Saluting our Heroes: The “Param Vir Chakra” series

Shantanu,
Wonderful effort- esp on the PVCs. I would ask readers to pay particular attention to the story of 2nd. Lt.Arun Khetarpal of 17 Horse- it is a story I heard as a child at the family dinner of a one-to-one tank battle between a Brigadier of the Pakistan Army and him at a place called Basantar.

There is now a wikpedia page on him too- I urge readers of this blog to read the epilogue in the entry.

I am particularly proud of our Cavalry (now Armoured Corps)- readers also note that 17 Horse- also known earlier as Poona Horse has give us 2 PVCs!

Best wishes,
Ashutosh

Great post on our fearless soldiers. There was a TV series once on the PVC winners. does anyone know if its online?

I would like to take this opportunity to salute my father who retired from the army as a Brigadier.

My father volunteered for field postings (in forward/border areas ). For us this meant living in separate family accommodations for years. We used to see him once a year for a month or so. As a fauji’s sons it meant small 2 room accommodations, no sevadaar/orderly “bhaiya”, no staff car or Jonga (Nissan Patrol) no invitation to parties etc. Shopping on bikes from the CSD canteen. Of course otherwise the army took great care of us.

However, as I grew up being away from my father virtually for years, I realized that a nation like India that has seen centuries of slavery needs to ensure that it borders are solidly & perfectly sealed. Sealing them quite often with our blood was also worthy. We were lucky that, though once a year my father did come back to us. Unlike, many of our friends who used to live with us in SF (Separate Family) accommodations did not see their fathers ever again, (including my wife’s father).
I learnt a lot from my father’s life & am still learning. In fact I owe my “being” to him. Not just genetically but being a human being in a broader sense…. One of the most important things I learnt was ” Valiant’s die but once”…..
Like all fauji kids we were was also conditioned to tackle fear..the one line I remember loud n clear yet…”fauje ke bete hokar darte ho ?!…..” If my father knew we were afraid of anything…small things like bathing with cold water etc…he would actually make us do it. Just to remove the fear and prove that nothing really harms us ! “Fear is the wrong use of imagination” I remember him saying…..At that time we used to hate him for that “training” and lectures.

Now we cherish and value those memories so much…In the UK things like those would become “child protection” cases. However, my father would say , “There are three ways of dealing with situations. First, the right way, second the wrong way. The third is the army way, which is neither.”

I just hope someday I become like him…even though being a “bloody civilian” !

Shantanu,
Can I help in this?

On the same grounds can we have a series of posts dedicated to the suicides of our ‘Annadatas'(Farmers).
I’m not comparing one with another but this section (probably the largest) is being abandoned by society and no one is listening to their concerns leave apart the help.

I feel that Jawan and Kisan are of prime importance to any society.

Jai Jawan! Jai Kisan!
Jai Hind!

Shantanu
I would like to pay my thanks personally. The information about Arun Khetarpal has moved me like anything. I salute Lt. Arun and his parents who could cultivate the spirit of do or die. I woulid like to know more about his family back ground. Who was that great mother ? Did he had sibling to share with or he was the single child of Brigadier M.L. khetarpal.

shantnu,
patriotism is not a natural feeling of human being. It is purposly encouraged by beneficiaries of our society. war stories differ from actual occurance. heroism is kept added day by day in such stories. personally i feel one fine day human will come together forgetting all bounderies.