Brig PS Gothra (Retd) "Saab, you are new and hence you don't know about me," said Sepoy Kanan (not real name) when he moved to the podium after I finished my speech at his farewell party on his retirement. He said that in Hindi and then went on to deliver his rest of the speech in Tamil. All I could understand in his speech was 'Pudu Saab' mentioned four times. I could also … [Read more...] about Idhar Udhar Ki Baat: Pudu Saab
Indian Army
Evolution of the Indian Armoured Corps
Jaibans Singh On 14 April 1938, a Cavalry Regiment of the British Indian Army named the Scinde Horse, led by its Commandant, Colonel Malcomson, went on parade at Rawalpindi on their horses. This was the last mounted parade of the regiment as it had been selected to be the first cavalry unit to be "mechanised." The regiment shed its horses and was equipped with armoured … [Read more...] about Evolution of the Indian Armoured Corps
Indian Army : The Pride of Soldiering
Maj Gen C P Singh, Retd The defining character of Armed Forces is built upon an intrinsic value-based system Introduction Leadership is an art and not a science because leaders convert defeat into victory. Military Leadership is at the highest pedestal of leadership because leading men into battle is a privilege given to a select few. From times immemorial, Indian … [Read more...] about Indian Army : The Pride of Soldiering
Operation Cactus: SOS From Male
Col Alok Mathur, SM ( Veteran) Two Giant Ilyusin 76 of 44 Squadron of Indian Air Force stood ready for takeoff on the runway of Agra Air Base with a special task force of maroon berets (Paratroopers) on board on 3 November 1988.Group Captain A G Bewoor was the chief pilot in the lead aircraft and Wing Commander A S Gill was the pilot of the second aircraft. The Air … [Read more...] about Operation Cactus: SOS From Male
Ecstasy in Operations
Brig PS Gothra (Retd) “Don't pull the trigger Saab,” said Subedar Pradhan as I was aiming at the head of the man seen on the telescope of sniper rifle. “Why?"I asked. By three in the morning on that cold night, we were in place to look for terrorist movement in the forest across the hill. The operation was planned based on the information given by a 'source' that there … [Read more...] about Ecstasy in Operations
Operation Anecdote: We sniffed out the LTTE camp
Col Lalit Chamola We had been deployed in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) since end-July 1987. By end-September, the situation seemed to be taking a bad turn and finally on 10 October 1987 IPKF was ordered to forcibly disarm/neutralise our friends till then, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). On 10 October 1987, at approximately 2 pm Col … [Read more...] about Operation Anecdote: We sniffed out the LTTE camp
UN Peace Operation in Congo (ONUC) – 1960-64
Col Alok Mathur, SM (Veteran) The Democratic Republic of Congo (DPR) is a country in Central Africa. It is also known as Congo-Kinshasa, Belgian Congo and Zaire. It is bordered by the Republic of Congo (ROC), also called French Congo, in North-West; Central African Republic in the North; Sudan in the North-East; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi in East and Tanzania, Zambia and Angola … [Read more...] about UN Peace Operation in Congo (ONUC) – 1960-64
Civil war in Sri Lanka and Operation Pawan by the Indian Army
Col Alok Mathur, SM (Veteran) The beautiful Island of Sri Lanka is separated from coast of Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India, by a string of islets and 35 Kms long Ram Setu (Adams Bridge) of Ramayana days. It lies across Turquoise blue shimmering waters of the Indian Ocean. The Europeans sailors called it Ceylon. It was also called Emerald Isle and Pearl of the East. The … [Read more...] about Civil war in Sri Lanka and Operation Pawan by the Indian Army
Indo-Pakistan War,1965 : The valour and the victory
Col Alok Mathur , SM ( Veteran ) After the Sino India War of 1962, Pakistan think tanks concluded that military solution to Kashmir was a possibility as they were equipped with modern American Weapons like M 47/48 Patton tanks and F86 Sabre and F104 Star Fighter aircrafts, under Mutual Defence Assistance agreement with United States and South East Asia Treaty Organisation, … [Read more...] about Indo-Pakistan War,1965 : The valour and the victory
Indian military veterans and the tradition of restraint
Jaibans Singh Agnipath, the new Human Resource policy of the Indian Armed Forces, after remaining on the drawing board for a couple of years, has finally been approved and declared. The period of evolution and the final declaration witnessed heated articulations on multiple media platforms by some members of the veteran community. The final declaration has triggered … [Read more...] about Indian military veterans and the tradition of restraint