Two gorgeous colours — ‘bunting yellow’ and ‘flame of the forest’ — are part of the uniform of the Sikh Light Infantry regiment. The story of these colours being chosen for the Sikh LI is related to a titan of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Premindra Singh (Prem) Bhagat, VC.As a young officer, Prem Bhagat of Bombay Sappers, an engineers’ group of the Army, found himself bound for East Africa at the beginning of World War II. Thereafter, in the Battle of Keren, the engineering detachment under his command fought alongside Sikh troops of the Frontier Force Rifles. For his valour, Bhagat was awarded the Victoria Cross.He had Sikh troops in his engineer detachment also. Prem Bhagat held Sikh troops in very high esteem.Great courage is often buttressed by a greatly developed sense of humour. As a Gentleman Cadet in the Indian Military Academy, Bhagat’s dossier report read: “This GC has too high an opinion of himself, he always wears his uniform peak cap at a rakish angle, against dress regulations.”For this misdemeanour, Bhagat was brought in front of the Academy adjutant, that time a British officer.“Young man, you always wear your cap wrongly, how do you justify your action?” he asked. “Sir, I like wearing my cap like this only,” replied Bhagat. “Only the Prince of Wales has the privilege of wearing his cap at this angle,” said the adjutant. “Sir, I am no less than the Prince of Wales,” replied GC Bhagat.In early 1945, Capt Prem Bhagat was sent to do the Staff Course at Camberley in United Kingdom. Here, the Deputy Commandant of the Staff College, who had never been to India and knew nothing about Indian Army officers, asked him apprehensively and very slowly, “Bhagat, do you know any English?”Capt Bhagat replied very slowly, copying the manner of the British officer: “Know a leetul beet Eenglees.”After a few days, Bhagat’s turn came to deliver a lecture as a student officer. The Deputy Commandant, being the chief instructor, was also in attendance. Bhagat gave a lecture in fluent English. The Deputy Commandant was both angry and smiling.Sometime in 1966, the officers of Sikh LI regiment requested him to be Colonel of the Regiment. Gen Bhagat happily agreed.As Colonel of Sikh LI, Gen Bhagat observed that the uniform was rather drab and dull for such a lively and brave regiment. He decided to infuse some colour.One day, while motoring from Lucknow to Dehradun, with his aide de camp, Maj Raikar, they crossed a vast stretch of road covered with ‘flame of the forest’ trees in full bloom. It was an enchanting sight. Gen Bhagat decided that this was the colour well suited for the Sikh Light Infantry, along with ‘bunting yellow’ and the war bugle symbol.Lt Gen Bhagat remained the Honorary Colonel of the regiment for life.As the IMA Commandant, it was Gen Bhagat who started the custom of inviting the parents of the passing-out Gentlemen Cadets for the pipping ceremony and of throwing Commandant’s dinner for them.In an address to GCs of a passing-out course, he summed up the essence of being an Army officer, “Do nothing selfish, petty or mean. Be magnanimous, be loyal, be courageous and always be a gentleman. You will then be an officer in the true sense.”— Now retired from the Army, Ahlawat has penned four books on life in the armed forces