Page 26 - Seniors Today December 2020

Malik, Prem Sood, Suresh Sharma,
As a War Veteran
fire, we got the welcome news that the war
was over.
Commander of Pakistan 107 Inf Bde finally
realised that there was no possibility of any
evacuation of his brigade with any external
assistance, especially by the US fleet which
was much speculated then. Finally the forces
in Khulna decided to an unconditional
surrender.
Capt Sharma and Capt Sood from our
regiment were wounded in battle and had to be
evacuated. Capt Nakanna was Killed in Action
(KIA) in the final battle at Siramani just before
the surrender by the Pakistani troops. We had
some casualties (KIA and wounded) amongst
our troops from our regiment also. Our tribute
to them for their supreme sacrifice in the line of
duty for the nation.
Our Battery Commanders Majors Misra,
Kuldip Singh, Narayanan, the Forward
Observation Officers Capts Khara,
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Gabriel Pereira, Nakanna, and officers
at the guns, Major Krishna, the Second
in Command,Capts Sapatnekar,
Harwant Singh, Chaturvedi, Robin
Das, Quarter Master Maj Menon,
with us the Subalterns (Gun Position
Officers), Gabriel Pereira, Arora, Riza
and myself played a vital role in our
efforts in the victory that we achieved.
Our Commanding Officer Lt Col RP
Sahasrabudhe led us like a Tiger.
Dacca the Capital would surrender a
day earlier on December 16. We would
capture 93000 PWs and not just
become liberators but would change
the geography of the subcontinent and
rewrite history. The surrender ceremony
would be unique in its own way.
I would meet Pakistani soldiers who
would be dejected and humiliated. They
would attribute their defeat to the large
gap between their officers and their Other
Ranks or soldiers. They blamed it on lack
of good leadership. The Indian Army had
proved their mettle in Leadership at all
levels and dedication of our troops.
While all this would unfold my new
transistor had opened its innings very
well. After the PMs declaration of war
speech ‘Emergency’ was declared in the
country. The Nation and its citizens rose
to the occasion, and National Pride was
stamped on the face of all Indians.
The drama would unfold subsequently,
but at that moment on December 3, in
my bunker Command Post, while the
guns were firing on my orders, I just kept
looking at the picture of the beautiful
model on my Bush Baton transistor, that
had opened its innings with me, giving
the news of the start of the 1971 War, and
our race to victory.