HEROES IN UNIFORM 1/3

Since Indian Army Day is around the corner, what could be a better way of celebrating it in a bubble than recalling the gallant and valorous tales of a few Indian Army Officers?

Well…

 While we call it Army, They call it Life!

1. First Field-Marshal of India & The Evergreen. 

SAM ‘BAHADUR’ MANEKSHAW-

Often called the Chief Architect of India’s victory in the Indo-Pak War 1971, Sam ‘Bahadur’ Manekshaw was one of the greatest military commanders India’s had.

He was the first Indian Army Officer to be promoted to the five-star rank of Field-Marshal. He served for Indian army for 40 long but magical years and participated in five wars- WW 2, Indo-Pak war ’47, Sino-Indian War ’62, Indo- Pak’ 65, and finally, Indo-Pak war 1971 where he took the command of the Indian Army as Chief of Army Staff and history marks it as one of the swiftest victories of India.

 This gallant soul is said to have escaped death on many occasions like during the Second World War where he has shot 9 bullets by the Japanese in his stomach and kidney. For others, it was a hopeless situation but he deceived death there too with his charming smile and started living his life even more fearlessly.

Yes, he was the greatest commander of all time but what makes him a legend and relevant even today are not just his leadership skills but also his witty and humorous behavior, which often put him in controversies. He once addressed PM INDIRA GANDHI as ‘sweetie’ when she asked about the preparedness for war. He is also famous for his quote which is quite popular these days - “If a man is saying he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gorkha”.

He slapped all of them, severely, who say OH! You can’t be or have everything. He was exceptionally astonishing in his work and also enjoyed his life outside that frame in all possible ways. He often whispered that the secret of a happy life and successful life is a balanced life.

So listen carefully, you can be and have- EVERYTHING!

2. The son who Left too soon….

The son whose body arrived at his home wrapped in tricolor even before his first salary was credited into his bank account…

 CAPTAIN SAURABH KALIA-

A 22-year young officer, Lieutenant Saurabh Kalia who got commissioned in 4 JAT Regiment in Dec 1998 and was deployed at one of the deadliest places on the planet-  India- Pakistan Border. 

 On May 14, 1999, '4 JAT Regiment' decided to send patrol led by LT. Saurabh Kalia and 5 others to Bajrang post, Kargil where enemy movements were reported by a few native shepherds.

         While they were on patrol, were fired upon by Pakistani troops positioned at peak. Kalia and his men fired back and somehow communicated this incident to the base battalion and asked for reinforcement. But before any aid could arrive they ran out of ammunition and were captured alive by the enemies and were declared ‘prisoners of war’.

What happened for the next 22 days is what humans call HELL.

9th June was the ill-fated day when the distorted body of Captain Saurabh Kalia and his men was handed over by the Pakistani Army. 

“Saurabh’s face was the size of my finger, eyebrow was the only visible feature, there were no eyes, no jaw, nothing. There were cigarette burns all over his face. My parents could not have seen him.” - Vaibhav Kalia,      younger brother of Saurabh Kalia who was called to identify the body of his brother.

Post mortem report says that he was able to survive even without organs until shot dead. His private part was chopped, the brain was visible every part was distorted still he did not utter about any strategy and army strength when asked upon by the Pakistani Army. What he faced was a crime against humanity.

India still needs such loyal youngsters. Can be you,  can be me , in fact,  should be all of us.

JAI HIND!

-Anjali Singh.