Ganda Singh Datt
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Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Major Ganda Singh Datt (Gurmukhi: ਗੰਡਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੱਤ) (1830 - July 1903) was a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army
, who served in the 19th Bengal Lancers also known as Fane's Horse.
Ganda Singh was a Muhiyal born into a Hindu
family but brought up as a Sikh
, a practice often followed in Muhiyal families at the time. He belonged to the village of Zaffarwal Dattan in Tehsil Rayya
of District Sialkot
.
. His maternal grandson Dr. Baldev Singh Vaid was a famous neurologist who was awarded the Padma Bhushan
by the Indian government, and whose son-in-law KK Bakshi was a decorated Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force. Sardar Sant Singh Datt PCS who was appointed Chief Resident of Kalsia
State was his grand nephew, whose son Lt. Gen. Kalwant Singh was a senior officer in the Indian army.
at Lucknow
at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Subsequently, in the Second Anglo-China War, he saved the life of Sir Charles MacGregor
as well.
Later in the Afghan Campaign of the British Indian Army, he participated in the famous march to Kandahar and distinguished himself in the Battle of Kandahar
, becoming an Honorary Captain. He was eventually appointed ADC to Lord Roberts of Kabul and Kandahar
, VC
, the then Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.
He was rewarded with large tracts of agricultural land, and the village Ganda Singh Wala
on the periphery of Amritsar is named after him. He was president of the first All India Mohyal
Conference held in 1902 at Lahore
, and was among the select veteran Indian soldiers presented to the British Royals in the Coronation Durbar held in Delhi in January 1903.
External links=
Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Major Ganda Singh Datt (Gurmukhi: ਗੰਡਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੱਤ) (1830 - July 1903) was a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, who served in the 19th Bengal Lancers also known as Fane's Horse.
Ganda Singh was a Muhiyal born into a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family but brought up as a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, a practice often followed in Muhiyal families at the time. He belonged to the village of Zaffarwal Dattan in Tehsil Rayya
Rayya
Rayya mandi is a town and a nagar panchayat in Amritsar district in the Indian state of Punjab. Rayya is about 35 KM from Amritsar and 45 km from jalandhar. it is 5 km from the River Beas. RAYYA IS KNOWN FOR ITS GRAIN MARKET. it is also known for girls college, Shaheed Darshan Singh...
of District Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
.
Family
Ganda Singh's extended family featured many other eminent persons as well. His cousin Bakshi Prem Singh Vaid was a decorated soldier in the British Indian Army as well, and so was his son Bakshi Tirath Ram VaidBakshi Tirath Ram Vaid
Sardar Bahadur Risaldar Major Bakshi Tirath Ram Vaid , O.B.I, O.B.E., Hony. Capt. was a decorated soldier of the British Indian Army.-Family:...
. His maternal grandson Dr. Baldev Singh Vaid was a famous neurologist who was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
by the Indian government, and whose son-in-law KK Bakshi was a decorated Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force. Sardar Sant Singh Datt PCS who was appointed Chief Resident of Kalsia
Kalsia
Kalsia was a state in east Punjab , India. It was founded by Gurbaksh Singh in 1760. After India's independence, it was included in Indian Punjab...
State was his grand nephew, whose son Lt. Gen. Kalwant Singh was a senior officer in the Indian army.
Military Career and Awards
He enlisted as a Dafadar in 1852 and served as a soldier over 50 years. He received the Indian Order of Merit for having saved the life of Sir Robert SandemanRobert Groves Sandeman
Sir Robert Groves Sandeman, KCSI , Colonial British Indian officer and administrator, was the son of General Robert Turnbull Sandeman, and was born on the 25th of February 1835. He was educated at Perth and University of St Andrews, and joined the 33rd Bengal Infantry in 1856...
at Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Subsequently, in the Second Anglo-China War, he saved the life of Sir Charles MacGregor
Charles MacGregor
Major-General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor KCB CSI CIE was an Anglo-Indian explorer, geographer and officer of the British Indian Army. He was the Quartermaster General for the British Army in India, the head of the Intelligence Department for the British Indian Army and served under Frederick...
as well.
Later in the Afghan Campaign of the British Indian Army, he participated in the famous march to Kandahar and distinguished himself in the Battle of Kandahar
Battle of Kandahar
The Battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880, was the last major conflict of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The battle in southern Afghanistan was fought between the British forces under command of General Roberts and the Afghan forces led by Ayub Khan, inflicting nearly 3,000 casualties in...
, becoming an Honorary Captain. He was eventually appointed ADC to Lord Roberts of Kabul and Kandahar
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
, VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the then Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army.
He was rewarded with large tracts of agricultural land, and the village Ganda Singh Wala
Ganda Singh Wala
thumb|alt=Full-length It is the snapshot of Ganda sing border kasur where the flag lowering ceremony is underway in feb 2010|Ganda Singh Wala Border, Flag Lowering CeremonyAbout=...
on the periphery of Amritsar is named after him. He was president of the first All India Mohyal
Mohyal
Mohyal is the name of an endogamous ethnic group that originates from the Gandhara region and consists of seven Brahmin lineages of that area that left the usual priestly occupation of Brahmins long ago to serve as soldiers and in government services.The...
Conference held in 1902 at Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, and was among the select veteran Indian soldiers presented to the British Royals in the Coronation Durbar held in Delhi in January 1903.
External links=
- Eminent Muhiyals
- Obituary Dr. Baldev Singh
- Annual Register for Public Events at Home and Abroad for 1903, Published in 1904, Page 144See also=
- Ganda Singh WalaGanda Singh Walathumb|alt=Full-length It is the snapshot of Ganda sing border kasur where the flag lowering ceremony is underway in feb 2010|Ganda Singh Wala Border, Flag Lowering CeremonyAbout=...
- A village in Western Punjab named after him.