Sanjha Morcha

Meet Major Rohit Bachwala: Army Doctor Uses Pocket Knife to Help Woman Deliver Baby at Jhansi Railway Station

In the hustle and bustle of life, where chaos often reigns, there are moments that remind us of the extraordinary power of human compassion and quick thinking. One such moment unfolded on July 5, 2025, at the Virangana Laxmibai Jhansi Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh, India, where Major Rohit Bachwala, a 31-year-old Indian Army Medical Corps officer, became a beacon of hope for a woman in distress.

With nothing more than a pocket knife, hair clips, a dhoti, and his unwavering resolve, Major Rohit transformed a railway platform into a makeshift maternity ward, delivering a healthy baby girl and saving two lives in the process. His story is a testament to the indomitable spirit of service, courage, and humanity that inspires us all to rise above challenges and make a difference.

Major Rohit Bachwala

A Soldier on Leave, A Doctor on Duty

Major Rohit Bachwala, stationed at Jhansi Military Hospital, was on a month-long leave, awaiting his train to Hyderabad to reunite with his family. The son of a retired Indian Air Force skydiving instructor, Junior Warrant Officer B.R. Vinod, Major Rohit carries forward a proud legacy of service to the nation.

Trained to handle battlefield emergencies, he never imagined that his skills would be called upon in the midst of a crowded railway station. Yet, when he saw a pregnant woman, Ashwarfalak Quershi, writhing in severe labor pain on a footover bridge, he didn’t hesitate. As he later told PTI, “There was no time to waste. The mother and child were in a precarious condition, and every second mattered.”

The woman, traveling with her husband and child on the Panvel-Gorakhpur Express (train number 15066), had gone into unexpected labor. Her husband, Mohammad Zubair Quershi, had sent an SOS via the Rail Madad app, prompting railway staff to deboard the family at Jhansi station.

A female ticket-checking staff member was rushing the woman toward medical assistance in a wheelchair when Major Rohit intervened, recognizing the urgency of the situation. With no access to a proper operating theater, he relied on his training, instinct, and the limited resources at hand to perform an emergency delivery right there on the platform.

Also Read: Meet Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia: Indian Navy’s 1st Female Fighter Pilot

Turning Everyday Items into Lifesaving Tools

What makes Major Rohit’s act truly remarkable is his resourcefulness under pressure. With no medical equipment available, he improvised with a pocket knife to cut the umbilical cord, a hair clip to clamp it, and a dhoti to create a makeshift curtain for privacy.

Railway women staff, including Chief Ticketing Examiner Lili Kushwaha, stepped in to secure the area and provide gloves, ensuring basic hygiene and safety. Together, they created a small oasis of calm amidst the chaos of the station, allowing Major Rohit to focus on delivering the baby.

The result? A healthy baby girl and a stable mother, both of whom were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for further care.

Major Rohit’s ability to adapt and act decisively in such an unconventional setting is a powerful reminder that true heroes don’t wait for perfect conditions—they make do with what they have. His quick thinking turned ordinary objects into lifesaving tools, proving that resourcefulness and determination can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

A Ripple Effect of Compassion

The impact of Major Rohit’s actions extended far beyond the safe delivery of the baby. The railway staff, bystanders, and the woman’s family were left in awe of his selflessness. Mohammad Zubair Quershi expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m immensely grateful to the army doctor and the women railway staff who helped us in the delivery.”

Lili Kushwaha, who assisted during the delivery, later visited the family at the hospital, bringing food and clothes for the newborn a touching gesture that amplified the spirit of humanity sparked by Major Rohit’s intervention.

The Indian Army and railway authorities were quick to praise Major Rohit’s heroism. The North Central Railway’s Jhansi Division noted that while their medical team was mobilized, Major Rohit’s swift response bridged a critical time gap, ensuring the safety of both mother and child.

Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services, lauded his professionalism, calling it a “shining example of the military medical corps’ ethos of service beyond the battlefield.”

Posts on X (formerly Twitter) echoed this sentiment, with users hailing Major Rohit as a “hero” and an “angel in the hour of need.” One post read:

“A soldier on leave, a doctor on duty. Heartwarming gesture by Army Doctor Rohit Bachwala as he rushed to help a pregnant woman in labor… Kudos to Doctors of India.”

The outpouring of admiration reflects the profound impact of his actions, inspiring countless others to recognize the power of stepping up in a crisis.

A Lesson in Courage and Compassion

Major Rohit’s story is more than just a tale of a successful emergency delivery—it’s a call to action for all of us. It reminds us that heroism isn’t confined to grand gestures or extraordinary circumstances; it lies in the willingness to act when others might hesitate.

As Major Rohit himself said, “As doctors, we must be prepared for emergencies at all times, even in transit. I consider it a blessing that I could help save two lives.”

His humility and sense of duty embody the finest qualities of the Indian Army: professionalism, bravery, and compassion.

This inspiring act also highlights the strength of community. The railway staff’s quick response, the female ticket checkers’ support, and the gratitude of the family all underscore the power of collective effort.

When individuals come together with a shared purpose, miracles happen—even on a busy railway platform.

A Call to Be the Change

Major Rohit Bachwala’s actions at Jhansi Railway Station are a powerful reminder that we all have the potential to make a difference, no matter where we are or what resources we have.

His story challenges us to ask:

What would we do in a moment of crisis? Would we step forward with courage, or would we wait for someone else to take charge?

Major Rohit didn’t wait. He saw a need, acted with precision, and left behind a legacy of hope and humanity.

Let his example inspire us to be ready—to act, to adapt, and to serve. Whether it’s lending a helping hand, using our skills to solve a problem, or simply showing kindness, we can all be heroes in our own way.

Major Rohit’s story proves that true greatness lies in the ability to turn an ordinary moment into an extraordinary one.

So, the next time you find yourself at a crossroads, remember the army doctor who turned a railway station into a place of miracles—and ask yourself:

“What can I do to make a difference today?”

Jai Hind!

Military officer aids woman in delivery at railway station, gets commendation from Army chief

New Delhi, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Monday commended a military officer for demonstrating exceptional professional acumen and selfless commitment beyond the call of duty.

Military officer aids woman in delivery at railway station, gets commendation from Army chief
Military officer aids woman in delivery at railway station, gets commendation from Army chief

On July 5, while proceeding on leave from Military Hospital, Jhansi, to his hometown in Hyderabad, Major Bachwala Rohit was involved in a critical medical intervention that “exemplified the highest standards of military service”, the Army said in a post on X.

“Displaying exemplary presence of mind and clinical skill, Major Rohit conducted an emergency delivery on the railway platform itself, using improvised resources including a towel, a knife and hair clips,” the Army said.

It also shared a photo of the woman whom he aided in the delivery after noticing she was in a state of “advanced labour”, along with him holding the baby at the railway platform.

“Honouring a selfless service beyond the call of Duty #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS, today commended Major Bachwala Rohit for demonstrating exceptional professional acumen and selfless commitment beyond the call of duty,” the Army said in the post.


Glowing tributes paid to Kargil War hero

Tribune News Service

As many as 1,000 earthen lamps were lit to commemorate the martyrdom day of Kargil War hero and Param Vir Chakra recipient Captain Vikram Batra, at the Sector 17 Plaza here today.

The city unit of BJP Yuva Morcha organised the programme to pay tribute to the martyr. Morcha in-charge Ramesh Sahor urged the youth to draw inspiration from such martyrs and take active part in nation-building.

Vikram dekh raha hai tu? Tu ne yahi pahadi jeeti thi”.
COL RAJESH ADHAU @rukwadsokaum flew straight from Congo to Drass on the balidan diwas of his dearest friend,compatriot & brother in arms CAPT VIKRAM BATRA,13JAKRIF,PVC.He climbed Pt.5140 today and remembered a
his teammates


BSF troops bag 38 gold medals at World Police and Fire Games in US

The haul of gold medals included 14 in swimming, 12 in athletics, four each in archery and wrestling, three in boxing and one in taekwondo

A total of 21 BSF personnel had participated in six disciplines at the WP&FG. Photo: BSF

Border Security Force (BSF) personnel bagged 38 gold medals in the World Police and Fire Games – 2025 (WP&FG) held at Alabama in the US, with the force’s total medal tally being 73 including 21 silver and 14 bronze.

A total of 21 BSF personnel had participated in six disciplines at the WP&FG. About 8,500 competitors from 70 countries participated in the games this year. Personnel from other paramilitary and state police forces in India also participated in the games.

The haul of gold medals included 14 in swimming, 12 in athletics, four each in archery and wrestling, three in boxing and one in taekwondo. Silver medals included six each in swimming and athletics, two in archery and one in taekwondo, while the bronze included 11 in swimming and three in athletics.

Director General BSF, Daljit Singh Chaudhary, lauded the outstanding performance of BSF athletes and also congratulated the coaches and support staff for their relentless efforts and dedication for this success.

The WPFG is an Olympic-style competition with thousands of athletes representing first responders from different countries across the world. This includes law enforcement, firefighters, officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs. The games are held biennially and typically have about 60 sports.

The games are governed by the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), the host city, which this year was Birmingham, and the WP&FG Board of Directors. The first edition of the WP&FG was held in 1985 in San Jose, California. Besides the US, the event has also been conducted in different countries.

The next edition of WP&FG is scheduled to be held at Perth in 2027, while India will host the event in 2017 in Gujarat.


Our constitutional ethos is socialist, secular for sure

The demand to remove two key words from the Preamble is not properly thought through

article_Author
Manish Tewari

THE process of conceptualising a Constitution for a yet-to-be-born republic commenced on December 9, 1946. It culminated on November 26, 1949, with the adoption of the Constitution.

The exemplary founding fathers of modern India did not start, in 1947, to raze and raise buildings to announce the dawn of a new freedom and a new covenant of equality, fraternity and justice for all Indians. They chose to sit down, almost three hundred of the very best of them, for almost three long years, to debate and dissect and carve the most important book of contemporary India, the Constitution.

Democrats create festivals of ideas, crusades of justice and equity, carnivals of creativity, in which all may participate, on some kind of equal footing. It is only autocrats and fascists, monarchs and megalomaniacs, not necessarily in that order, who seek statues and monuments to awe their subjects.

The Constitution imbibed some of the fundamental impulses unique to India’s peaceful and non-violent mass mobilisation to overthrow the yoke of British imperialism. The trials and tribulations that seared humanity as a consequence of two world wars, leaving over 100 million people dead, the first destructive use of the potential of the atom, the failure of the League of Nations and the desire to see the United Nations succeed were all facts and yearnings that found a voice in various Articles of the Indian constitutional project.

Though the initial Preamble to the Constitution only stated that India would be a “sovereign democratic republic”, the statute’s fundamental design was both socialist and secular in character from day one itself.

A bare reading of Articles 25 to 28 that deal with the Right to Freedom of Religion and Articles 29-30 that address the question of Cultural and Educational Rights makes this fact abundantly clear.

Article 25(2)(A) specifically refers to secular activity, albeit in the context of the right of the State to ring-fence certain activities that are “associated with religious practice”.

Similarly, Articles 14 to 18 pertaining to the fundamental right to equality are both secular and socialist in character. The overwhelming bulk of the Directive Principles of State Policy from Article 36 to 51, including and not limited to Article 39 — ‘Certain principles of Policy to be followed by the State’ — are intrinsically socialist in character.

Article 39(b) specifically ordains “that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good”. What, pray, can be more socialistic than this?

It is in this context that the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act was gazetted on December 18, 1976. The statement of objects and reasons stated: “It was, therefore, considered necessary to amend the Constitution to spell out expressly the high ideals of socialism, secularism and the integrity of the nation, to make the Directive Principles more comprehensive…”

Section 2 of the Act postulated that in the Preamble, “for the words ‘sovereign democratic republic’, the words ‘sovereign socialist secular democratic republic’ shall be substituted; and for the words ‘unity of the nation’, the words ‘unity and integrity of the nation’ shall be substituted.”

Secularism was defined not as irreligion or atheism, but as rejection of theocratic governance while maintaining “equality and respect for all religions” — values accepted by India’s pluralist civilisation going back millennia.

Ideally, it should have been the strict separation of the church and the State, as can be extrapolated from the writings of Jawaharlal Nehru. The distilled principles of Nehruvian secularism are three-fold separation of religion from political, economic and governance paradigms; religion being treated as purely a personal matter; and neutrality of the State from ‘ALL’ religions.

During the parliamentary debate on the 42nd Amendment, the late Vasant Sathe explained what socialism meant: “The elementary principle of democratic socialism is economic democracy… it must lead to a society free from exploitation, that the few in the society should not have the right to exploit the many.”

This definitional principle drew inspiration from the 1931 Karachi Resolution’s commitment to the organisation of economic life conforming to the principle of justice.

It was, therefore, surprising that the Vice-President endorsed the assertion, which was not properly thought through, that ‘socialism’ and ‘secularism’ be deleted from the Preamble. He said, “The Preamble is not changeable… but this Preamble for Bharat was changed by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, adding ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’.”

It is a perplexing position for a senior constitutional functionary to take, given the fact that on November 25, 2024, a Division Bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India had dismissed a writ petition opposing the addition of ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ to the Preamble.

The court held, “A number of decisions of this court, including the Constitution Bench judgments in Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala and SR Bommai vs Union of India, have observed that secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution.” In RC Poudyal vs Union of India, the court elucidated that although the term ‘secular’ was not present in the Constitution before its insertion in the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, secularism essentially represents the nation’s commitment to treat persons of all faiths equally and without discrimination.

In M Ismail Faruqui vs Union of India, the court elaborated that the expression ‘secularism’ in the Indian context was a term of the widest possible scope. “The State maintains no religion of its own, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience along with the right to freely profess, practise and propagate their chosen religion, and all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs, enjoy equal freedoms and rights… In essence, the concept of secularism represents one of the facets of the right to equality, intricately woven into the basic fabric that depicts the constitutional scheme’s pattern,’ the court said.

The apex court stated that ‘socialism’ in the Indian context should not be interpreted as restricting the economic policies of an elected government. “Neither the Constitution nor the Preamble mandates a specific economic policy or structure, whether left or right. Rather, ‘socialist’ denotes the State’s commitment to be a welfare State and its commitment to ensuring equality of opportunity,” the SC Bench added.

Let me conclude with a dare. When the government provides free foodgrains to 81.35 crore people, is it socialist or capitalist in its disposition? When Indian MPs go abroad and unanimously sing paeans to India’s multiculturalism, stating that we have the largest minorities in the world, are we then being secular or theocratic in character? People who make such demands need to think them through.

Manish Tewari is Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh and former I&B minister.


Why are so many cases relating to disability pension flooding the courts

Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service

On July 1, a division Bench of the Delhi High Court dismissed around 300 appeals filed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) against judgements granting disability benefits to Armed Forces personnel.

Referring to several past verdicts by the Supreme Court and different High Courts, the Bench observed that grant of disability benefits “is not an act of generosity, but a rightful and just acknowledgement of the sacrifices in the form of disabilities/disorders suffered during the course of their military service and a measure that upholds the State’s responsibility towards its soldiers, who have served the nation with courage and devotion.”

In the past few months, hundreds of such cases filed by the ministry and the army have already been dismissed by the High Courts all across the country, with the Delhi High Court even warning the ministry of costs in case it continues with such litigation. The Supreme Court has already held that disability that was not detected or recorded at the time of joining the Armed Forces is deemed to be attributable to military service unless proved otherwise by the competent authority.

The courts have reiterated that it is of paramount importance that medical boards record clear and cogent reasons in support of their medical opinions. Such reasoning would not only enhance transparency but also assist the competent authority in adjudicating these matters with greater precision, ensuring that no prejudice is caused to either party.

Cryptic and unreasoned assessment defeats the purpose behind the constitution of the medical boards and also leaves the Courts without adequate material to effectively adjudicate the matter before them.

The root cause of litigation lies in disorders already covered by rules and even judgements not being attributed to military service due to administrative oversight or fault on part of the medical boards or pension sanctioning authorities. Thus begins a long drawn litigation process.

The current cycle of controversy over litigation involving disability benefits goes back over a decade. Here is a timeline of how the situation unfolded over the years: 

April 2014: BJP Manifesto talks about minimizing appeals filed by the government against disabled soldiers and veterans. Prime Minister Modi also deprecates filing of appeals against disabled soldiers by the government in one of his election speeches.

Dec 2014: About 900 appeals filed by the previous UPA government in the Supreme Court (SC) against verdicts by the Armed Forces Tribunal and the High Courts (HC) that were in favour of disabled soldiers dismissed on a single day by the top court.

July 2015: The Prime Minister takes a grim view of MoD challenging verdicts favouring disabled soldiers, widows and old pensioners and tasks the then defence minister, Manohar Parrikar to take steps for withdrawing such litigation. Parrikar constitutes a high-level committee of experts directly under him to objectively recommend measures for reducing litigation.

Nov 2015: Parrikar comes down heavily on what experts had termed as “ego-fuelled” litigation initiated by the MoD and defence services against their own employees and former employees. The committee under him recommends withdrawal of appeals in all matters settled by the SC and HCs, especially those involving disabled soldiers. The Committee also points out the intrinsic link between stress and strain of military service resulting in aggravation of disabilities amongst soldiers and also its effect on mental health and asks the MoD and defence officers to be more sensitive. Parrikar’s committee also notes the effect of stress on the lifespan of troops as compared to civilian counterparts. It notes the effect of frequent transfers and unsettled life, regimented living, reduced freedoms, inability to take care of domestic commitments, 24 hours deemed duty, living away from family, etc, on health and medical conditions such as heart diseases and psychiatric issues.

April 2018: The Supreme Court slams the Ministry of Defence in challenging matters already covered and settled. In a detailed judgment, the court calls out the negative approach of the ministry in burdening the courts and wasting public money on frivolous litigation. A fine of Rs one lakh is also imposed on the MoD.

Sept 2018: The then defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, issues orders to MoD not to challenge pensionary matters already settled in favour of disabled soldiers by judgments of the SC and HCs and asks officers to give up their “prestige based” litigation.

February 2019: A high-level committee in the Ministry of Law also takes note of filing of appeals by MoD against disabled soldiers and directs withdrawal of such appeals to avoid adverse orders. Sitharaman immediately directs the withdrawal of the last such pending appeals and posts the decision on social media.

March 2022: The SC expresses its “displeasure” and again passes strictures against the MoD for filing appeals in settled matters of disability pension.

Early 2023: Faced with non-implementation of its orders for years together, the Armed Forces Tribunal issues a series of strong orders, including arrest warrants, against officers of the Defence Accounts Department.

July-August 2023: The Defence Accounts Department takes up the matter with the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare in the MoD and after seeking opinion of the Judge Advocate General’s Department and senior law officers, it is decided to again start challenging verdicts of the AFT in the HCs and SC rather than implementing existing verdicts. Some officials in the know of events claim that while seeking legal opinion, the previous decisions of the defence minister and the law ministry were not disclosed to the senior law officers of the government.

September 2023: MoD modifies the pension rules by introducing the ‘Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Award to Armed Forces Personnel, 2023’, which drastically redefines the eligibility criteria for disability pensions and narrows the scope of eligibility by removing certain disabilities and their onset causes.

October 2023: The MoD, in total reversal of policy decisions taken by defence ministers in the past, directs the Army to file writ petitions challenging all orders passed in favour of disabled soldiers by Armed Forces Tribunals. Legal experts say that these are the matters on the same subjects wherein it was directed that no further appeals would be filed and pending appeals were withdrawn.

Recently, the Ministry of Defence, in response to a question, submitted in Parliament that in accordance with the existing rules of business, all judgements that are “against government policy” are contested till the highest judicial forum.

Thousands of cases are now being filed by government lawyers against disabled soldiers all across the country, and this includes matters already settled by the Supreme Court and in which the courts have made strong remarks against the defence ministry and also imposed heavy costs on it.


HEADLINES : 07 JULY 2025

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COMMENTS BY Lt Gen JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL ,PVSM,AVSM,VSM

An excellent exposition on Gratitude, explained in subtle and simple ways. She talks about our wants, thoughts and vibrations which can be channelled by positive thinking and reinforcement into reality. She also talks about questioning or reasoning of every want generated in our minds, by doing so we will be able to filter the genuine ones and then further strive to fulfill those desires.
Karma in our own way of life and also explained by her plays a vital role in our lives. What goes around, comes around ! All good & bad deeds will get accounted for in this life time only.
Very enlightening thoughts which are based on our ancient religious texts, very relevant in today’s fast moving life styles which have been elaborated in simple and in layman’s language.
Worth listening to!!