Page 22 - Seniors Today Jan20 Issue

History

The Call of the Comrades

Veteran Brigadier Prakash Ghogale, who was commissioned into the 8th Battalion
Brigade of the Guards in December 1968 from Indian Military Academy, was
privileged to participate in the famous battle of Hilli in the eastern sector in the 1971
Indo-Pak War. He commanded the 18th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards in North
Sikkim at 18,000ft and thereafter also converted his unit to the mechanised. Here, he
looks back at the Battle of Hilli and the reunion of those who were involved

Reunions, Battle Honour and Raising Days many are so old and infirm that even if invited,
are celebrated not only to commemorate the they cannot undertake the journey.
sacrifices of those who laid down their lives in As a veteran of the famous Battle of Hilli, I have
battle but also to interact with veterans of the been in touch with some of my old comrades
unit or regiment with the underlying theme of “the bloodiest battle of the 1971 Bangladesh
of motivating the troops. I remember during Liberation War” – in the words of the Army
my days as CO of a newly raised unit, I used to Commander, Lt Gen JS Aurora. About six of
regular invite our erstwhile Colonel of Brigade them from Uttar Pradesh regularly call me on
of the Guards, Lt Gen NC Rawlley, to Raising the Unit Raising, Battle Honour days and during
Day functions for the “Buzurg” to share his Diwali too. I consider myself very fortunate that
valuable experiences with us – and the old they still have faith in and affection for their
soldier merrily obliged. However, what happens old colleague. Three of them in particular often
in an older unit with many veterans? said they were very keen to meet me. Subedar
It is impossible to invite each and every ex- Ranjit Singh was then a daredevil RCL Platoon
soldier, especially those below officer or JCO Havildar who, along with his mates, lugged
rank, for such functions. In many cases, their the heavy weapon on his shoulders for miles,
addresses are also not available with the units assembled and fired on enemy tanks who
and they reside in far-off rural areas. Moreover, were counter-attacking, and also on pill boxes
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