ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>KH&#256LS&#256 DEFENCE OF INDIA LEAGUE</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<u>KH</u>&#256LS&#256 DEFENCE OF INDIA LEAGUE was formed on 19 January 1941 at Lahore with the object of launching a movement among the Sikh masses for increased military enlistment for the defence of the country during the critical years of World War II and for maintaining and strengthening the special position of the Sikhs in the Indian army. A report prepared by a committee headed by an English General appointed by the British to look into the causes of the slow rate of Sikh recruitment sent to the Punjab Government was suppressed by the Premier, Sir Sikandar Hay&#257t <u>Kh</u>&#257n. The report had suggested that the good offices of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Y&#257davinder Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 be utilized to step up the enlistment of Sikhs --- a proposal which was not acceptable to Sir Sikandar for personal reasons. As the news leaked out, the Sikhs themselves took the initiative. A representative group of them waited upon the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 and requested him to lead a campaign among the Sikhs for recruitment so that their position in the army remained intact and the counsel of the British officers, who, in view of a few instances of insubordination, had recommended a total embargo being put on their entry into the army could be nullified. As a result of these parleys, the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 Defence of India League came into being, with the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 as the President-General. The main body of the League was composed of 150 members, 118 from British Punjab and 32 from the Sikh states. Sard&#257r Raghb&#299r Si&#7749gh Sandh&#257&#7749v&#257l&#299&#257 of R&#257j&#257 S&#257&#7749s&#299 was elected president and Sard&#257r Baldev Si&#7749gh, M.L.A. (later Defence Minister of India), Col Raghb&#299r Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 and Sard&#257r Bah&#257dur Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh of Delhi vice-presidents. Among other office-bearers and those closely associated with the League were Sard&#257r Beant Si&#7749gh of Gurd&#257spur (secretary), Malik Mukhbai&#7751 Si&#7749gh, a judge of the Sikh Gurdw&#257r&#257s Tribunal, joint secretary, Sard&#257r Kart&#257r Si&#7749gh D&#299w&#257n&#257 propaganda secretary, Sard&#257r Joginder Si&#7749gh M&#257n, Sard&#257r Jaswant Si&#7749gh D&#257nev&#257l&#299&#257, Malik Hardit Si&#7749gh, Sir Jogendra Si&#7749gh, Sir D&#257t&#257r Si&#7749gh and Bh&#257&#299 Shubhsher Si&#7749gh, Ra&#299s of Arnaul&#299.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The League set up 22 branches in the districts of Karn&#257l, Hiss&#257r, Amb&#257l&#257, Ludhi&#257&#7751&#257, Jalandhar, Hoshi&#257rpur, F&#299rozpur, Amritsar, Lahore, Gurd&#257spur, Si&#257lko&#7789, Shei<u>kh</u>&#363pur&#257, Gujr&#257&#7749w&#257l&#257, Sargodh&#257, Gujr&#257t, Jehlum, R&#257walpi&#7751&#7693&#299, Mult&#257n, Muzaffar&#257b&#257d, Montgomery and Ly&#257llpur in the Punjab, and Pesh&#257war in the North-West Frontier Province. An extensive campaign was launched across the Punjab to rally Sikh youths to join the defence forces. Representations were made to the government to encourage the Sikh intake. Pre-cadet training classes were started for college students at <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 College at Amritsar and Mohindr&#257 College at Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257, which enabled a large number of young Sikhs to qualify for entry into the army as commissioned officers. With the end of War in 1945 ended the work of the League, and it ceased to function after November 1946.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>The Heritage of the Sikhs</i>. Delhi, 1983<BR> <li class="C1"> Khushwant Singh, <i>A History of the Sikhs</i>, vol. II. Princeton, 1966<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">B. S. Nijjar<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>