Extraordinary tales of courage
In 1962, we thought we wouldn’t go back home, as we were surrounded by the Chinese Army. We somehow managed to escape and reach Tezpur. That is when our Army expanded exponentially,” says the 78-year-old Lt General A.R.K. Reddy, who has served in the Indian Army for 40 years.
“After the 1962 war, we had back-to-back wars. There was one in 1965 and another in 1971, also known as the ‘liberation of Bangladesh’. During this time, there was a display of raw courage and unparalleled sacrifice. We hadn’t gone home for six to seven years. The 1965 war was as intense as the one in 1962 but the 1971 war was more mature. We went through the Bay of Bengal and landed in amphibian vehicles at Cox’s Bazar and then to Chittagong. We brought the first lot of prisoners of the Pakistan Army,” recalls the proud Lt General.
Lt General A.R.K. Reddy during a drill in Delhi in 1980’s
Speaking about his personal life, he said, “When I joined the Army and went to the war against China, my parents didn’t know what would happen. I assured them I would come back safe. It was painful for them. In 1971, when we went through the Bay of Bengal, I was just 1 km away from home. But I didn’t meet my wife or child as I would perhaps get more emotional. We are trained to be emotionally strong and put our nation’s interests ahead of our personal lives.”
The present situation in the valley is grim, he feels. “We are communicating with China on trade and business, but communication on international borders is also important. In a country where everything is political, the Army is the only strong organisation that still firmly remains apolitical.”
He says an Army man’s life is beautiful. “Although you face a lot of hardships, lose people you love, lose limbs and eyes, at the end of the day an Army man never loses the smile on his face,” says Lt General Reddy who retired in the year 2000, after heading as a Captain in the 1999 Kargil War.
Our women are the real warriors
When a soldier is out on the battlefield, he doesn’t just have to be brave but also needs to have the technical know-how on using weapons effectively. This is where people like Brigadier P. Ganesham enter the picture. He took part in the 1999 Kargil War and served at the Army Headquarters. Brigadier Ganesham was a specialist in Armoured Fighting Vehicles and served in the Army for over 35 years, including commanding a battalion in Kashmir in the thick of the counterinsurgency operations.
Reminiscing about his time in the Army, the 70-year-old said, “Being a part of the combat Army in a technical support role is no less than being on the field. The assembling and disassembling of weapons, from guns to missiles, is tough. Keeping them operationally ready in extremely adverse conditions requires tremendous teamwork. Movies only show a group of warriors fighting the enemies, not those who work behind the scenes.”
On joining the Army, he says, “I always wanted to get a government job, but my height deterred me. I once encountered a Naval officer who was just 5 feet 3 inches tall. That is when I decided if he can be in the Navy, so could I.”
Brigadier Ganesham feels our wives and mothers are the real heroes. “When martyrs’ bodies come home, women manage their composure with dignity and patriotism. They tell our children, ‘Your dad has gone to do something great for the nation.’ This is the reason why our women and children are our real warriors,” he explains. On the present security status of the country, he says, “I am worried as our neighbours have shut their doors and there is no dialogue. No issue can be resolved sans communication.”
Couldn’t see my son one last time
There is a saying ‘No pain, no gain’ but when it comes to the 74-year-old Captain Maharaj Singh Uppal, there seems to be no gain from the government even after years of toil.
“It was during the Indo-Pak War in 1971 that I was in Western Sector near Shakargarh/NainaKot. An urgent conference was called by the Commanding Officer at 1.30 am. I was dispatched at 2 am with my team to Gwalior to arrange 100 trucks to ferry ammunition to Pathankot. Shells of the enemy were landing from all sides. Since my location would get compromised by the firing, I had to shift positions every 40 to 50 minutes. It was tough for all of us as we hadn’t slept for 14 days i.e. from December 3 to 17, 1971.”
Captain Maharaj in Pakistan with Havildar Gun camouflaged
The Captain served in the Army for 10 years. Being away from family already takes its toll on a person. But to top it all, the Captain’s son passed away due to ill health while he was in Kargil. “I was seven days late as it was snowing heavily in Leh and I couldn’t see my son,” he rues.
“I feel proud to have served in the Indian Army but I regret being a Short Service Commission Officer. I saw people dying in front of me and thought I may not see my wife and children again. Although we did so much for the nation, officers like me don’t even get basic medical expenses, let alone a pension. Despite fighting shoulder to shoulder with higher officials, there is discrimination between permanent officers and us,” he says angrily. He ends the conversation on a glum note and says, “An officer is an officer. He should live with dignity and not die of poverty.”
