officer of the Indian National Army under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. He was one of the foremost Indian freedom fighters who fought against the British.

Share this Article:

Gurbaksh Singh DhillonGurbaksh Singh Dhillon was among the prominent officers of the Indian National Army under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. He is considered as one of the foremost Indian freedom fighters who fought against the British Empire in India and significantly contributed to the Indian freedom struggle. Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, along with other soldiers of the Indian National Army, namely General Shah Nawaz Khan and Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, was charged with treason and waging war against His Majesty the King Emperor. The 3 men were put on trial by the British Government of India in the Indian National Army trials or INA trials which started on 5th November 1945 at Red Fort during the end of the Second World War. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon also had a vital role in the Indian independence negotiations.

Early Life of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was born on 18 March 1914 at Algon as the 4th child of Sardar Takhar Singh, who was a veterinary surgeon in the 8th King George`s Own light cavalry. He was initially educated at Changa Manga government primary school and was later admitted to various schools namely Government High School in Chunian, Lahore district (now Pakistan); Government High School in Dipalpore, Montgomery district; Vernacular Middle School in Raiwind, Lahore district; Victoria Dalip High School in Solan, Baghat; Dayanand Anglo Vernacular High School in Montgomery; and Gordon Mission College in Rawalpindi. He spoke a number of languages including Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, Urdu and English and was a member of the Boy Scout Association.

Dhillon completed his graduation Dayanand Anglo Vernacular High School in Montgomery in the year 1931. Later Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon became the faculty of science in Gordon Mission College in Rawalpindi.

Military Career of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
On 29th May 1933 Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon joined the British Indian Army in the Training Battalion of the 10/14th Punjab Regiment. He finished his training in March 1934. Dhillon was selected as a prospective candidate for the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun and received training at Kitchner College in Nowgong in June 1936. During World War II, Gurbaksh Singh was posted to the 1st Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment, also known as Sher Dil Paltan. He joined the battalion at Lahore on the last day of March 1940. This battalion moved to Secunderabad from Lahore in September 1940. After the bombing of Singapore and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the United States of America announced war on Japan. On 11 December 1941, 1/14th Punjab Regiment fought at Changlun near the Thai frontier. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon commanded the Headquarters Company with his Commanding Officer Colonel Fitzpatrick. The Battle of Changlun was eventually ended in defeat.

Dhillon went to Miami Beach in Penang on 13 December 1941. Later he got affected by malaria and was sent to a hospital in Singapore. On 9th February 1941, 2 divisions of the Japanese Army had arrived Singapore and the territory was surrendered on 15th February 1941. The British Forces also surrendered to the Japanese Army. An officer of the Japanese Army, Major Fujiwara, addressed the Indian prisoners of war and advised them to form the Indian National Army that would operate solely to attain freedom from the rule of the British Empire in India. Fujihara provided Captain Mohan Singh with almost 40,000 Indian soldiers, who had surrendered to the Japanese Army. This was the initial step towards the construction of the Indian National Army.

Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon in Indian National Army
After receiving support from Fujiwara, Mohan Singh dedicated himself to the aim of Indian freedom. He started to recruit the Indians who were captured by the Japanese forces in Malaya. He took charge of all stragglers and Indian prisoners of war. This formed the core of the Indian National Army (INA). Mohan Singh requested the Indians to volunteer for the purpose of forming the Azad Hind Fauj or the Free India Army to fight against the British Government of India and to free the nation. Several Indians came forward and joined Mohan Singh`s force which was known as the Azad Hind Fauj or the National Army of independent India. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was a close associate of Captain Mohan Singh and he became an officer of the Indian National Army on 17th February 1942. He undertook several missions as an officer of the Indian National Army (INA). While he was at the Changi Camp to guard the Australian and British prisoners of war, the Japanese Army asked Dhillon and other members of the Indian National Army to abandon the British drill and adopt Japanese words of command.

Gurbaksh Singh became severely ill while he was at the Changi Camp and was and sent to Seletar Camp from the Changi garrison. There he was admitted to POW Hospital. After his health improved at Seletar Camp, Dhillon, along with other along Indian Prisoners of war, attended the Bidadari conference on 24 April 1942, at Bidadari Camp, Singapore, summoned by Captain Mohan Singh. On 1 September 1942, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon received his commission. He was posted as a major on the 10 September 1942. He was attached to the Reinforcement Group.

On 29 December 1942, General Mohan Singh was arrested by the Japanese forces. Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon decided to be a part of the Indian National Army, on the suggestion of Rash Behari Bose. After the revival of the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Dhillon was appointed as Deputy Quartermaster General (DQMG) in the Q Branch at the Directorate of Military Bureau (DMB) Headquarters. He was in charge of the Technical Branch and was also responsible for the accommodation as well. The Army Headquarters was organized in March 1943 and gazetted on April 17, 1943. After Gurbaksh Singh was appointed he gathered the kit and clothing of those personnel who decided to leave the Indian National Army (INA).

Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon in 5th Guerrilla Regiment
After Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose arrived on 2nd July 1943, the Azad Hind Fauj was further developed and Dhillon was transferred to the 5th Guerilla Regiment. In December 1943, He was appointed as Second-in-Command to Major J.W. Rodrigues, who raised the 5th Guerrilla regiment at Bidadari, Singapore. Apart from providing support to the 5th Guerilla Regiment, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was also responsible for the training, welfare, discipline and morale of the troops. The 5th Guerrilla Regiment was formed as part of the 2nd Indian National Army Division and was organized under the command of Colonel N.S. Bhagat, after the move of the 1st Division to the front. The Regiment moved to Ipoh in Perak on 30th March 1944 and Dhillon continued with the advance party to make essential arrangements for the 5th Guerrilla Regiment.

He was sent to the front at Alor Star in Infantry Regiment at Jitra. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon officiated as the Deputy Quartermaster General (DGMG) and also the Deputy Adjutant General (DAG) of the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army (INA) during the first anniversary of the Arzi Hukumat E Azad Hind or the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. Gurbaksh Singh made arrangements and issued orders for the ceremonial parade, held on 18 October 1944. With the alleged death of Subhas Chandra Bose on August 18, 1945, the Indian National Army (INA) was considered to be disestablished, along with the end of the entire Azad Hind Movement.

Arrest of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
On the 17th May, 1945, the British Forces surrounded the Indian National Army and it surrendered without any formal ceremony. The prisoners of war were sent to Pegu. On 18 May 1945, Dhillon and General Shah Nawaz Khan were sent to No. 3 Field Interrogation Centre, which was under the command of Major C. Ore. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was imprisoned at the Rangoon Central Jail on 31st May 1945.

Shah Nawaz Khan and Dhillon were jointly called to the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre for the Indian National Army trials. After the end of the war, on 17th September 1945, along with Raja Habib ur Rahman Khan, Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal and General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was put on trial at Red Fort in Delhi for waging war against the British Emperor on November 5, 1945. The prisoners potentially faced the death penalty, life imprisonment or a fine as punishment if found guilty. Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Kailash Nath Katju, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Asaf Ali and others defended them and demanded that the soldiers of the Provisional Government of Free India should be treated as prisoners of war. Claude Auchinleck, the Commander-in-Chief, decided to remit the sentences after considering the prevailing circumstances and all the defendants were released later.

Personal Life of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was married to Basant Kaur in the year 1928, when he was merely 14 years of age. The couple had a daughter and 2 sons, namely Amrita, Amarjit and Sarvjit. Amrita was born on 15 April 1947 at Simla. She was educated at Banasthali Vidyapith and consequently became a doctor. Basant Kaur died on 19 March 1968 at Shivpuri.

Gurbaksh Singh wrote an autobiography titled "From my Bones". He provided various accounts and his personal experiences regarding the Indian National Army and the trials at Red Fort. He also composed and published some poetry. Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon died on 6th February 2006 at the J.A. Hospital, Gwalior, after a cardiac arrest and prolonged illness. On 8th February 2006, he was cremated at Azad Hind Park, Shivpuri with full military honours.

Awards of Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was honoured several times for his contributions to the Indian freedom struggle. He was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan Award on 12 April 1998 by K.R. Narayanan, the then President of India. A stamp was issued in the year 1997 by the Indian Postal Department in his memory and his contribution to Indian independence.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.