Beyond the call of Duty.

We must understand what is duty,before looking into "Beyond the call of Duty "

               The term "Duty " gains extra importance in Army service as offences and punishments are clearely defind in the Army act.So generally one can find more cases of performing  "Beyond the call of duty "

              People might not have forgotten the "Pulwama "attack.On 18 Feb 2019 the Pakistan supported terrorists had used a car Bomb to blow off one C R P F veh,in a convoy killing 40 personnel.The Prime minister directed the Army to do the needfull.It was decided to destroy the terrorist camps at Balakot,The Indian Airforce of western Air Command took up the challenge.

                Air Marshal Hari kumar,the then AOC-in C western Air Command was given the task to retalite and destroy the Terrorist camps.The operation code named "Bandar "was meticulously planned with super security.

             At 0115 hrs on 26 Feb 2019,20 fully armed aircrafts took off from Gwalior Airfield.Six of them were armed with Spice 2000 and crystal maze missiles.The Aircrafts first flew towards Bareilly,then headed for J &K,crossed LOC at 30,000 feet altitude to avoid Pak Radar detection.At the same time a decoy operation towards Bhawalpur was launched. The Indian Air convoy safely returned after 21 minutes,destroying maximum training camps of the terrorists.

                    Indian Air space was put high security alert as retaliation from Pakistan was expected.Sqn Ldr Minty Agarwal was on duty.

       A brilliant officer ,Minty Agarwal ,air traffic controller  was very alert in screening the Pak air space and observed unusual Air activities in Pakistan.She rightly alerted Indian Pilots.In Pakistan,28 Aircrafts took off to attack Indian bases.But they were rightly intercepted and driven back.

                    Wing commander Abhinandan who was flying an indian Mirage chased the Pak F-16 and shot,bringing down the aircraft.But unfortunetly his Aircraft was hit by an anti air craft gun and Abhinandan baled out.He was cought by Pakistani villagers and handed over to their military.At the same time the F-16 which was hit by Abhinandan also crashed and that pilot was killed by his own people in a mistaken idendity. Abhinandan later on was released through diplomatic channel.

                  The whole scenario was seen by the Air traffic controller Sqn Ldr Minty Agarwal.Both Abhinandan and Minty Agarwal were honoured by the President of India on 15 Aug 2019.Abhinandan was awarded Veerchakra,while Minty Agarwal was awarded Yudh Sewa Madal.  

War scenario does not differentiate gender difference but acknoledges the skill.Sqn Ldr Minty Agarwal has done proud to the Nation.She became the first women in Indian history to win a bravery award.

                                                   Calf path of Mind-6.

              It is customary amongst the Antarctic winter teams to wish other country's team on their important National  functions.The Indian station Dakshin Gangotri was in physical contact with Soviet Union station "Novolazaravskya" which was about 85 Km away and East German station "Georgefoster",near them.India was also in radio contact with japan,United Kingdom,South Africa  stations.

                       The Russians and Germans usually work together and visit Indian station on important Indian functions like Republic day and Independence day.Similarly Indian station members are invited by the Russians on their "October Revolution Day"

                      When Colonel Ganesan was invited by the Russian Station Commander,he along with 5 members attended the Function

 Colonel Ganesan  before attending the function prepared a short speach and got it translated into Russian,with the help of German friends.

                                 The Fifteen member Indian team in the Land of Penguins.

                                        The Russian Language in Ganesan's hand writings.

                 Here Colonel Ganesan discussing with leader of Russian station Novolazaravskya.

                     A routine thing when it is given to Col Ganesan,he thinks in different angle,to create something new out of that.

                        The poem "Calf path of Mind "is very good one which slaps those individuals who thinks that a routine work is very simple and it does not require any thinking.Remember that we may not be destined to do great things in life but we do the little things in great style.

                             The Calf Path of Mind-5.

        Unanimous letters are quite common in an organisation .Many such letters have got no basis and is written by vested interest.But It can not be ignored also.When Colonel Ganesan took over as Battalion Commander ,at M E G &Centre,Bangalore in Sep 1989,hectic activities were going on for the forth coming "President's Colour Presentation Parade " which was scheduled for 02 March 1990.A number of recruit trainees who had completed their training were retained as working parties. Under these circumstances interdisciplinary cases were increasing. Ganesan  was very strict and dealt with iron hand irrespective of their ranks.

                  In some of the cases where the offences committed could not be proved, the accused was over night posted out to border areas.Under these circumstances Col Ganesan received an unanimous letter.

       Since the letter is written in tamil ,the contents in general is like this, "Ganesan, it is a warning to you.Change your way of dealing with troops.Otherwise you will be murdered "

     

                 Generally  such letters would be written by the affected persons only.So Ganesan  implimented various means to get the hand writting  of the suspected persons and finally found out the person who wrote that letter.He was a Junior Commissioned officer who was involved in an immoral activity. Inspite of repeated warning,he continued his behavior and was over night posted out to an unit which was in Tiripura state.

                          Like a fool he wrote an apology letter,confirming that he was the one who wrote the initial unanimous letter.How ever Colonel Ganesan ,considering the other good aspects of the J C O  left him at that stage.

                      A few years later ,that J C O  got Regimental Commission and  in some other scenario he was introduced to Colonel Ganesan,With out any hesitation Ganesan shook hand with him and congratulated him.

                     The Calf Path of Mind-4

The picture  is self explanatory.It was a memento showing the end of wintering period of 5 thwinter team of Indian Antarctic Expedition. But the point to note is that four winter teams had 

 completed their tennure  and returned to India.What was the task generally assigned to a winter team.?Basically to project India's Image in the world Forum that an year long activities are conducted.The scientist to conduct experiments,the administrative staff ,and for command and control,a leader.

                     Having known the cruel nature of Atarctica,the wintering activies are mostly confined to the safety of the station and protecting the physical and mental state of the team.So it trickles down that the wintering at Antarctica is the soul responsibility of the leader.He must be physically and mentally fit himself ,creative,patriotic to establish his country,s image in the world forum.

                   Ganesan was selected as wintering leader in April-May 1987 and he was to leave in November 1987 for Antarctica.In this about six months time Ganesan ,not only acquainted himself with the Characteristics of the wild and cruel continent Antarctica,but also mentally designed his conduct of wintering.

                He started collecting materials and details about India's heritage and also discussed with the past wintering members.He felt that most of the people thought that the wintering activities in Antarctica was just like any other duty.But Ganesan did not accept their views.The world exhibits great wonders but to understand that the inner faculty of the man must be prepared to understand and makes his contribution for the benifit of posterity.

          The day to day activities of Ganesan, as India's wintering leader at Antarctica was based on this understanding.It was fortunate that his team members though unknown to him before were very much co operative and contributed their share.

                  Contrary to the pen picture given by the organisers about the Indian Station "Dakshingangotri",the first sight of the station was very much threatening whether the team will return safely back to India.

    The double story station was fully burried and every blizzard the first act of all members were to remove the snow from the roof.

             But every act was taken in National spirit and the team started enjoying the hazardous life.

        It was under these circumstances our wintering period was coming to an end.So we decided that a be fitting camp fire would be held.The old and serviceable clothings and equipments were thrown into fire.Ganesan collected the remaining of an ice ax after the fire and made a momento out of that,which is displayed at the top.

                That is how the calf path of mind was broken by Col Ganesan.

 

                          Command is not a transitory appointment-2

                 In the previous article I had explained about the bond that develops between officer and P B O R.(personnel below officer rank ).Having understood that I had started paying attention to their welfare by suitably designing their living area.recreation room and dining hall.Sine we were in field area,all ranks get free forces envelopes.But these letters will be censored by unit censor board comprising of people who knows the language.

                The recreation was filled with many inspiring quotations and since I used to read many great leaders biographies,I used to select from that and place it in the recreation room.

                     On one fine evening one Havildar came to see me.After customary salutations ,he started crying and sobbing silently.I consoled him and asked what is the matter.He narrated a personal event.When he had gone on annual leave of two months,there was lot of works at home,and was very busy.In the last few days of his leave,there was lot of arguments on family matters between himself and his wife and he had even beaten her.He left home in the same angry mood and came to unit.For the last two months he did not write a letter to his wife  and did not reply to her letters also.

                 Under these circumstances,a few days before when he visited the recreation room one of the writing by me and kept there attracted him and felt emotionally weak for not writing to his wife.He immediately wrote an apology letter with love and affection to his wife regretting for the stupid thing he did before leaving home.His wife immediately broke the ice and also felt sorry and sentimentally replied.So the Havildar came to thank me for boosting his morale.

                 What was the writting ,that was kept in the recreation room. 

வானுயரப்பறக்கும் பறவையும் வந்து அமர்வதற்கு ஒரு இடத்தைத்தேடுகிறது.எல்லைப்புறத்தில் எதிரிகளுக்கும்,இயற்கைக்கொடுமைகளுக்கும் ஈடு கொடுத்துப்போராடும் நமக்கும் வீடும் உறவும் உண்டு என்பதை மறந்து விடாதீர்கள்.ஓய்வய் நேரத்தில் அவர்களுக்கு கடிதம் எழுதுங்கள்.விடுமுறையை மகிழ்ச்சியான நாட்களாக செலவிட்டு விட்டு புத்துணர்வோடுதேசசேவைக்கு வாருங்கள்.

                   இப்படி எழுதி வைத்து கீழே சில கடித உரைகளும் பேனாவும் வைத்திருந்தேன்.இது படிப்பவரின் மனதை நெகிழ வைத்துவிட்டது.

               The sky high flying bird also needs a resting place.Even though we are serving in the far flung border areas,do not forget that we too have family.and kith and kin.write letters to them regularly.when you go on annual leave ,enjoy the holidays with them and return fresh and rejuvenated.A board with this writing was kept in the recreation room and below that Free forces latter and a pen was kept

                           On reading this the Havildar changed his mind and their relationship had become normal.Having come to know these details, I had sent the Havildar on a short casual leave.It is needless to mention that the P B O R had grat respect for Colonel Ganesan.

                                                      The "Calf path of Mind"-4

The writings on this topic are just to show the readers that vertical,lateral and all round  analysis of a situation gives best answer to a problem.In this topic today I shall bring some information which could be usefull for serving as well as retired Army Officers.

             In oct 1982 I was serving with an Engineer Regiment in Punjab.Since I had been with them for about two years plus I was posted out to Chennai on my request.But at the same time the Regiment was ordered to move to Arunachal Pradesh on prestigious role as Div Engineer Regiment. At this juncture the commanding officer selected me to be leader of the Advance party to Arunachal  pradesh. Though I was very happy on this ,it was critical situation.Since I was posted out I must take my wife and children to Chennai.If I go to chennai,I will miss the golden opportunity of seeing the Eastern sector where 1962 war took place.As I have been repeatedly mentioning in my writings,the Cosmic Force came to my help and things eased out on its own.

                My wife and children safely reached Chennai with the help of a Jawan from my Regiment,and I landed at Tenga,Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Govt had recently taken decision to  a "Forward Posture Defence "and accordingly Army was given direction.A large amount of infrastructure was being developed in Kemeng sector.I was to move up and down in the border areas from Lumla in the east to Bumla in north  and to some more areas in the western part of Kemeng sector.

Arunachal pradesh always attracted me ,because  that was the mother earth turned into red  by the blood  of my country men ,thousands in numbers,defending her in 1962.The whole world knows that ,because of the foolish policy of people who does not know even the geography of that land ,the soldiers sacrificed their life.

       So when I was given an opportunity  to be part of the  defending force,I had best utilised that.After about six months of thoroughly understanding our role and  properly handing over I came to Chennai as Dy cdr works under CWE Chennai.But within a short period My promotion board result came and I was approved for promotion.My effort to stay in Chennai for some more time was mis understood and I was over night posted to Chief Engr Delhi Zone on promotion as S O-1,works.Surprisingly S O -1 Madras was vacant.So it was out of vengeance.But the Cosmic force was in my favour,and I was posted as Commanding Officer,4 Engineer Regiment with in a moth on the recommendation of a high level committee.

                 So I was back in Arunachal pradesh. Now I was fairly in knowledge about the 1962 war. The 1962 war did not come as a surprise.Some argument and discussions were going on between Govt of India and the the chineese  Govt. So Indian Govt started strengthening the Defences.An outstanding officer Brig Hoshiar Singh Rathee who was Dy Comdt N D A was overnight posted as 62 Inf Brigade to defend Sela.Another bright officer Brig Dalvi was potes as Commander,7 Inf Brigde  which was facing the chineese at Dhola.

             Sela was on the main axis and was well stocked for a a Defence battle.But the Army in general was poorly equipped in weapons and clothing.The chineese had entered from different axis to isolate strong positions of india.

  One can see here ,that the chineese had isolated Sela and had established Road blocks at Nyukmedong and at Bomdila.

                When my Regiment was in support of our Defences in Kemeng sector I made it a point to walk along many of these tracks.The famous Nyamjung chu  was one of the chineese route which goes into Butan. Similarly from Sela one can go to Rupa ,isolating Bomdila. From Tawang I had gone to Lumla and crossed Nyamjang Chu,to Bleting.From Nuranang one can reach Bisaki bypassing Sela.

                    Basically it was only to highlight that I went beyond the call of duty towards furtherence of my Commanders plan and I was mentally prepared to take up the role of an Infantry Battalion,if necessitates.

             The chineese should understand that India of 2021 is not  1962.The recent developments in ladak had demonstrated this to the entire world.