On June 1st, 1999, when the Kargil war was to erupt, one Capt Vikram Batra’s unit was sent to Kargil daring operation to recapture the Point 5140 – of utmost importance to India. Point 5140 was at a height of 17,000 feet.
Reaching Point 5140, Capt Batra faced the commander of the Pakistani-backed terrorists on radio. The enemy commander provoked him, “Why have you come here Shershah, you will not go back.” Captain Batra, being the last person to back away from a fight, replied, “We shall see within one hour who remains on the top.” In a short while Captain Batra and his company of troops killed eight enemy soldiers and captured a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, neutralising the advantageous peak. Mission Point 5140 was a success. Soon after he radioed his Commanding Officer (CO), “Yeh dil mange more!”
Next chapter was Point 4750, where he was dared again by the enemy who said, “Shershah, nobody shall be left to lift your dead bodies!” Shershah, as nicknamed by his CO hurled, “Don’t worry about us, pray for your safety.” Later he re-captured Point 4750 and hoisted the national flag.
His heart, in zeal of patriotism wanting victory, made him volunteer for his third task of re-capturing point 4875. On July 5th, 1999, after thrashing intruders, his company and others lead by Capt. Anuj Nayyar, re-captured the peak. The enemy counter-attacked on July 7th but the team retaliated with enthusiasm. During the fire-exchange, Capt Batra’s junior Lt. Naveen was hit and Shershah jumped to his rescue, who was pleading to let him continue to which he replied, “Tu baal bachedaar hai! Hatt jaa peeche.” (You are the one with kids; back away!) And while saving his comrade, a bullet found its way to Capt Batra’s heart and the brave captain with the words, “Jai Mata Di” fell on the ground to become immortal in our hearts.
8. When this 2nd Lieutenant single-handedly destroyed numerous Pakistani tanks and troops, denying Pakistan to enter Indian soil.
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| Portrait of 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, PVC |
During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal’s 17 Poona Horse was ordered to construct a bridge across Basantar river, in the Shakargarh region near the international border with the 47th Indian Infantry Brigade. After building it, engineers were to crack the enemy mine-field. Half-way through, the enemy raided. Even though the mine fields were partly cleared, the regiment advanced, not having considered what laid ahead. By the first light of December 16th, 1971, the army established a link-up at the bridge for the tanks to pass. At 8am, a Pakistani regiment, sufficiently armoured, confronted the Indian troops. Our troops being outnumbered, the Commander of the squadron requested assistance from 2nd Lt. Khetarpal, who was close to the battle-field.
As soon as the request was relayed, Kheterpal got into enemy’s neck to clean it all! On the way, he overran some strong points and captured many soldiers. During this, his group’s second tank was attacked and the commander was killed, leaving him alone fighting the Pakistanis.
But Kheterpal single-handedly went on to ambush the area with his tank. The tank battle followed and 2nd Lt. Khetarpal destroyed four tanks. The Pakistanis then wrecked the other two following tanks and also bombed his tank, flaming it up. Khetarpal, not giving it up, went on to destroy rest of the tanks; after which his own tank blew up. The fearless officer met his death refuting the enemy to step on his land.
When his tank was flamed up, the commander of his troop had ordered him to abandon the burning tank, but he proclaimed.
The parade ground at the National Defence Academy is today named the Khetarpal Ground, and the auditorium and one of the main gates bear his name at the Indian Military Academy.
9. When Prime Minister of India asked the General of the Indian Army, “Are you trying to grab the power?”
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| Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw & his famous quote. |
“Sam, what are you doing?”
“Sitting in my office and having tea, Madam.”
“Come to my office, I’ll give you tea here.”
This is what PM Indira Gandhi told Chief of Army Staff Gen. Sam Manekshaw one fine morning during the days that Indira Gandhi was not-so-popular amongst her party and opposition for being a one-woman ruler!
“Everybody says you are taking over. When are you taking over?” Gandhi asked.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t think you would.”
“You’re right Madam Prime Minister. My daughter, when she comes from the convent sings the nursery rhyme, ‘you mind your business, I mind mine; you kiss your own sweetheart, I kiss mine’. You have a long nose. So have I. But I don’t poke my nose into other people’s affairs. I do not interfere with politics and politicians.” Sam Maneskshaw even offered to quit on grounds of mental instability.
This wasn’t the first time the Prime Minister had the taste of Sam Maneskshaw. One day in April 1971, when India was becoming the home to millions of refugees from the East Pakistan, Indira Gandhi wanted to attack East Pakistan and get rid of the problem of West Pakistan’s bias to East. She called up the cabinet along with Sam Bahadur and told them about her plan. Sam declared that if we attack now, India would lose the battle as the Army was not ready.
Soon after the Cabinet members retired from the meeting, Sam offered his resignation; “There is a very thin line between being dismissed and becoming a field-marshal,” as he recalls but again Gandhi refused and asked him to prepare.
And so he did.
As war drew closed, Indira Gandhi asked her army chief if he was ready for the fight. Gen. Manekshaw replied with the chivalry, flirtatiousness and utter boldness for which he was famous: “I am always ready, sweetie.”
And ready he was; winning Dhaka in two weeks.
Gen. Manekshaw truly became immortal in the history of India for his brave acts and the way he stood up to his political bosses for his soldiers as he once said, “I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.”
So, the men in olive green, that is how we define a hero. We at Youth Connect salute the Indian Army for the selfless and brave job they do every day and every night of protecting our freedom, our Republic. Thank you.
