Ram Singh Thakuri

2021-08-21T19:15:17Z

2409:4051:2E15:D765:5D2B:C9AD:89FF:3668:

{{short description|Indian freedom fighter}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain]]
| name = Ram Singh Thakur
| spouse = Premu Thakur
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1914|08|15}}
| birth_place = Khanyara, [[Dharamsala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now in [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[India]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2002|04|15|1914|08|15}}
| death_place = Bhaisakund, [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| nickname =
| birth_name =
| allegiance = {{flag|British India}}<br/>{{flag|Azad Hind}}<br/>{{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|British India}}<br/>[[Indian National Army]]<br/>{{army|India}}
| serviceyears = 1942–1974
| rank = [[Company Havildar Major]]
| servicenumber =
| unit = [[1st Gorkha Rifles]]
| commands =
| battles = [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] War
| battles_label =
| awards = [[King George VI Coronation Medal]]
| relations =
| laterwork = Band Master
| signature =
}}

'''Ram Singh Thakuri''' 15 August 1914 – 15 April 2002) was an Indian freedom fighter, musician and composer.<ref name=Toi>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/INA-hero-Ram-Singh-dead/articleshow/7007390.cms|title=INA hero Ram Singh dead | Lucknow News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> He composed a number of patriotic songs including ''[[Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja]]'' and ''[[Subh Sukh Chain]]'' whilst serving in the [[Indian National Army]].

Later in life, Captain Singh worked for the [[Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary]] (PAC) and founded the Constabulary band.

==Early life==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}
Ram Singh was born in the Khanyara, a village near [[Dharamsala]] on 15 August 1914. As the son of a serviceman, Singh was encouraged to enroll in the [[British Indian Army|army]]. After completing school in 1922, Singh joined the [[1 Gorkha Rifle|1st Gorkha Rifles]] as a recruit in the band. From early childhood, he had an interest in music, which was encouraged by his grandfather, Jamni Chand, who migrated from Munakot village in Pithoragarh district of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] hills, [[Uttarakhand]] in 1890.

==Service==
In the Army, Singh combined his love for music along with his service. He trained in classical and western music as well as ballad, brass band, string band and dance band.

===British Indian Army===
Singh earned the [[King George VI Coronation Medal|King George VI medal]] while serving in the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] between 1937 and 1939. Promoted in 1941 to [[Company Havildar Major]], he was sent to Singapore and Malaya with his unit during [[World War II]].

===Indian National Army===
After the [[Fall of Singapore]], the Japanese forces took a large number of [[POW]]s. Of these, a large number volunteered to join the [[Indian National Army]]. Singh, who had initially not volunteered, was sent to Japan, where he met [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose]]. Singh later joined the Indian National Army as it was reorganised under the leadership of Bose. Subhas Chandra Bose was instrumental in tapping the talent of Captain Ram Singh as a dedicated music director. On his personal request, Singh composed the tunes for "[[Qadam Qadam Badaye Ja]]", the [[Indian National Army]]'s (INA) marching song and now a noted patriotic song from India. He also composed the tune for "[[Subh Sukh Chain]]" (or the Qaumi Tarana as it was known), the [[national anthem]] to be adopted by [[Azad Hind]]. In 1944, Singh was decorated by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] for his contributions. Singh also received a violin and a saxophone as gifts from Bose.

===Return to India===
After the end of the war, Singh was shipped back to India with his fellow soldiers. Imprisoned at the Kabul Lines of the [[Delhi Cantonment]], Singh was released later as most of the INA troops were released without charge after widespread protests. Singh and members of his orchestra band were invited to play the [[National Anthem]] on the occasion of the Prime Minister's inaugural address to the nation at the [[Red Fort]].

==Post 1947==
[[File:Ram Singh Thakur playing violin.jpg|thumb|300px|Captain Ram Singh Thakuri (extreme right) playing the violin in [[Gandhi]]'s presence, during one of Gandhi's visits to [[Indian National Army#Red Fort trials|INA prisoners]] at [[Red Fort]], 20 June 1946]]
Ram Singh was recruited in the 3rd Battalion PAC at [[Lucknow]] [[Uttar Pradesh]] in 1948 by Shri Jagdish Prasad Bajpai [Commandant – 3rd Bn. PAC], and later was promoted as the Band Master in the Rank of Inspector. Thakur retired in 1974. Upon retirement he was accorded the honorary rank of [[Deputy Superintendent|DSP]]. He was known as "DSP Band UP Police" at the time of his retirement. He was honoured by the [[Government of India|Central]] Government, as well as the Governments of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Sikkim]].

==Final years==
Captain Singh's final years were difficult and controversial, for which the Government drew much criticism.<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99may01/head6.htm INA hero gets shabby treatment by government. ''The Tribune''], 1 May 1999</ref> He was initially denied the status of a freedom fighter by the government,<ref name=Tribune>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020504/windows/main2.htm|title=The Tribune - Windows - Feature|website=www.tribuneindia.com|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> while the State government of Uttar Pradesh later faced contempt proceedings for withholding the corresponding payment although the amount in question was meager. A controversial court petition at one point sought to establish that he was not the composer of the National Anthem.

Captain Singh suffered an [[epilepsy]] attack in 2001, and after suffering ill health for nearly a year, died on 15 April 2002. He was [[cremated]] with State honours at Bhaisakund. However the State Government of Uttar Pradesh was again criticised for the absence of notable or prominent Government officials save a few police officers.<ref name=Toi/>

==Awards==
Over his long career, Captain Ram Singh earned a number of awards. These included:<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.merapahad.com/cap-ram-singh-thakur-musician-of-indian-national-anthem|title= कैप्टन राम सिंह: राष्ट्रगान के धुन निर्माता| publisher=Blog Network of Uttarakhand| access-date=4 December 2009}}</ref>
*[[King George VI Coronation Medal|George VI Medal]], 1937
*Netaji Gold Medal([[Azad Hind]]), 1943
*Uttar Pradesh 1st Governor Gold Medal, 1956
*President Police Medal, 1972
*UP Sangeet Natak Akademi (UP Music and Drama Academy) Award, 1979
*Sikkim Government Mitrasen Award, 1993
*The First Azad Hind Fauj Award by the [[West Bengal Government]] in 1996

==See also==
*[[Kumaoni people]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{Indian National Army}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thakur, Ram Singh}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male composers]]
[[Category:Indian National Army personnel]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Dharamshala]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]

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Ram Singh Thakuri