Biography of Major Dalpat Singh Devli

Rawna majar Dalpat Singh‬‏ is the Indian hero of Haifa. He was born at Jodhpur, graduated from Eastbourne College , London. He was son of Thakur Hari Singh Shekhawat of Deoli village of Pali district. Todate this village is known by Deoli Harji. Thakur Hari Singh Shekhawat was close friend of Regeant of Jodhpur pricipility and King of Idar State of Gujarat. Cenotaphs of Thakur Hari Singh and Regeant of Jodhpur, His Highness Lt General Sir Pratap Singh are constructed side by side in Jodhpur. This was due to Will of Sir Pratap, as Thakur Hari Singh Shekhawat passed away at young age of 41 years.

Aftet completion of graduation DS Shekhawat was  commisioned in army of Jodhpur as Major. Persent, MBM Engineering College was once upon the Bunglow of father of DS Shekhawat, Thakur Hari Singh Shekhawat. During the first world war, he commanded Jodhpur regiment to capture Haifa city of Israel. Had Haifa not won by British Indian Army, whole of Israel had come under clutches of Hitler.  Hence, Jodhpur Lancers, assisted by Mysore and Hydrabad Lancers were given this seemingly impossible task. Group of 5000 army men under commandership of DS Shekhawat, armed with lancer and most primitive rifle and mounted on horses took this challange.

This part of British Indian army was against the Nazi army of 1 lac soldiers. The Nazi soldiers were well entrenched in bunkers and armed with automatic machine guns. Battle continued for two days.  At the end of second day of battle, Haifa was won from Germans. More than 1500 Germans were took as prisnor. British flag was unfurled in city of Haifa. But, alas, Major DS Shekhawat lost his life at end of second day of battle, at young age of 28.In this battle, his cousin brother Subedar Major Sita Singh Shekhawat also lost his life.

 He was decorated with Millitary Cross right on battle spot, only Indian soldier of pre- Independent India honoured so informally with gallantry award, bypassing all procedural rigours.

 Reports of his valour, cavellier courage, millitary acumen - in most colorful language- occupied front pages of London. Gazette of London showered encomium on  his heroic contribution .

In his honor, 61th cavalery of Indian Army adopted emblem of Jodhpur Lancers. In Delhi, _tin-murti_ circle has statues of Major DS Shekhawat, Shri Anop Singh Jodha and third one of commanding Hydrabad Lancers . Now _tin murti_ cicle has rechristened to _tin murti haifa hero_ circle.

 MBM Engineering college has one section known by Deoli House, as DS Shekhawat was Thakur of Deoli Village.Deoli village is known as Deoli (Harji), after name of Thakur Hari Singh Shekhawat, father Major DS Shekhawat.

 Israel, Britain and India goverments has issued stamp tickets commemirating Haifa victory day.

DS Shekhawat also occupies space in Hall of Fame of Israel. Story of his un-parallel heroic battle is part of Israeli primary Education curruculmn .


100 years after the last cavalry battle in history in which the city of Haifa was captured, we are embarking on a journey to understand what the Indians did here during the First World War, and why Thakur Dalpat Singh‬‏ is considered as the Indian hero of Haifa.

#Life_of_the_Dead

Director, research, and script: Tamar Komem
Director of Animation: Shriel Castlesi
Soundtrack Design and Mixing: Eva Spitkovsky
Script editor: Amos Maron
Narration by: Eyal Schindler
Photographer: Tomer Levin
Graphic Design: Ran Daskal
Original music: Michal Harari Algarsi

Special Thanks:
CWGC - Commonwealth War Grave Commission
Yigal Greiber - The Association for the History of Haifa
Brigadier Mahendra Singh Jodha,
Norbert Shwekev - Nati Stroll - Yehonatan Keinan - Hillel Gliksberg

The Life of the Dead is an animated docu-series by the creator Tamar Kommem Five chapters will tell the story of foreign soldiers who arrived in Palestine during the First World War and were killed on its soil.

By Sudarshan Singh bhati denok