Ludhiana, December 19
The alumni martyrs Major Shivdev Singh Sidhu and Captain Vijay Sehgal, the Goa Liberation War heroes in the “Operation Vijay” in December 1961, were paid rich tributes remembering their heroic sacrifice 64 years ago. The city forgot, but the heroes alma mater did not.
The college principal, Professor Dr Gursharanjit Sandhu, staff, students and some alumni of the college marked the occasion. Present on the occasion were Brij Bhushan Goyal, the organising secretary of the alumni association, Prof. Narinder Singh Masson, Dr G S Grewal, Prof. Parmjit Pam, Prof Dr Sourab, Prof Nidhi, Prof Jaspreet Kaur, Prof Geetika, Bharpoor Singh, the college librarian and a number of students.
While, Principal appreciated the gesture of the alumni, Goyal gave historical details about the stellar role of these martyrs. 1926 born in Sidhwan Khurd, Major Sidhu was a student of this college in the early 1940s and was prominent one to be selected in the college grounds then for training by the Army Selection Board amongst 6 boys. Captain Sehgal studied in the early 1950s here in this college after matriculation from Arya School. But the destiny united these heroes of the college when the Goa Liberation Operation Vijay was announced in December 1961. Major Sidhu, along with his unit left Varanasi on December 3, 1961, to participate in the military action of Goa. He was squadron commander of Captain Vijay Kumar Seghal. Both these officers were in the forefront to get released some Indians made hostage by the Portuguese even after the surrender announcement. Indians had been liberated, but these officers had to lay down their lives when some Portuguese fired on them by deceit. A saintly temperament, Major Sidhu was often called a Sadhu Officer in his regiment, informed Goyal, quoting history.
Dr Grewal, who is the nephew of Major Sidhu, informed that he visited the place in Goa where a spacious Hall is built in memory of these heroes. Unfortunately, the city has forgotten them, though the college remembers them invariably, Grewal said. Both Goyal and Grewal promised all help to any student of the college in their education if parents lost their lives in any war scenario in the future. Lt. General G S Sahota ( Major Sidhu’s son in law), in his message, has appreciated the alumni and their alma mater’s gesture.
