08-26-2011, 07:38 PM
came in email..
Dear Friends.
A Maratha Light Infantry Battalion guarded our border well by
exercising admirable vigil at Gurez(J&K) over the week end, killing 12
Militants who were being pushed in clandestinely by Pakistan. Mind
you, it was just 9 militants who created chaos in Mumbai on 26/11 that
brought great damage to the Nation and shook us. Hundreds of Crores
have been spent by state and Central Govts and corporates who suffered
or who intent to limit future risks, on various measures after 26/11.
But deeply painful is the fact that Lt Navdeep Singh, from Hoshiarpur
a young officer just commissioned from Officer's Training Academy in
March this year had to risk his life to kill maximum militants and
finally had to sacrifice his own life for us, leading his small little
team courageously from the front. Opening fire at the militants early
would have resulted in many escaping into Pakistan after the first
shot is heard. He allowed them to come very close controlling his fire
with utter disregard for his life to kill maximum militants.
The saving he has done to the Nation in terms of lives, property and
fear of the unknown is not quantifiable.
I did not see any report in Times of India(one with widest
circulation) today on the Army Operation. It carried a small piece on
the side yesterday when the operation was still on. But was delighted
to receive a young girl's passion penned down. She is Sarvar Bali a
young budding journalist. Probably her article is unpublished yet.
Please let this reach every patriotic Indian and let us all salute Lt
Navdeep Singh while his mortal remains must still be in transit to his
village in Hoshiarpur(HP).
Jai Hind
Col CN Suresh, Veteran
Bangalore
The article follows:
Dear Friends.
A Maratha Light Infantry Battalion guarded our border well by
exercising admirable vigil at Gurez(J&K) over the week end, killing 12
Militants who were being pushed in clandestinely by Pakistan. Mind
you, it was just 9 militants who created chaos in Mumbai on 26/11 that
brought great damage to the Nation and shook us. Hundreds of Crores
have been spent by state and Central Govts and corporates who suffered
or who intent to limit future risks, on various measures after 26/11.
But deeply painful is the fact that Lt Navdeep Singh, from Hoshiarpur
a young officer just commissioned from Officer's Training Academy in
March this year had to risk his life to kill maximum militants and
finally had to sacrifice his own life for us, leading his small little
team courageously from the front. Opening fire at the militants early
would have resulted in many escaping into Pakistan after the first
shot is heard. He allowed them to come very close controlling his fire
with utter disregard for his life to kill maximum militants.
The saving he has done to the Nation in terms of lives, property and
fear of the unknown is not quantifiable.
I did not see any report in Times of India(one with widest
circulation) today on the Army Operation. It carried a small piece on
the side yesterday when the operation was still on. But was delighted
to receive a young girl's passion penned down. She is Sarvar Bali a
young budding journalist. Probably her article is unpublished yet.
Please let this reach every patriotic Indian and let us all salute Lt
Navdeep Singh while his mortal remains must still be in transit to his
village in Hoshiarpur(HP).
Jai Hind
Col CN Suresh, Veteran
Bangalore
The article follows:
Quote: LIEUTENANT DID YOU DIE IN VAIN?
I learnt about your demise from the ticker tape on one of the news
channels, last evening. It was a big encounter and a very fierce one
at that. A feeling of deep saddness enveloped me as I reflected on
your youth which had been sacrificed in Gurez Sector,in the line of
duty. What does your death mean?
By now your mortal body would be lying embalmed at the Base Hospital
and will be flown out of Srinagar later in the day,on its final
journey to the cremation ground in your native town or village.
You were too young to die,far too young! For whom and for what did you
die then? This question haunted me last night and I will attempt to
answer you.
You were probably from a village or a small town of India. You were
perhaps the son of an army officer or JCO, or from an urban or rural
civilian background. You could not be from one of the big cities where
iron has entered the soul of our youth and where the only driving
motivator is quest for money in the surreal environment of the
corporate world.
Why did you join the army? Ofcourse to get a job. But than that is
over simpliying the question. You were possibly motivated by the
traditions in your family and clan,you were probably enthused by the
sight of your elder brothers,uncles or other men from your community
in uniform,you were perhaps enchanted by the cantonement life where
you may have spent your growing years.
As your body comes home, you will not get the adulations from the
Government which a soldier's body gets in the USA. Your name will not
be read out in any obituary reference in Parliament,as is done in the
UK for all soldiers who fall in combat in the line of duty.Your name
will not be etched on any national memorial because we do not have
one! Symbolically you will become the unknown soldier for the Nation,
for whom the flame burns at India Gate, but your name will not be
etched there.The names engraved on that monument are of the soldiers
who died fighting for the British Indian Army and not those who have
made the supreme sacrifice for independent India! Can it get more
ironic?
But do not despair Lieutenant. Your comrades will do you proud! The
seniormost officer will lead the homage that your brother officers
will pay you before you leave the Valley of Kashmir one last time.
Your unit representatives will escort your body home. You will be
carried to the funeral pier draped in the flag for which you died
fighting.The darkened and tearful eyes of your grief-stricken mother
and the stoic figure of your father, benumbed by the enormity of this
tragedy, will move even the most cynical.
I do not know Lieutenant at what stage of the encounter you fell,
mortally wounded. But the fact that you were there on the lonely vigil
across the Line of Control in Gurez, is enough to vouch for your
valour. Your unit and formation commanders will see to it that you get
the gallantry award which you so richly deserve. In due time your
father or your mother will be presented the medal and parchment of
your gallantry,which will be framed and find the pride of place in
your home.Time will dull the bitterness of this tragic parting, which
right now is the only feeling that engulfs your parents and siblings,
in its enormity.
Lieutenant you were lucky. You did not live long enough to get married
and leave behind a grieving widow. You did not live long enough to
have children. For when they would have come of age you would have
seen in them a cynicism towards the army for which you died. You will
not see a young son who thinks his father is a hero and wants to
follow his footsteps in joining the army only to be harshly disuaded
by his mother (or even father!) from following a profession which
ranks so low for the youth of our country. You were lucky not to serve
long enough to see the army getting belittled . You did not live long
enough to see the utter indifference and even disdain for the army.
Like you a large number of valiant soldiers laid down their lives on
the rocky heights of Kargil,fighting against self-imposed odds. Today
it is not even felt fit to publicly commemorate the anniversary of
that stupendous military victory,won by blood and gore,in a befitting
manner.
But do not despair Lieutenant. Your name will be etched for posterity
in the annals of your Unit and your Regiment. A silver trophy with
your name inscribed on it,will grace the centre table of the unit
mess.You will also find your name in the unit Quarter Guard,where
annual homage will also be paid to you.The war memorials at the
Formation HQ where you served and at your Regimental Centre will
proudly display your name for eternity.If you joined the Army through
the NDA, your name will be written in the Hut of Remembrance through
which each cadet will pass,paying homage before his Passing Out
Parade.
There will be an obituary reference to you from your comrades in the
papers, which will be flipped over by most but which will be read in
detail by people who have a connect with those who wear or wore the
uniform.
As your parents head into the evening of their life,memories of your
valour will be their most precious possession. When ever your mother
will think of you her eyes will mist over but there will be more stars
in them than you ever wore on your shoulders.Your father may speak
quietly about you but no one will miss the swell of pride in his
chest. For your siblings you will always remain the real hero,and for
that matter even for your community and village. A school or a road
may well be named after you and you will become a part of the local
folk-lore.
You died Lieutenant, because when the test came, you decided that you
could not let down your family,your clan and your comrades, who always
expected you,without ever saying so, to do your duty.You, Lieutanant,
have done more than your duty and made your memory their hallowed
possesion.
LIEUTENANT YOU DID NOT DIE IN VAIN!
- Sarvar Bali