DARWAN SINGH NEGI

The soldier from pre-independent India who took part in World War 1 was born on 4 March 1883 in Kafarteer village in Chamoli district of modern day Uttarakhand. Darwan was married to Chandpur Garhwal daughter of Ratan Singh Rawat, who was a land owner and a cultivator as well.

At the age of 19, he joined as a sepoy in the 1st battalion of 39th Garhwal Rifles. He trained at Landsdowne, the cantonment in which various men of his region were trained in order to become soldiers in the army of British-occupied India. These men joined army because terrain of Uttarakhand only allows step/terrace farming which can’t produce enough vegetation to earn well, that is why men from that region chose army to be a better occupation.
Darwan also had a son named Balbir Singh Negi, who also joined army after his father’s demise.

In 1914 this 31 year old man was sent to Europe in order to strengthen the British Army to take part in World War 1. Darwan Singh Negi returned as a military hero.

On the night of 23rd November 1914, near Festubert, France army Naik Darwan Singh Negi along with his battalion attacked the enemies in order to regain control of the area and forcing the Germans out of the borderline.

Darwan Singh was brave enough to take on the enemies during his confrontation with the enemies, he was wounded three times as he was first to push rounds again enemies fire. He continued fighting even after getting injured and wounded by enemies, severe fire, bombs and rifles at the closest range. During his action on foreign soil in World War 1 he showed the world that he was born on Indian soil who gave birth to the bravest of men.

As told by Negi’s son Balbir, the meeting between the King and his father was very memorable. King George V asked Darwan Singh Negi “Can I do anything for you ?” To which Darwan replied, but he did not ask anything for himself. He urged the King to build an English medium school for kids near his village. The school was successfully built in Karnaprayag, which is 40kms from his village. Darwan Singh also requested the King to build a railway line to go from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag. It was tried various times to carry out surveys in order to build the railway network. Due to the area being hilly, this task was not possible back then.

VICTORIA CROSS

On 5th December 1914 Darwan received his biggest achievement the Victoria Cross award by the hands of King George V at General Headquarters in St Omer, France. The medal was received two days before the London Gazette published about Darwan’s brave deeds in World War 1. Darwan was the first to actually receive it, but he was not the first Indian recipient of the award. Sepoy Khudadad Khan was the first recipient as he performed before Darwan. Khan’s village was in modern day Pakistan, so technically Darwan was the first person from India to receive the award by the hands of the King.

OTHER AWARDS

After Darwan’s sad demise at the age of 67 on 24th June 1950, he was awarded with following:

• 1914 STAR BRITISH WAR Medal
• 1914-20 VICTORY Medal
• 1914-19 GENARAL SERVICE Medal
• GEORGE VI CORONATION Medal 1937

Balbir feels that despite his father’s heroics during his span in the army, he has not been paid an adequate amount of respect. Even after his retirement Darwan contributed in the progress of the country as he worked for war widows, wounded soldier pension, and their rights still, he has no one considers him for Padmashri which is now days also given to sportsperson.

DARWAN SINGH MUSEUM

Darwan Singh museum is a historical defense museum named after first Victoria Cross holder Darwan Singh Negi from Garhwal Rifles. This museum is located in Landsdowne in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.
Surrounded by beautiful flowers in the garden outside the museum, the Garhwali museum is a two storey museum which contains details of the Garhwal rifles from its establishment to its achievements. A wide collection of arms and weapons, old army uniforms, rare photographs of army generals, etc attract visitors a lot. Only people above the age of 10 are allowed in the museum.

HOW TO VISIT DARWAN SINGH MUSEUM

If one visits by flight the nearest airport is Jolly Grant airport, which is 147 km away from the museum by road.
The nearest railway station is Kotdwara railway station which is 41 km away from the museum.
By road one can directly visit the museum as direct buses are available and Lands Downe is well connected by roads.