Lt Sourabh Kalia My Buddy

Lt Saurabh Kalia or shall I write the hero Lt Saurabh Kalia. He was my neighbour in the Indian military academy, Dehradun. Nice days they were, we all were students or the GCs as we were called meaning Gentleman Cadets.

Saurabh was a very quiet and fun loving person. Always smiling and ready to help others in need. I learnt a lot from him specially he taught having patience to me.

It was in last semester we went for a Chindits camp. As all the camps end this camp was also to end with a run back. Run back, is a competition as to which training company reaches first back to the Academy. In this we are in the battle dress with big back pack with ration the first line ammunition weapon and all the clothes and what ever we carry with us. This camp is of five days and these are the worst days one can have. Our DS were the worst when it came to screwing some ones happiness and they knew exactly as to where and how it pains the most. All nights were a session worth every dogs life on this earth.

On the 3^rd and 4th night we had training for the whole night with the art of survival in the jungle covering the major part of the training schedule.

With no sleep for two nights the day of run back came and at around 1230 after lunch our DS gave 1 hour of rest and we were like logs for that one hour. 1500hr our company was lined up for the run back. I was no 1 mortar man and Saurabh the no 2. Tired we all were at around mid night while we were negotiating one of the check point waiting for the complete party to close in, me and Saurabh had enough time to touch our fundamentals on the mother earth. Time flew and before we realized the company came together, control items were checked and we were off for the next checkpoint. We were feeling something light and soon we realized that the mortar bombs were left on the last check point and we have to run back to reach the place were the bombs were left and the whole company was after our blood. There after reaching again the DS at that check point had a nice session of the complete company and then the mortar bombs were returned. From that check point to the next check point I had to carry LMG and that was a real pain but then those were the orders and orders are meant to be obeyed in Army.

Early morning we were to hit the Sheetala mata mandir but it was not traceable. Frustration was high cause precious time was being lost and all were in search of it all and soon there was the cry of joy. Kadam found it and also the check point. The DS was very smart he had camouflaged the place so well that we were unable to see the mandir as well as the place were he was sitting was well concealed. After that then we just ran down like mad dogs. The jungle was still very dark but there was light on the horizon and that was good enough for us to show the general line of direction and we all dead souls were now fully awake cause victory was few check point away and some 20 KM ahead. Finally we reached the long range at around 0930 and were on the battle obstacle course at around 1015. I thing that was the fastest climb I ever did of the Cariappa Bn slope with Mohanty and the SUO giving all the josh and cheering up.

Finished our battle obstacle course then came to long range did our firing and believe me the arms were so tired that it was difficult to even hold the rifle. Soon was the welcome sight the juniors were there they took our weapon to return in the Kote (the only day we were allowed by the kote NCO). Then there was the hero's welcome in the company lines. All our rooms seemed like heaven to us. The table was full of eatables pastry. rum ball . pepsi coke samosa wafers. It is the final camp of the course and after this there is more courteous relationship between the DS and the GCs and the dreaded Bn Adjutant.

Saurabh came to my room and just embraced me and said congrats YO you have done it and I said yes we have done it. Our company came first in the run back and not only this Kohima Company also bagged the best Company Banner on the passing out day. Soon there was a announcement ‘Yos Yos Yos Yos Yos all are requested to be present for Co Co talk and high tea at 1700 at the ante room’.

Our chest was filled with pride now we were soon to be officers of the Indian Army and will lead the best fighting machines in war.

Yea we lead them in war, lost many, many lost limbs, many lost there near and dear ones but we stuck to our aim and brought home the sweet victory. We lived to the tradition of our great Army and brought laurels for our country and the citizens of it. We took bullets and that too on chest and not on our back and are proud of it that we were lucky to have got the chance to shed blood for our mother land.May be some where my great great........ grand fathers who fought along with Shivaji Maharaj must have felt proud of me and must have a hearty time with their friends.

As they say

‘To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
and how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his Gods.’

You have done it Sourabh we all are proud of you . some day when I will join you we will have the same old days again . you will always be remembered.

Op North Delta Forest

It was 0015hr on Jul 02. The temple flag was flapping lazily in the fresh cool air. I was awake the whole night charting the finer details of the operation and the route to be followed and also planning the man power details who would be remaining in the Coy loc and the men who will be reporting back to duty from leave and also those who are suppose to go on leave.
I as usual with my weapon went out to brief my men who were standing outside in rain about the operation we were about to launch. Soon the D – Company (Coy) Commander (Cdr) along with B and E Coy Cdrs along with their teams reached my Coy location (loc). After a combine briefing of all the Teams we were off to our mission with the rain God busy pouring all he had on us as to tell us go back go back.
We were going through the apple orchards and each orchard is fenced by barbed wire so we really had to be extra careful every time we pass through them with a worry that we are not ambushed some where by our friends from across with a warm fire show J. This drill is the most time consuming but necessary also cause it saves life. The drill is very complicated and has to be carried out with surgeon’s precision. For the benefits of all non fauji I will try to explain the same with a sketch.

Legends of map:
Blue colour – E Coy
Brown colour- D Coy
Green Colour B Coy
Black Rectangle : the apple orchards
Before we enter the orchards we usually take up defenses and wait and listen and try to sniff the air of any irregular thing, which is, not suppose to be there. Once satisfied one of the Coy Team (depicted by the green colour) then starts off very carefully. Simultaneously another Coy Team starts off along the fringe of the forest (depicted by brown colour). The march is so slow and careful that we can listen to our heartbeats and also the faintest of any noise can be heard at distance. At this time when the other two teams are moving ahead the third team, which is at the rear, is guarding the rear of the teams. At all times the teams are in touch with each other on the radio sets. Once the team reaches at the pre determined place they then take up the defenses there and the third team, which was in the rear, now moves up to the predetermined place. The break lines in the figure show the halts. Once they reach the pre determine place they inform the other teams and only after counter checking the authenticity of the call that the teams move ahead for their predetermined halts.
Once the rear team moves the predetermine place the rest of the two teams start once again and third team takes up the defenses. This technique is called as fire and move tactics. This is done so that at any time if any of the team comes under fire from any side we can retaliate the fire effectively and also reduce the casualty on our side. This is continued till there are orchards en route and the complete teams are out of the possible ambush sites.
I was leading the E Coy Team in this operation. Finally reached the forest and the grueling climb started at around 0330 hr. At around 0600 we reached the place where we were suppose to spend next 4 days in anticipation that some movement of the friendly neighbor hood will take place and we will be able to get some catch.
Four days of rain and the biting wind lashed us from 360 degrees. In night the weapon became so cold that it was impossible to hold it with naked hand. The rain made the clothes totally wet and nights were freezing cold due to the winds.
On the fifth day the search of the jungle was to begin. Things were very bad as the rain had made the jungle totally slippery and more over the wet clothes were biting like hell. After a cup of warm tea and snacks I got into fresh clothes, checked my weapon, magazines, adjusted the pin of the grenades and at 0800 started the search. At around 0930hr I had a strong gut feeling that there is going to be some trouble today. Learnt it in a hard way to listen to the gut feeling and respond to it. At around 1130 there was a faint sound of firing on the West side of the place were I was searching the jungle. The radio cracked the silence of the jungle and the information came on the set that contact has established on the West side and all the search parties to be extra alert and keep max control over fire.
These are the routine instructions which are on the radio so as to keep everyone abreast of the latest and also to make people aware that this jungle is alive today hence be careful. The firing was going on and we can hear the choppers hovering on our head and in all this the sound of empty stomach is too loud to miss. Old saying in Army “Eat when you get a chance and not wait for your stomach to tell”. By the time we finished our lunch it was almost 1430 hr and there was no respite in the firing. My worries were now becoming more grave cause I could foresee as to what was going to come up.
At around 1600hr when my search was almost complete my radio set came alive screaming ‘steel for emerald, steel for emerald, steel for emerald’. There comes the rocket.
‘emerald for steel, over’.
‘steel for emerald you bloo+++ fu***** joker are you alive or dead, OVER’.
‘emerald for steel very much alive , over’
‘steel for emerald change to alternate frequency. Over’
‘Wilco ‘.
‘Steel for emerald how many dinner you have for your team’
‘emerald for steel, tango ending with oscar ’
‘steel for emerald good and I believe your ammo is intact, over’’
‘emerald for steel affirmative, over’
‘yea then open your map and follow the…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. understood, over’
‘Roger, over’
‘Ok all the best, Get the Ba***rds, Out’.
My NCO was looking at me with apt attention as to what are the instructions given by steel. As I casually glanced towards the men they were already adjusting their gear and checking the torches and other night requirements indicating Sahabjeeeeee chalae. I just briefed them and started going back to the forest with my team now only of 15 men rest were to go back to ‘A’ Company and rest there and in case of reinforcement required, to be moved immediately.
My task was to link up with the West column with whom the contact has been established in the morning and replenish them with the ammo, food and also act as the reinforcement for the night in putting multiple ambushes.
It was at around 2200 hr we came under heavy fire or so we thought, cause it was dark and difficult to see any thing. After checking on radio sets it was confirmed that the fire was not on us but it was just the covering fire so that the militants are pinned down there cause through the thermal imager they were able to make some movement towards the axis in which we were moving. In the stillness of night the firing seems to be much closure the it is. But the fright was enough to get away from any fatigue that was trying to take over our tired bodies. Finally at 2300hr we were able to marry up with the D Coy column and if I tell you about the drill then probably I will end up writing the whole tactics presi. At around 0200hr heavy firing started and lot of RPG being fired and there was lot of UBGL and ALG being fired. When there was little lul in the firing I received a radio call from diamond that his two men are seriously injured and they required to be immediately evacuated. My men who were in the jungle from last 5 days took the responsibility with enthusiasm of the teenagers as if told to go out for a movie.
In no time the make shift stretchers were made and the casualties were evacuated to the nearest road head from where they were taken in vehicle. These men who had gone down to evacuate the casualties in total 12 of them what they must have undergone and what all the drills they followed is something worth seeing and experiencing. They reached the Vehicle at 0500hr and started back immediately with supplies of ammo, warm breakfast and tea ration.
What a fine fighting machines these men are. They will do anything for their brothers in arms and their commanders if they are worth it (the men test their officers and if the officers show the salt required to lead them only they are given the respect which is worth it) Fair deal ahh what say man.
Soon it was the sight every one was waiting to see, the daybreak and soon the firing too slowed down and at around 1000hr the final curtain was laid on the overnight operation. D-Coy did it again and the catch was 04 militants killed and a large cache of arms and ammunition recovered from the hideout which was busted in the operation.
Each operation led by me taught me so much about the men I commanded and the pleasure it gave me to lead the best fighting souls in the jungle against the militants.

Legend:
Blue lines : Search Area of E-Coy
Green Lines : Search Area of B-Coy
Brown Lines : Search Area of D -Coy
Violet Lines : Route taken by E- Coy for reinforcement
Yellow lines : Route taken by casualty evacuation party of 12 men
Red Line : Main road on which vehicle was waiting for cas evac.
Red Rectangle : Site of contact.

Today when I sit in the AC room and see people forgetting to respond the mails on time causing people to loose their jobs is pathetic. If such people are sent in the war or in the counter insurgency operations they will not be lucky to be killed by enemy but will become the target of own fire. God help them.
My salutation to the magnificent fighting machines whom I commanded and the honorable officers under whom I served.

Why do we fight??????

My 6 years old son Sarang has so many questions to ask on every topic, which he comes across, that at times I really get tired answering his questions and Sheetal my wife will then throw a sheepish smile at me saying yea genius now what is the answer.
On morning of our 60th Independence Day I with my family went to the war memorial at Ghorpadi to pay our tributes to the martyrs. Sarang is so energetic that the moment he is out of the car he will rush out of the car and will try and explore as much as possible. Surprisingly when we arrived at the war memorial he was like a very disciplined soldier. We laid the flowers and wreath and we were strolling in the lane of remembrance when he first shot a question at me. “Baba why have we kept the flowers over here” so I replied it is offering a floral tribute to the martyrs and remembering their deeds and to let there dear ones know that we respect their action and are proud of them.
Next was “What do you mean by martyrs”. So I told him that these people have died in fighting for the cause of our nation and safe guarding the integrity of our country.
Next “But then, why do they have to die”. Cause they have to fight son with the enemy of state I replied .
“ But why they have to fight to solve some problem. You always tell me to request and talk over the problem then why do they have to fight”.
I took a long pause and have to really phase my answer very carefully so as to avoid any further questions from him. Seeing my silence he asked me another question.
“ Baba all the names of the people written on the wall are they all dead”. I said yes but they are not called dead they are said called as martyrs.
Then he just felt quite and was walking slowly on the lane of remembrance.
“ But baba if they were not involved in the fight they would have been alive isn’t it.”
I said very true.

“ Then why did they have to fight, wont it be great that they too would have been walking here today with their children like we are doing if they wouldn’t have fought”.
I just could not answer his question but my eyes were moist and my throat choked and my feet fumbled to now see the same martyrdom with a new perspective. Yes what about their children and family.
But then my son some one has to do the job said I to myself and saw Sheetal who was already in tears cause we soldiers never thing about all this. For us there is nothing more important then Unit izzat and the Country’s honor.May be he must be thinking at times why did his dad too got involved in a fight on that fate full day………may be, so much and more goes on in that little head which is beyond my imagination