Rattan Singh Dher, a freedom fighter belonging to the then Hoshiarpur (now Rupnagar) district of Punjab, was a patriot who rebelled against the Indian Royal Navy for the freedom of the nation. Rattan Singh Dher was born on 12 December 1923 to father Shri Inder Singh and mother Smt. Amar Kaur in Dher village of Anandpur Sahib Tehsil. He passed Class Xth from Khalsa High School at Sri Anandpur Sahib.
Rattan Singh participated in the Quit India Movement that was started by Mahatma Gandhi, after which he joined the Royal Indian Navy as an Engine Room Artificer (ERA). On 18 February 1946, while his unit was stationed at the Bombay port, the soldiers of his unit revolted against the British government by expressing their patriotic feelings. The Indian naval soldiers of this unit along with Rattan Singh took up arms against the Britishers. But the British government soon suppressed this rebellion.
All the rebel soldiers were imprisoned, including Rattan Singh Dher, were kept captive at the Yerwada Jail in Pune. After some time, the British government exempted them from punishment on the condition that they apologize for the rebellion. But Rattan Singh Dher did not pay heed to their demand. Consequently, he was removed from his job. Thereafter, he returned to his village Dher in district Ropar, Punjab. From there, he began his next journey as a teacher and political leader.
Rattan Singh Dher served as the Sarpanch of his village for a long time. He served the country along with other prominent politicians including the former President of India Giani Zail Singh, and former Chief Ministers of Punjab - S. Partap Singh Kairon, S. Darbara Singh, and S. Beant Singh. In return for his contribution to the freedom struggle, the Indian government honored him with Tamar Patra and a pension.
This great patriot passed away on 18 May 2018.