Teodosio, a small Italian village, marked its 81st Independence Day this week with a solemn flag-hoisting ceremony that paid tribute to the bravery of Sikh soldiers who fought during the Second World War. The guests of honor at the ceremony were members of the World Sikh (Martyr) Soldiers Memorial Committee, invited in recognition of the Sikh community’s contributions to Italy’s liberation.

The local commune commemorated the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers, particularly Sikh regiments, who fought against invading German forces. Their valor, residents said, played a decisive role in freeing Teodosio from occupation in 1944.

Prithipal Singh, President of the World Sikh (Martyrs) Soldiers Memorial Committee, attended the event along with committee members Sewa Singh (ex-serviceman), Satnam Singh, Darshan Singh, and Dalip Singh Dipo. The committee has long maintained ties with the British Indian Army regiments that served in Italy during the war and now works to preserve Sikh military memorials across the country.

As part of Sikh tradition, Prithipal Singh led the “Ardas” prayer before the ceremony proceeded. The Mayor of Teodosio, Jioni Revali, spoke about the “sacrifices made by the Sikh soldiers in preventing any progress of the German soldiers to free the area from the possession of the strong German army.”

Prithipal Singh noted that while research continues to determine the total number of Sikh soldiers involved in the campaign, “at least three Sikh soldiers made the supreme sacrifice in the major fight that took place on November 6, 1944.” That battle, he said, marked the day Teodosio was liberated.

Since then, the people of Teodosio have observed November 6 each year as their Independence Day, honoring the memory of the three Sikh soldiers who lost their lives during a mine-clearing operation on a bridge. The town continues to remember all Indian soldiers who gave their lives “fighting thousands of kilometers from their homes to free a land unknown to them.”

“So, it is important that we remember these heroes. Even if their names have not reached us, their actions have never been forgotten. Beginning September 26, they began playing a key role in the liberation of our valley, engaging in gun fights with German troops, pushing them back towards the plains and freeing the mountain ridges encircling Teodosio,” residents said during the commemorations.

According to Prithipal Singh, the World Sikh (Martyrs) Soldiers Memorial Committee continues to collaborate with Italian authorities to erect memorials in honor of Sikh soldiers across Italy. “A couple of such memorials have already been unveiled,” he said, adding that the initiative aims to ensure that the legacy of Sikh soldiers remains an enduring part of Italy’s wartime history.

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