SOLDIERLY- CAMRADERIE !*
40 POW CAMP MEERUT .
1. I was preparing for SSB interview in 1972 at Meerut because my father Late Lt Col RD Nikam was posted OC 40 POW Camp Meerut after the war . He had 2 very young and dynamic Staff Officers – Capt Veer Pratap ( Adjt/ Grenadiers ) and Capt Limbo ( QM / Marathas ). I joined NDA in Jan 73 / 49F.
2. When I used to come home on leave i would visit the POW Camp and at times met the Paki officers. There were 4 cages in the Camp- Officers -1 , Families-1 and Cages for JCO /ORs -2. There was an infantry bn guarding the Camp , I suppose from Madras Regt. One day , I remember one tambi shot a prisoner on the fence at night and there was a big commotion . My father walked alone in the cage and to get the body out of the cage . None of the Paki men did anything to him and did what he instructed them. My father would often visit thier cages , toilets and lungars during rounds , he also tasted meals at thier lungar and so they new him as a fatherly figure .
3. One day after the New Years party at the Wheeler Club , Capt Veer Pratap and Limbo picked up couple of bottles of liquor and headed to the Camp. They asked the guard to open the Officers Cage and fall in all Offrs . Initially they thought that it was again some escape issue. After a typical NDA bull shit , Capt Veer Pratap asked the Paki Officers what’s today . They were all surprised when Capt Veer Pratap broke the ice that it’s New Years eve and party is on. He pulled out the few bottles from his bullet and all Paki Officers had a drink. This is the spirit of Indian Army. Later this incident got reported to my dad through the int channel. My dad being a good old Second World War Veteran brushed it away telling the int Offrs that during WWII it was common to share cigarettes / drinks in Italy and North African Campaign.
4. We were Tennant’s to Lt Col Khokar in Meerut Cantt , his son was a pilot in IAF. He had flown quite a few mission in West Pakistan during the war . One day when on leave , he requested my dad to meet the prisoners. So I had accompanied him to the Camp and we met couple of officers. I remember his conversation with Maj Arif . So Maj Arif asked him have you flown over Sargoda / Sialkot ?. Ft Lt Khokar asked him why , his reply was that I am an AD Gunner and my parent Regt is deployed there . Then he asked him how was the flak ?.
6.My mom used to conduct Family Welfare Meet for the families of Pakistani Offrs , JCOs and OR at the POW Camp.They would be given wool to knit sweaters or Cloth to make beautiful embroided table cloths etc, the aim was to keep them occupied. Maj Arif ‘s wife and 2 children were also in the Camp. She was the senior most lady and very humble and responsible .When the time came for repatriation , Mrs Arif had made a beautiful full sleeve sweater for my dad and presented it to him on behalf of all Families for taking care of them so well. She said ” Jab budape men panoge to hame yad karna !
7. Later Capt Peoples from Gurkhas and Capt Date from Marathas replaced Capt Veer Pratap ( Retired as Brig ) and Capt Limbu at the 40 POW Camp. In case this reaches any of the officers mentioned in the story above , I will be glad to connect with you all.
Col SR Nikam ( Retd )
9860850619
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