Lt. Col. Sir Nilkanth Shriram Jatar, CIE, DSO (and bar), IMS

Late Lt. Col. Sir Nilkanth Shriram Jatar, the son of Shriram Bhikaji Jatar, was born at Pune on 26 May 1887. Educated at Pune High School, Pune; G. S. Medical College, Bombay; and University College, London. Obtained LM&S in 1911. Went to England in January 1913 to appear for the examination for admission to the Indian Medical Service (IMS) and was commissioned in the IMS on August 1, 1914. Acquired MRCS (England) and LRCP (London) degrees in 1914.

He arrived in India in September 1914. Was posted to Lucknow and served as a Medical Officer with British Station Hospital, 28th Pioneers and 16th Cavalry. Went with 16th Cavalry as a Captain as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia in February 1915. Was taken a prisoner of war by the Turks at Kut-El-Amara from 29 April 1916 to 11 November 1918. The total number of Indian prisoners was 7 medical officers, 6 assistant and sub-assistant surgeons and about 4000 men. The treatment meted out to the prisoners by the Turks was inhuman, especially to the Hindu Indians. More than 50 % of the officers and men who were captured died due to epidemics of Typhus and relapsing fever mainly durin: June to December 1916. 20 % of those who recovered became unfit for any future work. Many of them died in the first winter due to lack of shelter, food and clothing. Most of the prisoners were kept half-naked. The Turks used to throw raw beef at the Hindu prisoners. It was a cultural and religious shock to most Hindus who had never eaten meat before, leave alone beef. Almost all the Hindus came from orthodox families. The prisoners were forced to construct railway lines and the medical personnel did not get to do any medical work. Capt Jatar survived only because he was mentally and physically very robust.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order [(DSO), equivalent to the Indian Mahavir Chakra (MVC)] in 1917 and was Mentioned in British Despatches several times in Mesopotamia as a member of General Townsend’s Army. The reference to this is in the British Medical Journal. (BMJ) and it says:

HONOURS.
THE following awards are announced for distinguished service
in the field with the Waziristan Force, India:
Bar to D.S.O.
Captain Nilkanth Shriram Jatar, D.S.O., I.M.S., attached 2/76th
Punjabis, Indian Army.
For gallantry near Kotkai, on 5th January, 1920, when, during a
withdrawal under heavy fire, he rendered valuable assistance in
bringing in wounded, and, whilst doing so, was himself severely
wounded. (D.S.O. gazetted 4th June, 1917.)

He was also decorated by the Serbian Government with the Serbian Order of the White Eagle with Swords [equivalent to the Military Cross (the Indian Vir Chakra)]
When World War I ended, he returned to India on posting in December 1918 to the Indian Station Hospital, Jubbalpore, only to have another taste of war. He was called upon to serve with the Waziristan Field Force in October 1919. Seven bullets wounded him in his leg and two on his hands at Kotkai, Waziristan on 5 January 1920. In the action, he was awarded a bar to his DSO. Being an Indian, he was deprived of the highest gallantry award – the Victoria Cross.
The bravery of Capt. Jatar was something of a legend. It was said in the IMS that Jatar was like a tiger and was found where the fire was the hottest. After his right leg was amputated above the knee on 5 May 1921, he came back to India and was seconded to the Jail Department at Nagpur in the erstwhile Central Provinces & Berar in 1922. Was promoted to the rank of Major on August 1, 1926. Was promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. on 1 August 1934 and appointed as the Inspector General of Prisons, CP & Berar. Was awarded the order of the Companion of the Indian Empire on 9 June 1938. He was “dubbed” a Knights Bachelor by Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India at New Delhi on 9 March 1946.
His first marriage was to Bhagirathi alias Durga, daughter of Mr. G. R. Moghe of Sion, Bombay on 15 May 1907 at Pune. She died at Nashik Road on June 3, 1922. Married again to Mrs Vimala Dixit Golwalkar, daughter of Mr. B. S. Dixit of Saugor and Allahabad, on September 2, 1922 at Nagpur. Vimalabai died at Kathgodam on May 4, 1941. Married for the third time to Mrs Mainabai, widow of Mr. N. S. Bhagwat of Gwalior and daughter of Mr. Goti of Dewas on September 24, 1941. She died on April 12, 1986 at Pune.

There is also a reference to him being awarded the DSO in the book “The Indian Army: A brief History.”

Inputs by Maj. Gen. (Retd) S. C. N. Jatar and Shrirang Raddi.
April 2000

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