Some of us saw this Bn from close quarters and Col now Brig (retd) purushe my ex CO dealt with some court-martials. Story below as told by Brig Gakhal of Sikh Regt;
THE SPIRIT TO WIN !
“It is not the dog in the fight that matters but the fight in the dog.” Harold Robbins.
1. The other day i had a lunch appointment with Col Karam Singh Virk and it is that which brought to mind this quote of Harold Robbins that one read in college. We met to glean the events of Disbandment of 9 Sikh, an event entrusted to his charge after the CO was attached. During the course of the three hour interaction, he eyes were perpetually moist at times the tears made an appearance, but his voice never quivered or cracked. Having commanded three Battalions, it was his fate to preside over the disbandment of the third. The emotions were but natural.
2. Towards the close of 1984, Col Virk who was commanding 20 Sikh at Charmagad, was summoned at short notice to assume command of 9 Sikh. At that point in time the unit was split in three locations. The detainees numbering 387 in Ganganagar under 14 Bihar, 05 Officers,16 JCOs and 200 OR who were on leave /courses on 7/8 June 84 were attached at Bikaner with a Field Regiment and the remaining 05 officers,10 JCOs and 140 OR were at Lalgarh Jattan. Though technically Col Virk took over 9 Sikh he was actually commanding 05 Officers, 10 JCOs and 140 OR, a rifle Company strength. His efforts to concentrate the Battalion less the detainees at one location did not get the approval of the chain of command. It is in that scenario that the ‘fight in the dog’ came to the fore.
3. The Competition calendar was being finalised and Col Virk was asked if 9 Sikh would like to participate. With nothing to loose the answer to the amazement of brigade staff was an affirmative. The X Country team was unaffected by the events of 7/8 june and won the brigade hands down. First nine positions went to 9 Sikh. The Rajputs & Gurkhas were way behind. Hockey followed, the original team had been mauled by the events of 7/8 June. Available talent practised day and night with little else to do.( The unit was disarmed and as such training with arms was not possible). Hockey was also won, comfortably. Basket ball posed problems as the Rajputs boasted of Command level players and a well oiled team. Col Virk a basketballer himself had in LT PK Singh a fine talent, between them they mustered, skilled and trained a team. Col Virk often witnessed the Rajputs at play and was able to strategize their game plan. Come the finals, the Sikh’s defensive play frustrated the skilled Rajput players who lost rationality as reputation was at stake. A victory here stunned the Rajput Battalion.
4. Boxing is a prestigious Gurkha sport. Sikhs have little talent in the lower weights while the Gurkhas lack in higher weights. On the final day, the first three knock outs by Gurkhas and chants of “Ho Kay Hoi na” motivated the Sikh heavier weights. To cut a long story short the Knock outs that followed silenced the audience and as the trophy was handed over to 9 Sikh Jaikar’s reached a crescendo. The only sport in which coy worth of 9 Sikh were runners up was football, where the Gurkhas won a closely fought final by 3-2.
5. What motivated a motley Company strength to show the prowess they did ? Right Leadership and Right Spirit. 9 Sikh was always renowned for the limitless spirit to win. A unit that within a year of its raising in Apr 1964 won the Gen Chaudhry Match and repeated the win the following year. A gruelling physically demanding competition that ended in testing accuracy in firing. A unit that captured 46 Sq KMs of the Lipa Valley in sept 1971. Their spirit to win was endless !
Its not the Dog that matters its the spirit in the dog !! so well said !!