A war it was not!

The War of the Running Dogs

How Malaya Defeated the Communist Guerrillas 1948-1960

Noel Barber (1971)

A few years ago, when Chin Peng was requesting to the Malaysian Government, my friend PS had firm opinions about not allowing any of the communist henchmen to set their foot on our soil. After he had the first-hand experience enduring the atrocities of self-proclaimed independence fighters of the nation. Their endeavour for a free Malayan nation, of course, predates the return of the British to Malaya after World War 2. The hurried unceremonious exit, some say abandonment, of the colonies, stirred the nationalist spirit of the young nation. Members of CPM were actually British allies fighting the invading Japanese, and even Chin Peng was knighted. Turn of events after the Second World War put the Communist ideology minded 'freedom fighters' as terrorists (CT).

The danger of communist ideology lurking in the society was there but was downplayed by the Chief of Police and the High Commissioner of Malaya then Edward Gent.

A series of daring attacks on English planters in Sungai Siput and adjacent areas made it mandatory for the British for recouping their resources to go all out to wipe out the spread of communist ideology in the country. The problem with fighting against CT is that cooperation from the general public was not forthcoming due to the extreme scare tactics and bloody, brutal, mindless slaying.

In actual terms, this emergency period (1948-60) is a civil war between two ideologies, but due to the escalation of insurance coverage of commercial merchandise, the word 'war' was never used. CTs refer to supporters of British administration as the colonial master's running dog, hence the name of the war.

For his oversight and inactivity, Edward Gent was relieved of his duties and sent home. Unfortunately, he succumbed to an aviation accident as the plane he was flying collided in London. One character who played the pivotal role in the fight against CT, I found through the book was Robert @ Bob Thompson. He was in the background with Henry Gurney and later General Gerald Templer with police operations. Many years later, he was knighted and helped the US in the Vietnam War. He, however, has no relations with Jim Thompson, the planter who disappeared in Cameron Highlands.

Reading through the pages, the author recreates the time when the country was lush green with vegetation, mist and flowers. It also reminisces the times when Coliseum Cafe in Kuala Lumpur was the place to be for stengahs (whisky and soda and water) and steak.

Too Chee Choo AKA C. C. Too

It recollects the time when our Special Branch (SB) of Police was revered for its intelligence and dedication, something wanting more than half a century on. It highlights a certain Irene Lee, a detective in cheongsam who had a personal vendetta with the CT after her husband was killed by them. There was a time when she daringly infiltrated into the communist line to paralyse their courier line. SB went to great lengths to buy over a company, fill up a lorry with pineapple cans genuinely scheduled to be transported from Johore to Penang port and just to puncture in front the CPM clandestine office in Batu Road for SB to explore their office!

Then there is this character, C.C. Too, who is in charge of Psychological Warfare in the fight against CT. Money had always been the root as well as the panacea for all ills. Plush rewards certainly went a long way in persuading CT to turn over to the otherwise.

1951 and 1952 were the best years for Chin Peng and his band of man. With the chance assassination of Sir Henry Gurney at Frasier's Hill, General Gerald Templer was handpicked by Churchill to lead the helm, and it proved to be a turning point. The straight-backed disciplinarian and no-sense guy believed that the communist war was a psychological war. His high-handed method of uprooting villages overnight and cordoning them off in pre-determined areas (New Villages) may not appear humane at present context. We were talking about war times, and its end results justified the means. To lure these tappers and farmers away from their usual abode, they were cajoled with free land. The properties were obtained in the name of national security through the goodwill and excellent negotiating skills of the British from the Sultans of states.

Sir Gerald Templer, featured on the cover of 

TIME magazine, December 15, 1952.

A quote from the book...

After losing food and supplies to CT, a visibly upset Templer was addressing a group of Chinese villagers within the cordoned new village. Angry with them for allowing CT to take their supplies, he told them they were a bunch of cowards. A Chinese translator was by his side to do the needful.

'You are a bunch of bastards,' shouted Templer; and an assistant who spoke Chinese listened carefully as the translator announced without emotion: 'His Excellency informs you that he knows that none of your mothers and fathers was married when you were born.' Templer waited, then pointing the finger at the astonished villagers to show who was the 'tuan', he added, 'You may be bastards, but you'll find out that I can be a bigger one.' Missing the point of the threat entirely, the translator said politely, 'His Excellency does admit, however, that his father was also not married to his mother.' I guess that is a classic case when a message is lost in translation.

Talking about Sultans, the Johore Sultan Abu Bakar was the colonial masters' favourite. They had easy access to the royal grounds at Bukit Serene where many fun-filled parties took place under the auspices of the fun-loving monarch.

Money has always been blamed as the root of all evil. But here, we find that money appeared as a panacea of all worries. Money splurged as a reward was instrumental in luring hundreds of starving and demoralised CTs out of the jungle and even turn turn-coats to expose their so-called comrades. Many joked that reward money awarded was too extravagant, sometimes more than a Government officer's monthly pay-check.

Along the fight against the tyranny of the communist in the countryside, in 1953, Malaya made it to the world headlines. A young communist lass, Lee Meng, was condemned to hang by the Malayan courts. She was defended by DR Sreenivasagam. Her plight was taken up by a young barrister Mrs PG Lim and appeal was made at Privy Council. The Hungarian government offered to swap a British spy for her but bluntly refused by Winston Churchill as he did not want to set a precedent for other communist countries to follow. Lee Meng was freed and exiled to the China. The British spy also was released unceremoniously.

One thing I find perplexing after reading book set in the pre-independence Malaya is the assertion by certain politicians and historians that Malaya was never conquered by the British. We were just assisted by the British. Well, doesn't administration of police, ensuring peace n the country, passing laws to locate and relocate people as is needed by the country, have differential status for professionals of the descendants of colonial master indicate that we were indeed colonised.

In the end, all the Malayans wanted was independence. CPM tried to achieve it via armed struggle whereas the English educated elitists and wealthy businessmen sought to achieve it through rubbing shoulders, a round of whisky and roundtable discussions. When 1957 came, CPM realised that they had lost a psychological war of ideology of which the English were master players!

Unresolved issue: 55 years after the end of Emergency, dependents of the 24 killed in 'Batang Kali massacre' or 'Britain's My Lai' are still seeking closure.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2015/04/22/britains-highest-court-to-hear-msia-massacre-case/

P/S. Our leaders recently threw in a spanner in the works when they toyed the ideas when the British never actually conquered Malaya and we were still 'independent' in the pre-Independent era. Now, what do the regime that controls the police, the legislature, the school system, the healthcare, the finances, devices ways to stimulate the economy for themselves and the country to prosper while creating job opportunities for others including sons of other soils? Hey, déjà vu?

The Battle of Malaya

by HARCHAND SINGH BEDI

Sikh troops disembarking from ships into Malaya

When the history of this titanic struggle comes to be written in mature perspective, none of its many sides will, we believe, excite more wonderment and more ungrudging admiration than the part the Sikhs soldiers have played in it.

As of December 7, 1941, the summary of the strength of the Allied army in Malaya was 86,895 troops. Two third o f the total force were Indian soldiers. Sikhs represented more than 60 percent of the total Indian force.

December 8, 1941 at 12.15 am local time, Japanese 18th Divisions troops hit the beaches of Sabak-Badang, Kota Bahru and at 4 am (Tokyo Time) Japanese 5th Divisions forces splashed ashore unopposed at Singora (now Songkhla) and Patani.

As the first disgorging invaders hit the junction of the Badang and Sabak beaches, they came under withering machine gun fire from pillboxes manned by the Indians. The invaders lost one third of their initial assault forces of 5300 men in fearful beach fighting before annihilating the Indian defenders who died in their pillbox positions, refusing either to withdraw nor to surrender.

An armoured train, with 30 men from the 2/16th Punjab Regiment and some engineers, advancing into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis reached Khlong Ngae, in southern Thailand, and successfully destroyed a 200 foot bridge before withdrawing back to Padang Besar.

Sikh gunners in a rubber plantation in Sahum, Kampar Perak

On December 22, the 3/2nd Punjab Regiment engineered an ambush on the Japanese at Grik Road, Perak which resulted heavy casualties on the invaders. The regiment fought fierce delaying actions against the Imperial Guards.

From December 30, 1941 to January 2, 1942, a battle between 3000 British personnel and over 6000 Japanese soldiers erupted. The 11th Indian Division managed to delay the Japanese advance at Kampar for a few days, in which the Japanese suffered severe casualties in terrain that did not allow them to use their tanks or their air superiority to defeat the British.

A Sikh company of the 1/8th Punjab Regiment throw back a furious attack with a classic bayonet charge through massive mortar and machine-gun fire. Only 30 members of the company survive the action but the position held. The Japanese lost more then 500 men here and Japanese commanders, for the first time in the war, consider retreating.

On January 30, 1942, a Sikh Battalion made an ambush on a strong Japanese party north of Kluang, Johor. The Japanese squealed with absolute panic when charged with bayonets. Sikhs captured 250 motor cycles and 150 bicycles when they charged the Japanese positions and machine-gun post. Further details of the attack made by the Sikh Battalion North of Kluang reveals that the enemy casualties numbered at least 400..Two small field guns and many mortars which were tied on their bicycles and tommy-guns were also destroyed.

During the Battle of Muar, members of both the Australian 8th Division and the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade were making a fighting withdrawal when they became surrounded near the bridge of Parit Sulong. The Allies fought the larger Japanese forces for two days until they ran low on ammunition and food. Able-bodied soldiers were ordered to disperse into the jungle, the only way they could return to Allied lines.

This photograph was found among Japanese records when 

British troops re-entered Singapore. It depicts the inhuman

brutality practised by the Japanese on Sikh prisoners of war. 

The wounded prisoners of war were kicked and beaten with rifle butts by the Imperial Guards. At least some were tied up with wire in the middle of the road, machine-gunned, had petrol poured over them, were set alight and, "after their incineration - were systematically run over, back and forwards, by Japanese driven trucks." Anecdotal accounts by local people also reported POWs being tied together with wire and forced to stand on a bridge, before a Japanese soldier shot one, causing the rest to fall into the Simpang Kiri River and drown. 110 Australians and 35 Indians were massacred by the Japanese. In the face of death, the Sikh prisoners sat with dignity.

History speaks for itself on the valour and bravery displayed by the Sikhs. The never-say-die spirit of the Sikhs gave us the impetus and inner strength and resilience to face any challenges that came our way. Sikh soldiers adhered to the faith and never flinched nor surrendered in the face of adversity.

Reference: http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/30494-the-battle-of-malaya.html

Conversation about this article

1: Jarnail Singh (North Carolina, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 5:45 AM.

The British, Australians and Americans have made epic movies about the war in Malaya - but they all depict themselves as heroes ... and not a mention of the Sikh soldiers who bore the brunt of it all! The West is so adept at rewriting history and usurping the glory of others!

2: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 11:06 AM.

Am I the only one who sees an irony here? The Sikhs went on to fight for the British, they won Burma, China, SE Asia, Turkey, Iraq, North Africa ... and in Europe. All for the glory of the British and British security and British independence. But when time came in 1947, the same Sikhs could not protect their own land, houses, women, hearth and had to flee from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala. Cities of their ancestors became enemy territory instantly. You talk of conquering the world, but could not protect your own earth and women and children? When a Sikhni became Fatima Bibi, where was this mighty Sikh army, full of unrelenting courage and valour?

3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 1:39 PM.

I believe Surinder ji is looking from the results point of view for Sikhs. When other parties (all the countries including India for which Sikhs fought) became selfish and not thankful for the sacrifices of Sikhs. No one can stop them. These people are, to use a Punjabi word - akiratghan. A good recent example will be the 1984 Sikh holocaust. These people keep on changing history. Unless and until Sikhs bring the truth out to the world through the media, movies and books and by stopping to fight amongst themselves, no one can help. Sikhs have all the resources but they need to use them in this direction.

4: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 3:31 PM.

I have a similar question as Surinder ji. What has happened to us in the recent past? Where have we lost our spirit and saroop? We are the sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh and our ancestors fought for Malaya, Singapore, Britain, France, Scotland and India but we could not protect ourselves in 1947 and 1984? Forget about protecting ourselves, despite this glorious heritage, why did we become so hostile to our co-citizens? Furthermore, today when the whole world is becoming globalised, we are becoming isolated and we cannot even keep our own youth motivated with our own history and preserve our heritage? What has gone wrong with us? Where is our spirit of Chardi Kalaa? How do we re-align ourselves with our Guru?

5: Harjit Singh (Perth, Australia), May 20, 2010, 7:56 AM.

Surinder, Sikhs were not there in 1947? Are you joking, mate? I think you might need to read up on your history because you are just about to learn something! Out of 121 patriots hanged for fighting in India's freedom struggle, 93 were Sikhs. Of the 2626 awarded life-imprisonment 2147 were Sikhs. Of the 1300 martyred in Jallianwala Bagh, 799 were Sikhs. Considering that the Sikhs were hardly 1.5 per cent of the total population of India at the time, their sacrifices amounted to 90 per cent of the total sacrifices made by ALL Indians. Where were they, Surinder? They were fighting openly and dying openly, but when the time came for the Sikhs to be given equal status, the politicians looked the other way and rewrote the history to not include these facts. We were betrayed!

6: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 11:56 AM.

Again, Surinder ji, please watch the movie GANDHI which was released almost three decades ago. That movie shows the scene of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. As Harjit Singh mentioned, out of 1300 killed there, 799 were Sikhs. But the movie dilutes - and at times completely ignores - the Sikh involvement in that incident, and in others depicted throughout the movie. History is being changed in front of our very eyes and our 'leaders' are doing nothing, because all they want is personal power.

7: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 1:40 PM.

The comment section of articles is too limiting a place to put forth an argument. (Maybe sikhchic.com can allow me to write an article?) [Editor: We're always open to considering articles by our readers.] Forget about 1984, let us not clutter the issue here. Of course, I know that Sikhs were disproportionately higher in the number of freedom fighters. But also note that a very large number of Sikhs enrolled in the colonial army. Not once, but twice - World War I & II. They essentially fought somebody else's wars. Wars that had little, if any, to do with issues that mattered to them. The result is that hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were soldiers for the British crown, defending Britain and its interests. Within two years of the end of World War II, Partition of India an d Punjab took place. Muslim mobs on the streets cleansed Western Punjab and drove the Sikhs out. They took over our gurdwaras, including the holiest of our holy places like Nankana Sahib. About a million people were killed; 10 million were forced to quit their homes; hundreds of thousands of women were brutalised. Where were these brave soldiers at that time? Those who had shown gallantry in Malaya, Singapore, Italy, Belgium, North Africa, were nowhere to be seen when Rawalpindi and Lahore had Sikhs lying butchered on the streets. I am sorry to have posed a question which has made many uncomfortable. But ask yourself, what good is this bravery? If people like the British have fooled you, who is the fool, really?

8: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), May 21, 2010, 12:50 AM.

I commend Harchand Singh Bedi on the effort he has put into uncovering all this amazing proud history of Sikhs in the old Malaya. I met Harchand a few days ago and was amazed at the wealth of photographs and information he has on Sikh 'military' history. I have also read some of the letters above ... it is up to us (Sikhs) to keep highlighting the 'qurbaani' of Sikhs around the globe, immaterial whether they fought "someone else's" war, etc. The fact is they carried out deeds of valour, of daring, of sheer bravery - to inspire our generation and future generations through greater knowledge of our proud heritage. Harchand also holds impressive exhibitions of Sikh military history. His exhibition is soon (in September) to be held at various venues in the United Kingdom. I am hoping to get him to do similar exhibitions in Australia where we 'know' that Sikhs fought alongside the Australian/ New Zealand forces at places like Gallipoli (Turkey, WW1) which has led to Australia's Anzac Day celebrations and commemoration in April every year. This man has a great exhibition which every Sikh youth, child and elder should see. Shabash, Harchand, for all your efforts.

9: Yashdeep Singh (Ahmedabad, India), May 21, 2010, 9:45 AM.

I think that the main reason for Sikhs being killed in Jallianwala Bagh, and again in '84, is our loyalty to our country. And yes, we should be loyal; doing bad to someone is not in our blood. Sikhs actively took part in WW1 and WW2 because we knew that it was to protect the soldiers' "karmabhoomi". We sometimes couldn't protect ourselves because of lack of unity. I remember that when the shoe-throwing issue of S. Jarnaul Singh was in the news, at that time I saw sum Sikhs sitting behind Jagdish Tytler as his supporters. It is a known fact that the whole Sikh world is against Tytler, so for what reason were those Sikhs doing there? Doesn't the lack of unity seem to be here?

10: Ian Grantham (Sydney, Australia), November 23, 2010, 8:27 AM.

I can understand how frustrated Sikhs may be. One day I would like to make an actual account of what happened day by day in the Second World War, and NOT from a special perspective - the truth would be absorbing and as to yet, I think, remains unpublished! As an Australian, I am proud of our achievements and upset with the preponderance of U.S. material which distorts the facts. Many Pacific battles were fought and won by Aussie personnel but the U.S. got the credit in order to keep them in the war - I feel the Sikhs and other Indians have in the same way been left out of the accolades that are rightfully theirs! P.S. No one believes what you say if you are not from the U.S.A., so we NEED contemporary facts to back up what we say - e-mail me if you would like and let's start to build a machine that gives facts and truth and dispels popular myth!

The Battle of Malaya

by HARCHAND SINGH BEDI

Sikh troops disembarkimg from ships into Malaya

When the history of this titanic struggle comes to be written in mature perspective, none of its many sides will, we believe, excite more wonderment and more ungrudging admiration than the part the Sikhs soldiers have played in it.

As of December 7, 1941, the summary of the strength of the Allied army in Malaya was 86,895 troops. Two third o f the total force were Indian soldiers. Sikhs represented more than 60 percent of the total Indian force.

December 8, 1941 at 12.15 am local time, Japanese 18th Divisions troops hit the beaches of Sabak-Badang, Kota Bahru and at 4 am (Tokyo Time) Japanese 5th Divisions forces splashed ashore unopposed at Singora (now Songkhla) and Patani.

As the first disgorging invaders hit the junction of the Badang and Sabak beaches, they came under withering machine gun fire from pillboxes manned by the Indians. The invaders lost one third of their initial assault forces of 5300 men in fearful beach fighting before annihilating the Indian defenders who died in their pillbox positions, refusing either to withdraw nor to surrender.

An armored train, with 30 men from the 2/16th Punjab Regiment and some engineers, advancing into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis reached Khlong Ngae, in southern Thailand, and successfully destroyed a 200 foot bridge before withdrawing back to Padang Besar.

Sikh gunners in a rubber plantation in Sahum, Kampar Perak

On December 22, the 3/2nd Punjab Regiment engineered an ambush on the Japanese at Grik Road, Perak which resulted heavy casualties on the invaders. The regiment fought fierce delaying actions against the Imperial Guards.

From December 30, 1941 to January 2, 1942, a battle between 3000 British personnel and over 6000 Japanese soldiers erupted. The 11th Indian Division managed to delay the Japanese advance at Kampar for a few days, in which the Japanese suffered severe casualties in terrain that did not allow them to use their tanks or their air superiority to defeat the British.

A Sikh company of the 1/8th Punjab Regiment throw back a furious attack with a classic bayonet charge through massive mortar and machine-gun fire. Only 30 members of the company survive the action but the position held. The Japanese lost more then 500 men here and Japanese commanders, for the first time in the war, consider retreating.

On January 30, 1942, a Sikh Battalion made an ambush on a strong Japanese party north of Kluang, Johor. The Japanese squealed with absolute panic when charged with bayonets. Sikhs captured 250 motor cycles and 150 bicycles when they charged the Japanese positions and machine-gun post. Further details of the attack made by the Sikh Battalion North of Kluang reveals that the enemy casualties numbered at least 400..Two small field guns and many mortars which were tied on their bicycles and tommy-guns were also destroyed.

During the Battle of Muar, members of both the Australian 8th Division and the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade were making a fighting withdrawal when they became surrounded near the bridge of Parit Sulong. The Allies fought the larger Japanese forces for two days until they ran low on ammunition and food. Able-bodied soldiers were ordered to disperse into the jungle, the only way they could return to Allied lines.

This photograph was found among Japanese records when 

British troops re-entered Singapore. It depicts the inhuman

brutality practiced by the Japanese on Sikh prisoners of war. 

The wounded prisoners of war were kicked and beaten with rifle butts by the Imperial Guards. At least some were tied up with wire in the middle of the road, machine-gunned, had petrol poured over them, were set alight and, "after their incineration - were systematically run over, back and forwards, by Japanese driven trucks." Anecdotal accounts by local people also reported POWs being tied together with wire and forced to stand on a bridge, before a Japanese soldier shot one, causing the rest to fall into the Simpang Kiri River and drown. 110 Australians and 35 Indians were massacred by the Japanese. In the face of death, the Sikh prisoners sat with dignity.

History speaks for itself on the valour and bravery displayed by the Sikhs. The never-say-die spirit of the Sikhs gave us the impetus and inner strength and resilience to face any challenges that came our way. Sikh soldiers adhered to the faith and never flinched nor surrendered in the face of adversity.

Reference: http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/30494-the-battle-of-malaya.html

Conversation about this article

1: Jarnail Singh (North Carolina, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 5:45 AM.

The British, Australians and Americans have made epic movies about the war in Malaya - but they all depict themselves as heroes ... and not a mention of the Sikh soldiers who bore the brunt of it all! The West is so adept at rewriting history and usurping the glory of others!

2: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 11:06 AM.

Am I the only one who sees an irony here? The Sikhs went on to fight for the British, they won Burma, China, SE Asia, Turkey, Iraq, North Africa ... and in Europe. All for the glory of the British and British security and British independence. But when time came in 1947, the same Sikhs could not protect their own land, houses, women, hearth and had to flee from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala. Cities of their ancestors became enemy territory instantly. You talk of conquering the world, but could not protect your own earth and women and children? When a Sikhni became Fatima Bibi, where was this mighty Sikh army, full of unrelenting courage and valour?

3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 1:39 PM.

I believe Surinder ji is looking from the results point of view for Sikhs. When other parties (all the countries including India for which Sikhs fought) became selfish and not thankful for the sacrifices of Sikhs. No one can stop them. These people are, to use a Punjabi word - akiratghan. A good recent example will be the 1984 Sikh holocaust. These people keep on changing history. Unless and until Sikhs bring the truth out to the world through the media, movies and books and by stopping to fight amongst themselves, no one can help. Sikhs have all the resources but they need to use them in this direction.

4: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 3:31 PM.

I have a similar question as Surinder ji. What has happened to us in the recent past? Where have we lost our spirit and saroop? We are the sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh and our ancestors fought for Malaya, Singapore, Britain, France, Scotland and India but we could not protect ourselves in 1947 and 1984? Forget about protecting ourselves, despite this glorious heritage, why did we become so hostile to our co-citzens? Furthermore, today when the whole world is becoming globalized, we are becoming isolated and we cannot even keep our own youth motivated with our own history and preserve our heritage? What has gone wrong with us? Where is our spirit of Chardi Kalaa? How do we re-align ourselves with our Guru?

5: Harjit Singh (Perth, Australia), May 20, 2010, 7:56 AM.

Surinder, Sikhs were not there in 1947? Are you joking, mate? I think you might need to read up on your history because you are just about to learn something! Out of 121 patriots hanged for fighting in India's freedom struggle, 93 were Sikhs. Of the 2626 awarded life-imprisonment 2147 were Sikhs. Of the 1300 martyred in Jallianwala Bagh, 799 were Sikhs. Considering that the Sikhs were hardly 1.5 per cent of the total population of India at the time, their sacrifices amounted to 90 per cent of the total sacrifices made by ALL Indians. Where were they, Surinder? They were fighting openly and dying openly, but when the time came for the Sikhs to be given equal status, the politicians looked the other way and rewrote the history to not include these facts. We were betrayed!

6: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 11:56 AM.

Again, Surinder ji, please watch the movie GANDHI which was released almost three decades ago. That movie shows the scene of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. As Harjit Singh mentioned, out of 1300 killed there, 799 were Sikhs. But the movie dilutes - and at times completely ignores - the Sikh involvement in that incident, and in others depicted throughout the movie. History is being changed in front of our very eyes and our 'leaders' are doing nothing, because all they want is personal power.

7: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 1:40 PM.

The comment section of articles is too limiting a place to put forth an argument. (Maybe sikhchic.com can allow me to write an article?) [Editor: We're always open to considering articles by our readers.] Forget about 1984, let us not clutter the issue here. Of course, I know that Sikhs were disproportionately higher in the number of freedom fighters. But also note that a very large number of Sikhs enrolled in the colonial army. Not once, but twice - World War I & II. They essentially fought somebody else's wars. Wars that had little, if any, to do with issues that mattered to them. The result is that hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were soldiers for the British crown, defending Britain and its interests. Within two years of the end of World War II, Partition of India an d Punjab took place. Muslim mobs on the streets cleansed Western Punjab and drove the Sikhs out. They took over our gurdwaras, including the holiest of our holy places like Nankana Sahib. About a million people were killed; 10 million were forced to quit their homes; hundreds of thousands of women were brutalized. Where were these brave soldiers at that time? Those who had shown gallantry in Malaya, Singapore, Italy, Belgium, North Africa, were nowhere to be seen when Rawalpindi and Lahore had Sikhs lying butchered on the streets. I am sorry to have posed a question which has made many uncomfortable. But ask yourself, what good is this bravery? If people like the British have fooled you, who is the fool, really?

8: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), May 21, 2010, 12:50 AM.

I commend Harchand Singh Bedi on the effort he has put into uncovering all this amazing proud history of Sikhs in the old Malaya. I met Harchand a few days ago and was amazed at the wealth of photographs and information he has on Sikh 'military' history. I have also read some of the letters above ... it is up to us (Sikhs) to keep highlighting the 'qurbaani' of Sikhs around the globe, immaterial whether they fought "someone else's" war, etc. The fact is they carried out deeds of valour, of daring, of sheer bravery - to inspire our generation and future generations through greater knowledge of our proud heritage. Harchand also holds impressive exhibitions of Sikh military history. His exhibition is soon (in September) to be held at various venues in the United Kingdom. I am hoping to get him to do similar exhibitions in Australia where we 'know' that Sikhs fought alongside the Australian/ New Zealand forces at places like Gallipoli (Turkey, WW1) which has led to Australia's Anzac Day celebrations and commemoration in April every year. This man has a great exhibition which every Sikh youth, child and elder should see. Shabash, Harchand, for all your efforts.

9: Yashdeep Singh (Ahmedabad, India), May 21, 2010, 9:45 AM.

I think that the main reason for Sikhs being killed in Jallianwala Bagh, and again in '84, is our loyalty to our country. And yes, we should be loyal; doing bad to someone is not in our blood. Sikhs actively took part in WW1 and WW2 because we knew that it was to protect the soldiers' "karmabhoomi". We sometimes couldn't protect ourselves because of lack of unity. I remember that when the shoe-throwing issue of S. Jarnaul Singh was in the news, at that time I saw sum Sikhs sitting behind Jagdish Tytler as his supporters. It is a known fact that the whole Sikh world is against Tytler, so for what reason were those Sikhs doing there? Doesn't the lack of unity seem to be here?

10: Ian Grantham (Sydney, Australia), November 23, 2010, 8:27 AM.

I can understand how frustrated Sikhs may be. One day I would like to make an actual account of what happened day by day in the Second World War, and NOT from a special perspective - the truth would be absorbing and as to yet, I think, remains unpublished! As an Australian, I am proud of our achievements and upset with the preponderance of U.S. material which distorts the facts. Many Pacific battles were fought and won by Aussie personnel but the U.S. got the credit in order to keep them in the war - I feel the Sikhs and other Indians have in the same way been left out of the accolades that are rightfully theirs! P.S. No one believes what you say if you are not from the U.S.A., so we NEED contemporary facts to back up what we say - e-mail me if you would like and let's start to build a machine that gives facts and truth and dispels popular myth!