The Sikh Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army.Anniversary Celebrations of Sikh LI The regiment is the successor unit to the Sikh Pioneer regiments of the British Indian Army and recruits from the Ramdasia and Mazhabi Sikh communities of Punjab and the adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
The Sikh Light Infantry has demonstrated versatility across a wide spectrum of operations - from World War II to conventional warfare on the plains of the Indian subcontinent, to deployment in the highest battlefield in the world - Siachen Glacier. The regiment has also actively participated in counter-terrorism operations and been deployed in overseas operations in Sri Lanka and as part of the United Nations.
History The Sikh Light Infantry's predecessors, the 23rd, 32nd Sikh Pioneers and 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers of the British Indian Army, could all trace their origins to 1857. The 23rd Sikh Pioneers were raised as 15th (Pioneer) Regiment of Punjab Infantry and although they were pioneers by name, they functioned as a regular infantry regiment specially trained as assault pioneers. They served during the Second Opium War, the expedition to Abyssinia, the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the expedition to Tibet, and the First World War. The 32nd Sikh Pioneers and the 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers were raised as Punjab Sappers in 1857. They fought in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the First World War. In 1922, the army was reformed from single battalion regiments to multi-battalion regiments, and the 23rd, 32nd and 34th Sikh Pioneers were amalgamated into the 3rd Sikh Pioneers. They were renamed in 1929 to the Corps of Sikh Pioneers. The Sikh Pioneers were recruited from the Ramdasia and Mazhabi Sikh communities, who were historically marginalised, and were not recruited by the other Sikh regiments because of considerations of caste.
The Pioneer Regiments of the British Indian Army were disbanded in 1932-3. While some of the troops were absorbed to the Sapper and Miner Regiments, many soldiers were demobilised and returned to their villages. From the Sikh Pioneers, those affected were the Lobana, Ramdasia and Mazhabi Sikhs. Over time, some were eventually absorbed to the Bombay Sappers and Miners, with the Lobana Sikhs subsequently being moved to the Indian Machine Gun platoons of British Infantry regiments.
However, the dissolution of the Pioneer Regiments created significant hardship, particularly for the Ramdasia and Mazhbi Sikhs, who were left with few opportunities for military service. Despite their bravery and endurance in the Pioneer regiments, they seemed to have been unjustly penalised. A number of former British Pioneers officers, who were now in senior positions, were aware of this unfair situation and suggested that as a 'martial class' these men should once again be afforded the opportunity to serve. Thus during the Second World War, the regiment was re-raised as the Mazhabi and Ramdasia Sikh Light Infantry, with the first battalion being raised on 1 October 1941. The regiment inherited the seniority, battle honours, colours and traditions of the 23rd Sikh Pioneers.
The second and third battalions were raised in 1942. The 25th Garrison Battalion was raised at Poona in about August 1942, and sent to the Middle East. It returned to the Regimental Centre at Lahore and was disbanded in April 1946. The 26th Garrison Battalion was raised at Aurangabad, employed on escort and protection duties on the railway from Bombay to Poona and was disbanded in May 1946 at Lahore. 35th and 37th Labour/Garrison Companies were sent to the Middle East in 1940, returned to Lahore in October 1945 and was disbanded in February 1946. 3 Garrison Company went to Burma, the Cocos Islands and returned to Lahore in May 1946 for disbandment.
The regiment's name was found uninspiring and was not very popular. The Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, tasked the Director General of Infantry, Major General Reginald Savory to find a suitable name for the Regiment. A committee at Army headquarters, looked at alternatives like the Sikh Fusiliers, the Sikh Rifles and the Sikh Grenadiers, finally chose the Sikh Light Infantry. The name was by Royal proclamation changed on 23 June 1944 to the Sikh Light Infantry. After Indian independence, the Sikh Light Infantry was allotted to the newly formed Indian Army.
Operations World War II (Burma) The 1st battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel WH Barlow-Wheeler moved from Ranchi to the Imphal Plain in January 1945. It fought under 99 Infantry Brigade of 17 Indian Division. It took part in the defence of Meiktila, battle for Pyawbwe and the dash towards Rangoon.
In these five months of intense action, the unit earned the battle honours of ‘Defence of Meiktila’, ‘Rangoon Road’, ‘Pyawbwe’, and ‘Sittang 1945’. It was also awarded the theatre honour of ‘Burma 1942-45’. The battalion lost five officers, six VCOs and 86 Other Ranks during these operations. 1 Sikh LI earned two Distinguished Service Order, one Indian Order of Merit, four Military Cross, three Indian Distinguished Service Medal, seven Military Medals, seven Mention-in-Despatches and four Certificates of Gallantry during their time in Burma.
Middle East The 2nd battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel GRF Jenney were deployed in Deir ez-Zor in Syria between October 1945 and January 1946. They were part of 24 Indian Infantry Brigade tasked for internal security duties under the French. The unit moved to Lattakia between January and April 1946 and then to Shaibah, Az Zubeir, in Iraq between April 1946 and May /June 1947. In Shaibah, the unit was tasked to guard the Base Ammunition Depot. With independence nearing, an effort was made to move as many as possible of the Indian Units serving overseas back in the country. 2nd battalion sailed from Maqil and reached Bombay on 10 August 1947.
Post independence The 1st battalion moved from Jalandhar in January 1948 to fight in the Jammu and Kashmir theatre. The 2nd battalion was part of the force which took part in the annexation of Junagadh, while the 3rd battalion was involved in the Police Action (Operation Polo) to annex the princely state of Hyderabad during September 1948.
Operation Vijay During the 1961 annexation of Goa, three battalions of the Sikh Light Infantry took part. 1 Sikh LI under Lieutenant Colonel Munshi Singh Brar was with the reserve 48 Infantry Brigade of 17 Infantry Division. 2 Sikh LI was under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Cherian and operated under 50th Parachute Brigade. It took the Dodamarg-Assonora-Tivim-Betim route, moved rapidly across minefields, roadblocks and four riverine obstacles and entered Panjim on 19 December 1961, being one of the first units (after 1 Para (Punjab)). 4 Sikh LI was under Lieutenant Colonel Raghbir Bahadur Nanda and was with the 63 Infantry Brigade of 17 Infantry Division. They marched on the Anmod-Ponda-Borim-Margao-Dabolim route. At the outskirts of Dabolim, the commanding officer was met by the Portuguese chief of staff - who conveyed that Governor General's decision to surrender. Meanwhile, a small force of the unit commanded by Major Earl William Carvalho reached the mess at Alparqueiros Hill in Vasco da Gama and got the Governor General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva to accept the surrender.BHARAT RAKSHAK MONITOR: Volume 4(3)
Sino-Indian War During the 1962 war, 1st Battalion was placed at Bomdila, while the 2nd and 4th Battalions were deployed at Se La and Jang in North-East Frontier Agency. In the trying conditions of the war, the regiment lost 11 officers, 15 JCOs and 183 other ranks. 3rd battalion was deployed in Ladakh in October 1962.
India–Pakistan war of 1965 6 Sikh LI under Lieutenant Colonel PK Nandagopal was awarded the battle honour Kalidhar for its actions on 5 October 1965. This involved fierce fighting to recapture the strategically important Kalidhar feature (Trig point 3776) in Chhamb sector. The regiment lost two officers and 34 other ranks. It won one Maha Vir Chakras, two Vir Chakras, and four Sena Medals.
5 Sikh LI under Lieutenant Colonel Sant Singh took part in the battle of OP Hill in Naushera sector of Jammu and Kashmir on 2 November 1965. The mission to reclaim the strategically significant hill with well entrenched Pakistani soldiers was carried out under intense conditions with limited resources and an approach on a steep route. The unit captured four objectives in a single night. For its valour and a significant victory under heavy odds, the unit was awarded the battle honour OP Hill and theatre honour Jammu and Kashmir. It also won two Maha Vir Chakras, one Vir Chakra, four Sena Medals and three COAS commendation cards.
1 Sikh LI was part of 162 Infantry Brigade under 26 Infantry Division. It took part on the attack on the Pakistani post at Kundapur in Sialkot Sector, for which it won the theatre honour Sialkot.
India–Pakistan war of 1971 All ten battalions took part in the 1971 operations. 8 Sikh LI under Lieutenant Colonel HC Pathak was allotted the task of capturing the Fatehpur post and the surrounding Dussi Bunds occupied by Pakistan. The operation on the night of 11 December 1971 ended with the unit capturing its objectives, although at a cost of 46 lives. The unit was awarded the battle honour Fathepur and theatre honour Punjab for this heroic action, along with one Mahavir Chakra, five Vir Chakras, four Sena Medals and two Mention-in Despatches.
10 Sikh LI commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Basant Singh spearheaded the advance of 85 Infantry Brigade against the well-fortified Pakistani defences of Parbat Ali feature during its operation in the Sind desert. The unit began their rapid advance on 4 December 1971, capturing the key points of Kajlor and Khokhropar, followed by the decisive attack on 12-13 December, when the battalion successfully captured Parbat Ali. The battalion was awarded the battle honour Parbat Ali, three Vir Chakras, four Sena Medals and two Mention-in Despatches.
2 Sikh LI under Lieutenant Colonel ABC D'Mello was part of 42 Infantry Brigade in the Eastern front. On 6 December 1971, the battalion launched a heavy assault on Durgabarkati, which was held by the Pakistani 107 Infantry Brigade. The fall of Durgabarkati opened the gates to Jessore. The unit was awarded the sector honour Durgabarkati.
Counter insurgency operations Units of the regiment have taken part in anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states of India.
Indian Peace Keeping Force