TORONTO (TIP): Teodosio is an Italian village that observed its 81st Independence Day this week. And the guests of honor at a simple and impressive flag hoisting ceremony were members of the World Sikh (Martyr) Soldiers Memorial Committee.
The local commune, in recognition of the role played by Sikh soldiers during the Second World War against the invading German soldiers, eulogized the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in general and the Sikh soldiers in particular.
President of the World Sikh (Martyrs) Soldiers Memorial Committee, Prithipal Singh, was joined by other members of the committee – Sewa Singh (ex-serviceman), Satnam Singh, Darshan Singh and Dalip Singh Dipo.
They have strong associations with those regiments of the British Army that sent soldiers to Italy and other countries during the Second World War. Now, they have organized themselves into an organization and have been working to upkeep Sikh memorials in Italy.
As per Sikh traditions, after Prithpal Singh performed the “Ardas”, Mayor of Teodosio, Jioni Revali, highlighted the sacrifices made by the Sikh soldiers in preventing any progress of the German soldiers to free the area from the possession of the strong German army.
Prithipal Singh said that though the exact details of the number of Sikh soldiers who were part of the force that fought the strong German army were subject matter of continuous research, at least three Sikh soldiers made the supreme sacrifice in the major fight that took place on November 6, 1944. It was on this day that Teodosio was freed.
People of Teodosio now celebrate November 6 as their Independence Day.
They believe that on November 6, 1944, three Indian Sikh soldiers lost their lives during a mine cleaning operation on a bridge. The people of Teodosio remember them, and all the other Indian soldiers who gave their lives and made sacrifices fighting thousands of kilometers from their homes to free a land unknown to them. It is an important and unprecedented sacrifice. “So, it is important that we remember these heroes. Even if their names have not reached us, their actions have never been forgotten. Beginning September 26, they began playing a key role in the liberation of our valley, engaging in gun fights with German troops, pushing them back towards the plains and freeing the mountain ridges encircling Teodosio,” they said while paying tributes to the Sikh soldiers as a part of their Independence Day celebrations.
The World Sikh (Martyrs) Soldiers Memorial Committee, says Prithipal Singh, has been working in close coordination with the Italian authorities to raise appropriate memorials of Sikh soldiers in various parts of Italy.
A couple of such memorials have already been unveiled, he added.
(Prabhjot Singh is A Toronto-based Senior Journalist. He is a regular contributor to The Indian Panorama)
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