Fate works in mysterious ways. Most of us who have served in the military will recall how chance, coincidence, luck or, happenstance has intervened, mostly for the good and sometimes, otherwise. I for one on balance believe I have benefited and my recent experience in ensuring a salute to a soldier, is testimony.
I am the fourth generation to have served in the Indian Army. Sadly, I hardly knew my Father or, of his Army career. He like most of his generation, was of the old school and as children we ‘were seen and not heard’. My brother and I were sent off to boarding school at the age of nine when my Father was on a non-family assignment. Our interaction thereafter was limited to the occasional summer or, winter vacations, where time was divided between five siblings. He unfortunately passed away in July 1963 when he was just 56. It was the day before I left for NDA as a young 15 year old. The only consolation for him at that stage was knowing that that one of his sons would be carrying forward the family legacy.
Genesis
This story however, traces its roots to when he as a young lad joined the Rashtriya Indian Military College (then Prince of Wales Military College) with the first batch in March 1922. From there he went to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Punjab Regiment. During World War II he served with the 8th Army and was one of the first Indians to command a Battalion in the Italian Campaign.
Fate destined that I along with my elder sister and younger brother visited Italy in 2019 and got opportunity to tour the battlefields where my father then, Lieutenant Colonel T Mahadeo Singh was in command of 1st Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment. Under his command the Battalion in a decisive attack broke through the German Chengez Khan line leading to their surrender in May 1945.
This final battle involved securing the rail and road bridge on the Idici River held by German Parachute Division. India’s Official History of the Second World War 1939-1945, has recorded it as: “This was the Battalion’s finest effort and a glorious hour of trial”. He was awarded Distinguished Service Order, the second highest award for gallantry. Having visited the site and re-lived the battle, I as a military man, was awestruck. It was a victory against all odds.
The Pandemic of 2020 also allowed one to reflect. This gave birth to an urge that his deeds as a soldier, be given permanent recognition. The question was how?
The Possibility
Providence provided a possibility in Dehradun, the Town which was the foundation of his military career. He was posted to Dehradun as Chief Instructor, Indian Military Academy (IMA) after completion of his command in 1946. On Independence, he was appointed Deputy Commandant and subsequently in December 1947, the first Indian Commandant of IMA.
In this capacity he was part of the team to set up the Joint Services Wing (JSW) the forerunner to the National Defence Academy(NDA) at Clement Town and was appointed as its founder Commandant in 1949.
Holding dual charge of both the IMA and JSW, there was a requirement of daily commute between both institutions which were a distance of about 18 km via the main town of Dehradun. This required negotiating a very narrow portion called ‘Suicide Alley’, a tiresome drive.
Major General Thakur Mahadeo Singh, DSO therefore identified that Dehradun could be bypassed if a road was constructed along the canal from Ballupur to the Saharanpur Road. He pursued this case vigourously with the Government and had the road constructed in 1949. The foresight for this five km ‘bypass’ has evolved into a thoroughfare which has gained increased importance over the years and is now a part of the national highway network.
The State Government in recognition of his long association with Dehradun, distinguished war record and service as the first Indian Commandant of both the IMA and JSW, decreed that the Road would be named‘General Mahadeo Singh Road’ in his honour. It is thus the first road in India to be named after a military officer.
Very few, if any, are aware of this background and almost all only know of it by its acronym, ‘GMS’ Road. It therefore dawned that a suitable structure recording salient details in a prominent manner, be erected in his memory. The main hurdle was that being a public road, private construction was debarred. Also, there was no such precedent.
GMS Road: The Project and its Acceptance
To overcome this and obtain formal approval, services of Shri Abhimanyu Dalala renowned architect of Delhi, was sought. It was clear that acceptance of any structure would only be possible if the design was unique, striking as also, add pride and value to Dehradun.
The road over the years has developed from single to fourlane road. A reconnaissance of the road revealed that any edifice would have to come up on the central verge and ideally provide for inter-visibility. A unique three stone stele design was prepared. The columns would be of RCC with red sandstone cladding. In addition to the State emblem of Uttarakhand, these would have the crests of the IMA, JSW and RIMC the three institutions that the late General was associated with in Dehradun.
The stele would also have the background details carved in Hindi and English.In view of the triple stela design, it was proposed to call it ‘Tri Stambh’. The proposal was forwarded to the State Government and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Fortuitously, the Minister in charge of NHAI was General VK Singh whom I had known in service and thus, able to convince. He assured me of his support but, explained that approval of the Uttarakhand Government and its PWD was essential. This involved a number of visits to Dehradun as also a request to the local Army Sub Area Headquarters to assist. Luckily, a former military man Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh had been appointed as Governor Uttarakhand. He thus, understood the significance of the project, was impressed by the design and requested that the State government look into it.
Major General Sanjeev Khatri, the Sub Area Commander also happened tobe an alumni of RIMC and spoke to the Chief Secretary Uttarakhand, as also Principal Secretary PWD. All this is indicative of some unseen hand that ensured support by the right people at the opportune moment. To have the backing of the Governor and the Minister of State, both former Army colleagues, was more than mere coincidence.
Proposed design of Tri Stambh
I finally met Shri RK Sudhanshu, IAS Principal Secretary PWD on 7th April 2022 along with Shri CM Pandey, Chief Engineer PWD Uttarakhand and others which included representatives of the NHAI. To start off there was apprehension of a private structure on a public road but, the unique design, as also that it would be the first such structure anywhere, as also that it would add value to Dehradun, swayed them. In discussion, Shri Sudhanshu asked as to when I would like to dedicate Tri Stambh. I replied that I would like to do it in 2022 itself being the centenary year of when my Father came to Dehradun. The date I recommend was 9th November, the 115th Anniversary of his Birth.
His face lit up and he remarked ‘Yeh to bahutshubh din hai’ (This is a very auspicious day). I queried as to why it was ‘auspicious’and he replied that 9th November was the Foundation Day of Uttarakhand. I responded that this coincidence was a signal from heaven and he should give his go ahead. I further added that Uttarakhand was colloquially known as ‘Dev Bhoomi’ and this would honour a ‘Mahadeo’. This clinched the issue and he directed that a reconnaissance be conducted to select a suitable site.
A joint visit by Chief Engineer PWD Uttarakhand and Engineers of the NHAI was planned for the same afternoon. As mentioned earlier, the Road has developed from a single to four-lane with very little scope for any structure on the central verge. Destiny however, had provided for a Peepul tree in middle of the road. The Peepul tree enjoys a religious status and hence, the road had been widened with a traffic island for its protection. The site was thus, more than significant and was finalised.
In retrospect I am convinced, that the existence of this Road and series of coincidences mentioned above, which allowed for acceptance of such a pathbreaking project, all came about due to divine intervention. We of the family, are indeed grateful
Site Selection with Chief Engineer PWD Construction and Dedication
Being a public road the construction work was to be under the aegis of the State PWD. Here too, the Chief Engineer, Shri CM Pandey who was present at the site selection, promised his full support. He deputed Shri Neeraj Tripathi, AE PWD, to oversee the project and assured me that he was the person who could get the job done. This proved to be true. Neeraj took complete ownership and his commitment was exceptional.
It was a pioneering project to strict timelines. Work started after a Bhoomi Pujaon 8th June 2022. This ceremony on a traffic island in middle of a thoroughfare amid moving traffic was surreal and something only possible in India.
The construction involved three-meter-deep base structure and foundations. Neeraj Tripathi the AE was undeterred and work carried on 24×7 in the middle of a busy road. Shri Vipul Khandelwal and Mudit Jain of Puja Arts from Delhi did all the stone work including carving.
To provide identity, road signs representative of Tri Stambh were constructed on the central verge on either end of the Road, i.e., Ballupur Chowk and where it meets the Shimla Bypass. These too, involved digging and work at busy intersections.
Miraculously there was no major mishap and Tri Stambh was ready for its Dedication on 9th November 2022. The Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh presided over this ‘Salute to a Soldier’. It was a bright and beautiful morning befitting the ceremony, truly blessed by the Gods.
Road Signs
There were some finishing touches which included the carving of the Late General’s portrait on the central stele and Tri Stambh was finally handed over to the PWD on 4th March 2023. The issue for its long term maintenance and up keep
was discussed with the RIMC and it was agreed that this could be possibly be undertaken by the RIMC Old Boys Association Trust (ROBA) from a dedicated corpus which the Late General’s Family could donate.
This was accepted by the Trustees and has ensured another ‘First’ in respect of the Late General. First batch of RIMC; first Indian Commandant IMA; founder Commandant of NDA; first Indian Military officer to have a road named after him and that too, in Dehradun where his service career began; and now the first Alumni whose memory would be supported by the ROBA Trust for perpetuity. Coincidentally, Tri Stambh is down the road from RIMC.
The Agreement to formalise this was signed was signed at the RIMC on 9th November 2023 with the Senior Trustee ROBA, Lieutenant General SS Grewal and others, bringing to conclusion a saga of events which only providence and divine intervention could have brought about. In service parlance it was completed staff work!.
This ‘Salute to a Soldier’ is thus, truly blessed and a fitedifice to perpetuate and record deeds on this first Road in India to be named after a military officer.
