10 Facts About Prem Sahgal

Prem Sahgal was commissioned as a second lieutenant on the Special List published on 1 February 1939 and was attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, then stationed at Secunderabad.

Prem Sahgal joined that battalion on 24 February 1939 and remained there for a year.

That battalion was posted to Singapore in August 1939, in anticipation of war, but Prem Sahgal was transferred to the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, which remained in a peace station.

Shortly afterwards, on 30 April 1940, Prem Sahgal was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Prem Sahgal served with distinction before being made a prisoner of war in February 1942.

Prem Sahgal joined the Indian National Army of Subhas Chandra Bose and took up arms against his former colleagues in the British Indian Army.

Prem Sahgal served as the commander of the 2nd Division, led the 2nd Infantry Regiment at Popa against Messervy's 17th Indian Division during the latter half of the Burma Campaign before surrendering to the British forces.

The charge of treason was not upheld, but Prem Sahgal was dismissed from the army.

In March 1947 at Lahore, Prem Sahgal married Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan, daughter of Ammu Swaminathan.

Prem Sahgal's wife had been the head of the women's wing of the Indian National Army, and they had worked closely together.