“A German ambushed me, shot me in the right leg, then I fired at him and enjoyed his burning.”
“The bullet that hit me came from near the filling area of the plane’s petrol tank. If the bullet had been a little higher, the plane would have exploded.”
“Four German fighter jets were behind me. They were firing at me again and again.”
“I was running like a bird flapping its wings and unable to fly. In the first few moments I thought I was going to die.”
“When this did not happen, I felt as if I was under the protection of some divine power. I was told that my plane was hit by more than 400 bullets.”
These are the words of Hardit Singh Malik, a fighter in the First World War, which are recorded in his autobiography ‘A Little Work, A Little Play.’
Born in Rawalpindi district of undivided Punjab, Hardit Singh Malik has the distinction of being the first ‘Flying Sikh’.
He was one of the few Indians to join the Royal Air Force in World War I, the first turban-wearing (Sikh) pilot.
Of his escape he later wrote, “This miracle had a profound effect on my life. I became convinced that you die only when God wills it.”
Being a turban wearer, his journey was full of difficulties, but he retained his identity and got recorded in history by receiving many titles like ‘Flying Hobgoblin’.
‘Lion of the sky’
Hardit Singh Malik was born on 23 November 1894 in Rawalpindi, Punjab.
Rawalpindi was one of the six cantonments built by the British government in Punjab at that time.
Here his father Sardar Mohan Singh was posted as an engineer and had a good reputation in the area.
Being born in a rich family, he received western education from the beginning.
After becoming a pilot, he became the ‘Prime Minister’ of Patiala State and also became the first High Commissioner to Canada after India’s independence.
Late writer Khushwant Singh described Hardit Singh as one of the most important Sikhs of his time.
First World War historian Stephen Barker has written the book ‘Lion of the Skies’ about Hardit Singh Malik.
He writes, “Although Hardit Singh Malik moved to England at the age of 14, due to the homely environment there, he always remained connected to his roots.”
Hardit Singh Malik writes about his family in his autobiography ‘A Little Work, A Little Play’, “My mother was very religious, she had a deep influence on my life. My father used to pray before doing any work.”
Hardit Singh’s mother’s name was Lajwanti Bhagat.
Stephen Barker writes that spending his early years in Rawalpindi gave him the opportunity to understand the British government closely.
According to Barker, Hardit Singh came under the influence of Atar Singh Mastuana, an influential Sikh saint of that time.
In an interview given to military historian Somnath Sapru, he said that if he had not met Sant Atar Singh, his life would have been different.
At the age of 12, he also saw freedom fighters like Lala Lajpat Rai at a rally in Rawalpindi.
Went to England at the age of 14
Barker writes that it is common for Indian boys aged 18 and above to go to Britain for education. But very few people had thought about the 14-year-old boy going to Britain for school and further studies.
After completing his schooling from Eastbourne College, Hardit Singh studied at Balliol College, Oxford. Here he came in contact with many celebrities, who later achieved great success.
Hardit Singh was interested in sports since childhood. He continued playing cricket even after coming to England and became the captain of the college team.
The relationship was not only with cricket. Hardit Singh was also known as a good golfer. After his death, Golf Asia Society also published an article about him.
His time at Eastbourne College was quite memorable. Here he played cricket for the college team. One of the players who played with him was Dalpat Singh, who later became a Major in the Jodhpur Lancers and was killed in the Battle of Haifa in Palestine in 1918.
He read Modern European History at Balliol College.
How to become a part of Air Force?
In 1917, when Hardit Singh was studying at Balliol College, many of his classmates went to join the First World War.
Like his other comrades, Hardit Singh also wanted to go to war.
He started working as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross in France. He started working from Cognac city here.
Stephen writes that Hardit Singh Malik, who reached France at the age of 21, had no idea that he would become India’s ambassador here after India’s independence.
About the experience of reaching France, Hardit Singh writes in his autobiography, “Despite my refusal, the people in the hospital there felt as if I was an Indian Maharaja.”
Barker writes, “Working with the French Red Cross, Hardit Singh took part in the war, but from the beginning he wanted to go directly into battle.”
He kept asking his friends in France how he could become a part of the French Air Force.
Barker has written that at that time the ships were not so strong, they were made of fiber and wood.
His first posting was in Aldershot, Hampshire. He has written in his autobiography that living here was very difficult.
Barker told the BBC that Sardar Malik was inducted into the Air Force in violation of military rules.
He said that during the World War, Britain had such a shortage of air force pilots that it started thinking of recruiting Indians (who were then a colony of Britain).
He says, “Recruitment began in October 1916 and continued till March 1917. Five Indians were recruited, of whom Hardit Singh Malik was the only Sikh.”
Struggled for turban
Hardit Singh Malik gained recognition everywhere on the basis of his ability, but on some occasions he had to struggle for the turban.
In his autobiography, he has mentioned an incident after joining the British Air Force.
“Instead of wearing the cap that comes with the military uniform, I dyed my turban khaki. A sergeant major saw me in the turban and asked me where my cap was. Then I explained to the officer that as a Sikh, I was required to wear a turban. It is necessary to wear.”
“Another officer arrived and defused the situation.”
“Later the issue was discussed by senior officials. Then I was allowed to wear the turban.”
Singh writes about an incident in his college, “After dinner, five or six boys surrounded me and asked me to take off my turban. They wanted to see what was underneath it.”
“I told them that I am a Sikh and will not take off my turban. They moved towards me to remove my turban. I was very angry. I was alone in front of them.”
“But I told him very calmly that I cannot stop you, but whoever first touches my turban, I will kill him one way or the other.”
Hardit Singh writes that those boys knew that Sikhs keep kirpans. Seeing the joke turning serious, I stepped back.
When Hardit Singh met Jinnah
When Hardit Singh Malik was the Prime Minister of Patiala State, he met Muslim League leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
This meeting took place at the house of Hardit Singh’s brother Teja Singh Malik on Bhagwan Das Road in New Delhi.
Malik said about the meeting, “This historic meeting was the most interesting meeting I have ever attended.”
“Jinnah came without any advisor, whereas our party included Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, Tara Singh, Giani Kartar Singh and I.”
Harditt Singh writes in his autobiography that “Jinnah wanted to include Sikhs in Pakistan, he asked us to bring our demands and he would accept them.
When I asked him who would fulfill his promises when he was no more, Jinnah replied, “My word will be as God has said in Pakistan.”
He writes, “Such arrogance was like madness.”
‘He became depressed due to the 1984 military campaign’
After Hardit Singh’s death in November 1985, Khushwant Singh wrote in Hindustan Times, “I know very few people who have achieved so much in their lives.”
He wrote that Hardit Singh Malik was one of the most ‘Sohane’ Sardars.
Khushwant Singh wrote that Hardit Singh Malik was fond of collecting different types of liquor. Besides, he was also fond of eating special types of food.
He wrote that Hardit Singh Malik was an admirer of Nehru and Indira Gandhi, but he was heartbroken when the army entered Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. After this he was never the same person as before.
Khushwant Singh writes that after this, Hardit Singh always remained sad.
Khushwant Singh wrote, “What happened was that on the day of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, he suffered a heart attack, a crowd was roaming outside, thirsty for the blood of the Sikhs, meanwhile his family took him to the hospital.”
Her family did not tell her the news of Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Regarding his funeral, Khushwant Singh wrote that on the request of Hardit Singh’s wife Prakash Kaur, other patients in the hospital sang gay songs.
