The Ninja who led by example

Lieutenant Colonel E.K. Niranjan of the elite NSG will always be remembered as the man who has always wanted to serve the country. He was promoted to Lt. Col. in the elite NSG just a few months ago.

Ever since he heard about the martyrdom of Niranjan, Malayalam actor Major Kishore’s mind has been flooded with memories of his beloved comrade and close buddy.

Batchmates fondly called Niranjan, Ninja. “We were both gentleman cadets at the Officers’ Training Academy in Chennai, though we were in different companies. There will be punishments, irrespective of whether one does or does not do things. We would always be together undergoing these punishments.” Once, they were together for a six-month training stint in Pune when Kishore broke his hand and had to be admitted to the military hospital in Kirkee. Niranjan scolded him saying he should have been more careful while carrying out the task.

“But two days later, there he was, arriving at the same hospital with a smile and an injured leg. We were the only patients and spent around a month there.”

By 2006, both were made Major and three years later, Kishore took a voluntary retirement. His friend, Ninja, volunteered to join the elite NSG. “He used to speak Hindi with a thick South Indian accent and people used to love it. He was adventurous, brave, confident, used to speak his mind and stand by what he felt was right. Despite punishments, he would not change his stance on a subject. He was a leader.”

And the Lt. Col. continued that aspect of his personality to the very final minute. “While dealing with IEDS, you don’t know their size or shape or where they are. It is no ordinary grenade. As the commanding officer, he could have deputed his men to do the job. But he always believed in leading by example.”