21 IMMORTAL WARRIORS

I was fascinated by Indian Army and the valiant heroes since my childhood days while watching the grand Republic Day parade along with my father from press block located opposite President Saluting Base at Raj Path (Now renamed as Kartvya Path). The parade was led by Area Commander, Delhi Area followed by living legends awardees of Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra and Victoria Cross, Tanks and smartly marching Soldiers and wonderful fly Past. I was 7 years old in 1965 War and faintly remember blackout days and playing in the Z shaped trenches dug in front of the double storey government accommodation at R K Puram, New Delhi. Motivated, I joined NCC Air Wing in Kendriya Vidyalaya. On 16 December 1971, as a new nation was born due to valour of Indian Army, we the students of class 9^th rushed to Bangladesh High Commission, where sweets were being distributed. The life moved on. Joined undergraduate course in 1973 at ARSD College, completed my NCC C certificate Air Wing and attended my first SSB interview for fighter pilot course in 1977, but was not qualified. After graduation, I joined Ramjas College for MA Economics. Parallel, I continued my passion and qualified for Indian Military Academy and Joined 65 Regular Course in June 1978. On commissioning on 22 December 1979, I was posted to 82 Armoured Regiment as 2^nd Lieutenant. In 1984, I was posted to 10 Armoured Regiment, a new raising unit. During my service, I served with National Security Guard, Assam Rifles, National Cadet Corps and Defence Research and Development Organisation and was posted to various 15 military stations, all over India from Amritsar to LekhaPani, from Jammu Kashmir to Southern Command. I was awarded with Sena Medal, Chief of Army Commendation Card and NSG Commendation Roll. I finally hung my spurs in 2015 and now settled in Jaipur as a Veteran.

I was fortunate to visit abodes of Flying officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon in the village of Isewal (Ludhiana), CQMH Abdul Hamid in the village of Damupur (Ghazipur, UP), Major Shaitan Singh at Barasar, Phauldi in Rajasthan and Major Hoshiar Singh at Jaipur and interacted with their relatives. I had a long wish to write a book on valiant actions fought by all Param Virs. With blessing of my Late Father, who was a celebrated writer himself, I decided to highlight valour stories of India’s super warriors, who made supreme sacrifices for protecting frontiers of Mother India.

To quote, the verses of Bhagwad Gita, related by Lord Krishna to Arjun, the great archer…

RISE O SON OF KUNTI….YOUR RIGHT IS TO PERFORM YOUR DUTY ONLY, BUT NEVER CLAIM TO FRUIT. LET NOT THE FRUIT OF ACTION BE YOUR OBJECT, NOR ANY ATTACHMENT AND RELATION BE YOUR CAUSE OF INACTION…..PICK UP GANDEEV AND FIGHT THE EVIL.