Monthly Archives: August 2018

A picture of the ‘Tangail Airdrop’, an airborne operation launched on December 11, 1971, released by the PRO of the Defence Ministry.

Shubhadeep Choudhury

THE military treats its media interface as part of the information warfare (IW) package. A fine example of IW — perhaps the most successful in the history of the Indian Army to date — was revealed during the “Vijay Diwas” celebrations by the Army’s Eastern Command here.The Tangail Airdrop was an airborne operation launched on December 11, 1971 by the 2nd battalion of the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment during the 1971 war with Pakistan.The airdrop and the subsequent capture of the Poongli Bridge gave the advancing Indian Army the manoeuvrability to side-step the strongly held Tongi-Dhaka Road to take the undefended Manikganj-Dhaka Road right up to the Mirpur Bridge at the gates of Dacca.Maj Gen Inder Singh Gill was the Colonel of the Para Regiment at that time. He met the Ministry of Defence PRO in Delhi before the airdrop, and asked him to ensure good publicity for the airdrop. This was critical for building up pressure on the East Pakistani military establishment. As the Army had no prior access to Tangail, photographs of the airdrop could not have been arranged. The PRO, Lt Col Ramamohan Rao, was not one to get dissuaded owing to such trifles. Rao had been to Agra a year earlier to cover an exercise by the 50th Independent Para Brigade. He fished out one of those pictures, and had it released with the caption that troops of the Indian Para Brigade were airdropped over East Pakistan in the morning of December 12.The 2nd Para Battalion, which was actually airdropped, could not have consisted more than 700 odd soldiers. A brigade, on the other hand, can have around 4,000-5,000 men. Rao had turned his constraint into an advantage!The next day international media carried the picture with the news that an entire para brigade was on its merry way to Dhaka. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Gen AAK Niazi, the Pakistani military commander in the East caved in and surrendered with over 90,000 of his men. When asked later regarding the reason for his surrender, Niazi pointed to a copy of the Times London, on his desk, carrying the doctored picture of the “Tangail Para drop”.RN Kao, the founder of the external espionage agency Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) was impressed by Rao’s pyro techniques. He complimented Rao and the latter soon became a “kaoboy” as the spooks in the RAW were then called.

Didi’s cartoon blanked out

A leading English daily recently blanked out a cartoon on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from its Kolkata edition.The decision drew flak from none other than Taslima Nasreen, the exiled Bangladeshi writer who occupied a central place in the cartoon.“The cartoon is about Kolkata and it’s CM. But this has not been published in Kolkata edition,” Nasreen, who had to leave Kolkata following violent protests by Muslim fanatics, tweeted.In the cartoon (published in all major editions of the paper, including Delhi and Mumbai), a caricature of Mamata is seen having a telephonic conversation with another woman who complains against curbing of her creative freedom by some patriarchal characters who enjoy the backing of the state. Mamata, touched by caller’s plight, addresses her as “Padmavati” (of the controversial movie of the same name) and says she is welcome to Bengal. The caller at the other end then says she is Taslima Nasreen, not “Padmavati”. Mamata, shocked, drops the receiver from her hand.Nasreen, who has earned the wrath of Islamic zealots because of her branding of the Islam as a misogynist religion, is in exile since 1994. She spent three years in Kolkata in the last decade. She left the city in 2007 following riotous protests by Muslim fanatics. The so-called secular Left Front government, which was in power in Bengal then, did not do anything to give her protection.Mamata Banerjee, who succeeded the communists, has also made it clear that Taslima is not welcome in Bengal. “She (Mamata Banerjee) thinks she will lose Muslim votes if she allows me to enter West Bengal”, Taslima (55), who has a fatwa on her head and now lives in the US, recently said in an interview.Mamata, even though she likes to appear as a staunch defender of the freedom of expression, does not take kindly to criticism. In the past, action had been taken against people for drawing her caricature and posting it on the Facebook.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation. Tribune file

Srinagar, December 11

Three militants and a woman were killed during an encounter with security forces in Handwara area of north Kashmir on Monday, police said here.Director General of Police SP Vaid said the slain militants were apparently Pakistanis.Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the early hours at Unisoo village of Handwara following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.He said the search operation turned into an encounter as the hiding militants fired upon the forces conducting the searches.During the gunfight, three militants were killed, the official said, adding that the slain militants were most probably affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

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He said their bodies, along with three weapons, were recovered from the encounter site.One woman was also killed in the exchange of fire, the official said.Vaid said on Twitter, “In Unisoo Handwara all three terrorists apparently Pakistanis have been neutralised by joint team of J&K Police, RR & CRPF. It has been raining whole night & boys were out there in the cold.” PTI

Jasmine Singh

Faith, trust or bonding; if you ever start doubting these attributes, well, then you should check out the videos of Shwet Ashw team, the motorcycle daredevils that have set three Guinness Book Of World Records! At the Sukhna lake, on the opening day of the first Military Literature Festival, these daredevils surely proved how one can blindly trust teammates.Power packedThe lake area was cordoned off from both the sides and police made sure the audiences watched from a safe distance. Some of the visitors, all set for a sunset photo-shoot and selfies, were taken by surprise, but they did not mind. With the track Maa tujhey salaam and Yeh shehar hai veer jawaano ka playing in the background, people waited patiently.  And then, the action began! Dressed in red and white tracks, these brave men displayed exemplary stunts on the bike.Ride onMoving together in a parallel position, making a diamond position and then moving on to the figure of eight; balancing in a flower position, swimming or stretching out hands in a Christmas position and doing bhangra; it all happened on the bike! The temple position, reverse sunbath or flying fish… this team led by Naib Subedar Navneen Kumar Tiwari kept the adrenaline pumping. However, the last two stunts — the fire tunnel and breaking the tubelight —fetched a thunderous round of applause. Time stopped as the two daredevils crossed through the tunnel of fire; they raised their hand in victory sign, signalling that the task was accomplished! Sound of clicks drowned in the applause; one wonders how well can we catch the essence of such events in our cameras? Don’t eyes and memory do the job well? 

jasmine@tribunemail.com

There are paeans dedicated to Indian Armymen, but their wives remain the unsung heroes. A handful of books take in their perspective and examine their stories

Aradhika Sharma

While taking oath, a soldier swears that he will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and honestly and dutifully protect the country, even to the peril of his life, there is an unwritten oath that the woman who weds an armyman takes as well. They pledge to commit to a life of constant ‘postings’, long separations and fears and non-salubrious climes and living quarters. No wonder, most army wives are pragmatic and have developed a sense of acceptance and humour. These women have their own code of conduct — almost as strict as that of their husbands. There are protocols in place that must be adhered to at all times. So while the Army marches ahead with its rank and file; spit and polish; cavalry, artillery, infantry et al, the indomitable ladies do their part by committing to the lives they have chosen to live, representing the softer side of an establishment that is essentially warlike. While some of these ladies have penned down their personal experiences, others have given journalistic and historical accounts in the form of books and articles. All of these works examine different angles of domestic and social lives of soldiers and their spouses and provide a significant sociological commentary on one of the most important institutions of society down the ages. The British Victorian ladies, who came to India in the halcyon days of the Raj, chronicled the lives in those times in the forms of sketches and letters. Though not an army wife Emily Eden (sister of Governor General George Auckland) wrote Up the Country: Letters From the Upper Provinces of India in 1867 . This is a collection of letters that Emily wrote to her sister Fanny. Emily’s wry and caustic style has been compared to that of Jane Austen. Her travels provide insights into the life at the top as well as her brother’s catastrophic policy in Afghanistan.A comparatively modern work on the lives of the Indian Army wives is The Memsahibs: The Women of Victorian India by Pat Barr (1979). It is a wonderfully witty account of British women who came to India as soldiers’ wives, fiancés and sisters in the 19th century and set up a sub culture that the ‘brown memsahibs’ (up to an extent) follow till date. Pat Barr established a reputation for herself as a popular historian. Award-winning journalist Tanya Biank wrote Under the Sabers (2006) and Army Wives (2007). Both books explore the unwritten, complex codes of military marriages. Western literature is overflowing with novels, stories, handbooks, how-to books by army wives. Some of the titles by the western authors are: Homefront Club: The Hardheaded Woman’s Guide to Raising a Military Family. It examines the actualities and challenges of being married to a military man, “from keeping a marriage together and raising good kids to maintaining some semblance of normalcy.”Portraits of the Toughest Job in the Army: Voices and Faces of Modern Army Wives by Janelle H. Mock, who explains, “It’s hard to explain to people that your husband wants to go to war, but he does. He wants the experience. That is what he is trained to do.” Today’s Military Wife by Lydia Sloan Cline is a handbook on how a wife can prosper in a service milieu. She gives information on family-friendly programmes, coping with periodic separations, managing a separate career, living overseas, raising a family, while fully participating in the military social life. Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives by Jocelyn Green is a ‘collection of devotions that addresses the challenges wives face when their husbands are away protecting freedom.’There’s even A Family’s Guide to the Military for Dummies by Sheryl Garrett and Sue Hoppin and Married to the Military: A Survival Guide for Military Wives, Girlfriends and Women in Uniform by Meredith Leyva (founder of CinHouse.com, a community for army spouses). Surprisingly, Indian Army wives haven’t been writing much. Although some brave better halves have ventured into the field of literature, this category of publication is sadly in the deficit. Fin Feather and Field by Simren Kaur (also the author of childrens’ books: Ladakh: Mountains of Adventure, Mystery of the Missing Relic) is the account of 40 years of her life in the armed forces with her husband. A Soldier’s Love Story by Sonia Kundra Singh (an army officer’s wife) is more about a traumatic love tale than an account of the army life. Soldier and Spice: An Army Wife’s Life by Aditi Mathur Kumar is another foray by an army wife into writing novels. It is the story of Pia who gets married to an army officer Arjun. After she gets married regular life is a thing of the past. She is now an army wife, a memsahib. Considering that the Indian Army is one of the largest in the world, surely there is space for recounting the complex personal challenges of keeping your love alive during deployments, adjusting to  constant moves, understanding how to maximise the salaries and benefits, juggling your own career and kids and the confusing protocols and roles demanded by the institution. 

Commandant Lt Gen SK Jha with Mr IMA Tarun Vasudevan. Tribune photo

Dehradun: The IMA Ball, one of the eagerly-awaited social events, for the Autumn term was held at the Indian Military Academy. The evening of joy, merriment and nostalgia was commenced by Lt Gen SK Jha, Commandant, IMA. The highlight of the evening was the selection of Mr IMA and Miss IMA. Meenakshi Chaudhary was adjudged as Miss IMA and Gentleman Cadet Tarun Vasudevan was declared as Mr IMA. The IMA Ball is held towards the end of each term to mark the culmination of the rigorous training schedule. tns

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at Anandpur Sahib for the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh on Sunday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Anandpur Sahib, December 17

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced the revival of urban development authority at Anandpur Sahib, and promised to set up subsidiary units of new industries in the district’s Kandi area.

Singh, who was in Anandpur Sahib on Sunday for the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, promised a crusher zone and an automobile factory for manufacturing heavy vehicles in the region. He also said the state government was considering a proposal to set up a food park in the area.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17

India and China have revived their long-pending issue of setting up a telephonic hotline at the level of Director-General Military Operations (DGMO).The matter was revived at a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs in Beijing last month. The two sides are now coordinating on how to have a Mandarin-to-English translator in India and the reverse of it in China. The telephonic talk between the two senior officers may be done like a conference call with translators listening in to transcribe, on either side.This is being done in the backdrop of the 20th round of special representatives (SR) talks on boundary resolution in New Delhi on December 21-22. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his counterpart, state councillor Yang Jiechi, will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the situation along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is the first SR-level meeting since the 73-day military standoff at Doklam.Since the two are responsible for boundary resolution, they are expected to discuss measures to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC.The issue of the DGMO-level hotline was discussed at a higher level in April 2016 during the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to China. A draft agreement was exchanged, but there were hurdles of language and also for China to identify an officer at the rank of the DGMO-a three-star lieutenant general.At present, India and China have five border personnel meeting points along the Himalayas, where formation commanders on either side discuss local irksome issues. A DGMO-level hotline will be for overall talks when matters heat up.

ਟ੍ਰਿਬਿਊਨ ਨਿਊਜ਼ ਸਰਵਿਸ
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ, 16 ਦਸੰਬਰ
1971 ਦੀ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਫੌਜ ਦੀ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨੀ ਫੌਜ ’ਤੇ ਵੱਡੀ ਜਿੱਤ ਨੂੰ ਯਾਦ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਟੇਟ ਵਾਰ ਹੀਰੋ ਮੈਮੋਰੀਅਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਜ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲ ਕੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਵਿਜੇ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੋਏ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਮਰ ਜਵਾਨ ਜੋਤੀ ’ਤੇ ਫੁੱਲ ਮਾਲਾਵਾਂ ਚੜ੍ਹਾ ਕੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਭੇਟ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।
ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਕਮਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਘਾ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ ਭੇਟ ਕਰਦੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਅਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਜਿੱਤਾਂ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਨਾ ਦਾ ਸਰੋਤ ਹਨ। ਇਹ ਮਾਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜੰਗੀ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ ਬਣਾਏ ਗਏ ਵਾਰ ਹੀਰੋਜ਼ ਮੈਮੋਰੀਅਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਚੇਤੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਫੌਜ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਰੀਅਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਅਪਨਾਉਣ।
ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਮਾਤਾ ਜਗੀਰ ਕੌਰ, ਮੇਜਰ ਜਨਰਲ ਡੀ. ਡੀ. ਸਿੰਘ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਗਿਆਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਹਰਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਕੇ.ਐਸ. ਵਿਰਕ, ਬ੍ਰਿਗੇਡੀਅਰ ਪੀ.ਐਸ. ਢਿੱਲੋਂ, ਕਰਨਲ ਜੀ. ਐਸ. ਗਿੱਲ, ਕਰਨਲ ਏਬੀਐਸ ਚਾਹਲ, ਕਰਨਲ ਜੇ. ਐਸ. ਸੰਧੂ, ਕਰਨਲ ਐਚ. ਐਸ. ਗਰੋਵਰ, ਕਰਨਲ ਐਸ. ਐਸ. ਢਿੱਲੋਂ, ਮੇਜਰ ਵਿਰਕ, ਕਰਨਲ ਹਰਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ, ਡਾਕਟਰ ਬਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਮੈਮੋਰੀਅਲ ਦੇ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਕਰਨਲ ਐਸਪੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਵਿਜੈ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਰੈਜਮੈਂਟ ਦੇ ਬੈਂਡ ਨੇ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੀ ਰੌਣਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਾਧਾ ਕੀਤਾ।
ਜਲੰਧਰ (ਨਿੱਜੀ ਪੰਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੇਰਕ): ਵਜਰਾ ਕੋਰ ਨੇ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਛਾਉਣੀ ’ਚ ਅੱਜ ਵਿਜੇ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ ਦੁਸ਼ਯੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਨਰਲ ਆਫੀਸਰ ਕਮਾਂਡਿੰਗ ਵਜਰਾ ਕੋਰ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦੀ ਸਮਾਰਕ ’ਤੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਦੇ ਫੁੱਲ ਭੇਂਟ ਕੀਤੇ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਫੌਜ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਨ ਤੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਸਨ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਵਜਰਾ ਕੋਰ ਦੇ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਸਾਲ 1971 ਦਪ ਜੰਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨੀ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹਰਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਵਜਰਾ ਕੋਰ ਦੇ ਬਹਾਦਰ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ 8 ਮਹਾਂਵੀਰ ਚੱਕਰ, 47 ਵੀਰ ਚੱਕਰ ਅਤੇ ਕਈ ਹੋਰ ਪੁਰਸਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਨਮਾਨਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ ਦੁਸ਼ਯੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਆਲੇ ਦੁਆਲੇ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਲਈ ‘ਵੁਈ ਕੇਅਰ’ ਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਹੰਗਾਮੀ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਲਈ ਹੈਲਪ ਨੰਬਰ 1904 ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਸ ਹੈਲਪਲਾਈਨ ਨਾਲ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਸ਼ਕਲ ਹਾਲਾਤਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਮੈਡੀਕਲ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਕਰਵਾਈ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਤੇ ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਜਨਰਲ ਐਸ.ਐਸ. ਸਾਂਗਰਾ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਕੰਮ ਲਈ ਵਜਰਾ ਕੋਰ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਸਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਕਾਲ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਹੂਲਤ ਨੂੰ ਆਰੰਭ ਕੀਤਾ।

Army officers and veterans pay homage to the martyrs at the Vajra Corps War Memorial in Jalandhar Cantt. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 16

Vajra Corps celebrated Vijay Diwas today, commemorating the finest hour of the Indian Armed Forces, which came with the triumph over Pakistan in the 1971 war.The historic victory signifies a unique and unparalleled feat wherein Indian forces fought to liberate the people of East Pakistan.The Vajra Corps proved its mettle on the strategic western front and achieved its objective. A proud nation conferred eight Maha Vir Chakras, 47 Vir Chakras and other numerous awards to the valiant men of the Vajra Corps.Lt Gen Dushyant Singh, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps, veterans of the war and other senior serving and retired officers paid homage to the martyrs at the Vajra Corps War Memorial.Lt Gen Dushyant Singh dedicated an IVRS-based Veterans Emergency helpline ‘1904’ (VE-CARE) for veterans of Jalandhar and neighbouring areas.The IVRS-based helpline would facilitate the veterans to get immediate medical assistance.The senior most veteran Lt Gen SS Sangra lauded the initiative while making the first call to mark the beginning of the helpline.