CM Dhami pays tribute to WWI hero Darban Singh Negi on death anniversary
Synopsis
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 23 June 2026 honoured Darban Singh Negi — a Naik in the 39th Garhwal Rifles and Victoria Cross recipient for gallantry at Festubert in 1914 — on his death anniversary, reaffirming the state's deep martial identity.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to Darban Singh Negi on his death anniversary on 23 June 2026 .
Negi served as a Naik in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles of the British Indian Army during World War I .
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Festubert in November 1914 on the Western Front.
Dhami described Negi as a 'veer sapoot' (brave son) of Uttarakhand and a 'mahanaayak' (great hero) of the First World War.
The tribute aligns with a consistent pattern of Uttarakhand political leaders commemorating pre-independence gallantry awardees to highlight the state's military heritage.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, paid homage to Darban Singh Negi, a Victoria Cross recipient from Uttarakhand and one of the most decorated Indian soldiers of the First World War, on the occasion of his death anniversary.
Context
Dhami's post, written in Hindi, offered 'kotishaha naman' (countless salutations) to Negi, describing him as a 'veer sapoot' (brave son) of Uttarakhand and a 'mahanaayak' (great hero) of the First World War. The tribute underscores the state's deep-rooted military heritage, particularly from its Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Negi served as a Naik in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles of the British Indian Army. He was awarded the Victoria Cross — the highest military honour in the British Commonwealth — for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Festubert in November 1914 on the Western Front in France.
Policy Backdrop
Uttarakhand has one of the highest per-capita military recruitment rates in India, with generations of families from the Garhwal and Kumaon hills serving in the Indian Army and, before independence, in the British Indian Army. The state's identity is closely intertwined with this martial tradition.
Commemorating pre-independence gallantry awardees has become a consistent practice among Uttarakhand's political leadership. Such tributes form part of a broader pattern across north Indian hill states of honouring local contributions to World War campaigns, aligning with national-level recognition of Indian soldiers who served in both World Wars.
Stakeholders and Impact
The tribute resonates most directly with military veterans, serving soldiers, and Garhwali families across Uttarakhand who regard figures like Negi as symbols of regional pride and sacrifice. For the Garhwal Rifles regiment in particular, Negi's Victoria Cross remains a defining chapter in its institutional history.
Dhami's public acknowledgement on a major social media platform ensures that the memory of such soldiers reaches younger generations, many of whom may be unfamiliar with India's contribution to the First World War. The post also reinforces the BJP government's consistent positioning of Uttarakhand as 'sainya bhoomi' — a land of soldiers.
What's Next
The commemoration could prompt renewed attention to state-level memorials and events honouring other Victoria Cross and Param Vir Chakra recipients from Uttarakhand. As the state government continues to highlight its military legacy, such anniversaries are likely to be marked with increasing institutional visibility, including events at regimental centres and war memorials.
Broader national conversations around recognising Indian soldiers who served in the World Wars — long an underrepresented chapter in mainstream historical memory — may gain further momentum from such high-profile political tributes.
Point of View
The administration signals continuity between colonial-era sacrifice and contemporary national pride — a narrative that resonates strongly with the state's large veteran and ex-servicemen community. Such commemorations rarely translate into new policy but serve an important symbolic function: reinforcing the idea of Uttarakhand as 'sainya bhoomi', a land defined by soldierly sacrifice. The broader pattern across hill states suggests this is as much about regional identity politics as it is about historical memory.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Darban Singh Negi?
Darban Singh Negi was a Naik in the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles of the British Indian Army, and one of the few Indian soldiers to receive the Victoria Cross during the First World War for his bravery at the Battle of Festubert in November 1914.
What did Darban Singh Negi receive the Victoria Cross for?
Darban Singh Negi was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Festubert on the Western Front in France in November 1914, making him one of the earliest Indian recipients of the honour in World War I.
Why did CM Dhami pay tribute to Darban Singh Negi?
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to Darban Singh Negi on his death anniversary on 23 June 2026, honouring him as a brave son of Uttarakhand and a hero of the First World War.
What is Uttarakhand's connection to the Indian Army?
Uttarakhand, particularly its Garhwal and Kumaon regions, has one of the highest per-capita military recruitment rates in India, with a long tradition of service in the Indian Army and, historically, the British Indian Army.
What is the 39th Garhwal Rifles?
The 39th Garhwal Rifles was a regiment of the British Indian Army recruited from the Garhwal region of present-day Uttarakhand; it produced several decorated soldiers during the First World War, including Victoria Cross recipient Darban Singh Negi.
