Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

102ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSpromoted to the red collar coveted rank of Brigadier. He commandedthe Kargil Brigade with distinction, and was selected to be DirectorMilitary Operations in army HQ as already stated – a meteoric rise byany standard.There was no doubt about Narinder’s next promotion to thehallowed rank of Major General and command of a key division inSrinagar (J&K). Here, he met DG BSF, Mr Rustamji – a brilliantpoliceman – who somehow pursuaded him to shift to the newly-raisedBorder Security Force as Inspector General Operations. NarinderSingh’s adventurous spirit took him straight into operation in theBangladesh Sector in 1971. He helped train the Mukti Bahini – aguerilla force of local Banglas who played havoc with the supply linesof the then East Pakistan Forces. He retired in 1975 as CommanderBSF troops in J&K and settled down in Chandigarh.The second phase of this brilliant officer’s career now took hold.From 1978 to 1982 he joined the mainstream of the Akali movement.He turned towards religion and was a frequent visitor at the holy DarbarSahib. Here he met the late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale a fewtimes and sympathised with his aspirations to gain autonomy for theSikhs. During the 1984 Blue Star Opeation, he avoided arrest bycycling around from village to village for days, sleeping under the opensky and thus escaped arrest. The sences that he witnessed in ruralPunjab, motivated him to join Human Rights activists. For two years,he was an avid Human Rights worker and was constantly on the move.His wife felt ill and needed his presence, but Narinder Singh was seldomat home. In 1986, he was arrested for making a so-called anti-nationalspeech in a public gathering. He was jailed for over two years. Thiswas a blessing in disguise, as he could no more travel at the cost of hishealth. During this time, the family consisting of his wife and hiselder son Air Commodore R P S Dhillon devoted themselves toconsoling him in prison by frequent visits. His passport was confiscated.He came out of jail in 1988, and was restored his passport. Heutilised his release to visit the USA, Canada and UK where he spreadthe word about the numerous human rights violations constantly takingplace in Punjab under Governor’s Rule. In 1999, on return to India hewas appointed Secretary General of the World Sikh Council. By 2001,his knees started giving him trouble, and his back trouble increased.