My Journey in the Indian Army

 My Journey in the Indian Army 

I  

January 1956-December 1959

Dehradun-Delhi-Bombay-Pune-Dehradun-Badrinath

The Indian Armed Forces provide unique opportunities to serve in our country’s varied terrain, including its far-flung outposts. This is especially true for those of us who are in the infantry. Often posted to border areas and remote parts of India that are not easily accessible, we travel by various modes — even by foot. En route we meet and see a variety of people and places, including lesser and well-known monuments and historical and natural sites. And we stay in accommodation ranging from tents to barracks to bungalows to erstwhile palaces! In the process, we explore many parts of the Indian subcontinent, the existence of some of which is not even known to most people. Of course, as one grows in the profession and attains higher ranks with increased span of command-responsibilities, the area of travel also increases.

I have been fortunate that I have been able to travel and live across the length and breadth of the country — from the mighty Himalayas and the foothills to the southernmost part of India, from river valleys to coastal areas; from the Thar desert to the Deccan; from the Western and Eastern Ghats to the Vindhyas and the Nilgiris; and of course, to most of the more accessible places in the hinterland. In fact, there are probably just a couple of states and union territories in India that I have not stayed in or travelled to.  

My journey in the Indian Army literally began in January 1956, when I first went to the National Defence Academy (NDA) Khadakvasla, from Dehradun. 

That was by train and I was fifteen years old. On earlier occasions, I had travelled to places as far as Bangalore with my father, who was also in the Army, but this was my first independent journey. Fortunately, there were a couple of other cadets from Dehradun — MMP Kala and Surinder Dania — heading for the same destination, whose families were known to my father. So, we travelled together. Both of them, coincidentally, along with me were assigned George Squadron in NDA. Our NDA numbers were 2355 (self), 2356 MMP Kala, and 2359 (SK Dania). I was allotted the senior most number, and that implied I became the course senior of 15 Course George Squadron. I had to take charge whenever the course assembled, and report to the Officer-in-charge. Not being used to military ways, I had to learn the same in double-quick time.

Of my impressions of the first journey, to NDA I particularly remember the flurried transit at Delhi Junction and negotiating the change to the connecting special NDA train assigned for travel to Pune, with the steel trunk and the ubiquitous ‘hold-all’ that was an indispensable part of much of our early train-travels. It was not easy to carry these bulky belongings but we managed to get hold of a coolie and a cart, which we piled high and rushed to the platform where the NDA train was docked — and managed to catch it in the nick of time! Once we had boarded it and were allotted our specific seats, we did not have to worry about any logistical or other arrangements. The train was also provided with a Dining-carriage for meals.

During the NDA training — which was a balanced mix of academic and military subjects, in addition to sports — I did the Khadakvasla-Dehradun trip often, apart from study trips to other places. The compulsory sports in NDA were novice boxing, riding and swimming, but one could participate in a number of other sports such as football, hockey, basketball, squash, tennis or cricket. The day began with Physical Training, and we were constantly on the move — everything was organised like clockwork and had to be done on the double, or on cycles moving in formation.

In later trips home, we generally opted to take the direct train from Dehradun to Bombay, rather than changing at Delhi. It was a very slow train, on the Central Line. It terminated at VT in Bombay. From there, we had to change to the Western Line for the connecting NDA train to Pune, which left from Dadar station. Though we passed through Bombay every six months on our term break, basically all we saw of the city at that time were these stations and the routes to and from them. And whenever there was an opportunity, we made a beeline for the hotel Shere-Punjab for a meal of hot naan and butter-chicken!

After three years of NDA, in January 1959 I went to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), coincidentally in my home-town of Dehradun. The IMA provided us facilities for organised treks during the term break, and we went trekking in the Himalayas whenever the opportunity allowed. I recall vividly our first trek in the Garhwal Himalayas to the Badrinath Temple, Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib, and Mana Valley. Those days there was no bus or even a road beyond Joshimath, so we — Gentlemen Cadets Khan, Aggarwal, Vinod and I — walked from there to a place called Gobind Ghat on the Bhagirathi, about 14 kilometres away. We spent the night at the Gurudwara in Gobind Ghat on the banks of the Alaknanada river, which provided us with a free bed and prasad — there were hardly any wayside hotels then. This became the forerunner for many such treks later, when there was a real sense of discovery and adventure in walking in these remote areas.

From this serene and peaceful Gurudwara, we went on to the Sarovar and Gurudwara at Hemkund Sahib, which are at an altitude of approximately 12500 feet; and then to the Badrinath Shrine. At Badrinath, we were able to have darshan of Badri Vishal, and after a quick bath at the hot springs and a brief halt, we proceeded to Mana village — the last inhabited village on our side of the Indo-China border — which we reached before sunset. The heights above are the origin of Vasundhara Falls and the Bhagirathi River. The tribal population of Mana village, besides limited cultivation, rear goats and sheep and make indigenous handicrafts. They only stay here during the summers, which is the time we were there. During the winters, since it is too cold in Mana, they migrate to lower heights. On our return from Mana, we rested in a dharamshala for the night before continuing back to the IMA.

On passing out of IMA on 13 December 1959 at the end of our training, I opted to join the Gorkha Rifles. However, despite the assurance by the sponsor officer, Capt Bharat Singh, a fine gentleman from Jodhpur, that I would be granted my choice, the pre-commission recommendation for me by my Battalion Commander, Lt Col AS Judja — who was from the artillery — was for the Corps of Artillery. This caused me a bit of panic, since I had set my heart on joining the Gorkhas. I rushed to inform Captain Bharat Singh of the development, but he assured me that he had already spoken to Lt Gen Moti Sagar, the Colonel of the Gorkha Regiment. When playing in the IMA 11 in an exhibition hockey match, Lt Gen Moti Sagar, during the introduction to the players, gave me the good news that I was to be commissioned in the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles.

Those days, there was no prior attachment with the Regimental Training Centre, and we went straight to our respective battalions. However, I was in Dehradun on some preparatory leave, and coincidentally in our neighbourhood in Race Course Colony, there was an illustrious World War II veteran of 2/4 GR, Major Sohan Lal Rajput. Major Rajput had joined in the ranks and accompanied the battalion to NWFP; and later to West Asia, North Africa and Italy. In 1947, he was granted a commissioned rank as the SM (OL) of the battalion. He retired in 1959.

An institution in himself, highly popular and respected by all, and an encyclopaedia on the battalion, he briefed me about our paltan and its routine in its present location in the cold regions of Kargil — a place I had not even heard of. He also told me how I should kit myself to prepare for the winter snow, and report to the Transit Camp at Pathankot Railway Station. Some of this was already known to me from the letter of welcome from the battalion, and from (then) Captain Bharat Singh, 2/4 GR who was posted at the IMA and was my mentor and sponsor. Captain Bharat Singh had recommended that I read Bugles and the Tiger by John Masters, an officer of the 4 GR and subsequently a celebrated author. John Masters took over the Chindit Brigade in Burma, from then Brigadier WDA Lentaigne, another former 4 GR officer. Brigadier Lentaigne opted to continue with the Indian Army after the partition. Later as Lt General, he became Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College. 

The presence of the 4 GR continues till today in the form of two residential blocks in IMA named after two 4 GR Commandants of the IMA — Brigadier Collins and Brigadier Kingsley. In fact, I spent my one year at the IMA in the Kingsley Block. Coincidentally, 4 GR was raised as the Extra Gorkha Regiment in 1857 at Pithoragarh, which incidentally is the district my family hails from, in the mountainous Kumaon region. Later, in 1861, it was renamed the 4th Gorkha Regiment, earning the title of the 4th Prince of Wales’ Own Gorkha Rifles in 1924. Eventually, after independence it became the 4th Gorkha Rifles. In 1866, the 4th Gorkha Rifles’ Centre was located at Bakloh in the state of Himachal Pradesh. And my own battalion, the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Gorkha Rifles, was also raised at Bakloh in 1866. 

Our regimental history is in the highest tradition of a fighting force. In the late 19th century, the Regiment was employed in the North West Frontier; then in Burma in 1870, and thereafter in the 2nd Afghan war of 1878; and with expeditionary force, sent to China in 1900 in response to the Boxer Rebellion. The 4th Gorkhas was deployed to the Western Front in late 1914, fighting in many of the early battles before being re-deployed in Mesopotamia in early 1916. While the 1st Battalion earned battle honours at Neuve Chappelle in France in 1914, the 2nd Battalion earned battle-honour ‘Baghdad’, fighting at Tigris 1916 and Kat-al-Amara 1917. The battalion celebrates 11 March as Regimental Day, the day it entered Baghdad. The battalion also saw action during the Second World War. It was deployed in North Africa (1940-3), and fought Rommel’s Africa Corps. It was captured by Rommel’s forces but was re-raised from the remnants and escapees and later took part in the Italian Campaign from 1943-5. 

In May 1948, the 2nd Battalion was inducted in Tragbal, in the Kashmir Valley as part of the Sri Division commanded by Maj General KS Thimayya, and tasked to recapture the complete Gurais valley along with 1 Grenadiers. The battalion fought with utmost grit and courage, and played an important role in clearing Gurais-Kanzalwan sector in 1948-9 under Lt Col AW Desai. It mostly fought battles at sub-unit level. Lt Kam Dal Gurung, Lt Daman Singh Pun MC, Sub Rudra Bahadur Pun VrC, Naik Kalicharan Gurung, L Naik Lal Bahadur and Rana were awarded with VrC for gallantry. Beside five VrCs, the battalion also earned Battle-Honour Gurais, one Ashok Chakra, and “Mention in Despatches”after independence — a truly remarkable achievement. Therefore, it was a unique privilege and honour for me to have joined such an illustrious battalion at the age of nineteen, as a Second Lieutenant. And I looked forward with a sense of enthusiasm and great expectation to joining it in Kargil, far in the north of India.

As a Young Officer in 2/4 GR

I was commissioned in the 2^nd battalion of the 4 Gorkha Rifles (GR), on 13 December 1959. My only reasons for opting to join the illustrious Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army were, the impressive looking head-gear donned by them, and my love for football (having played for the IMA Eleven)! One had little awareness of other military matters. The Adjutant of the IMA, in those days, was Major R B Dunne, a rather smart looking personality from 2/4 GR, besides the very soldierly Captain Bharat Singh, who motivated me to join the 4 GR. However, this was not entirely smooth sailing. My Battalion Commander, Colonel A. S. Judge was a ‘Gunner’ and he wanted me to join the Artillery. In the provisional allocation, I was earmarked for the Artillery. This caused me much concern. And made me rush to Capt. Bharat Singh, who reassured me, stating that a senior Lt. General of the 4 GR, was scheduled to visit the Academy, and he would sort out the problem.

There was a hockey match preceding the Passing Out Parade where I was also representing the IMA hockey team. During the introduction of the teams, to my great relief, the senior officer told me of my posting to the 2/4th GR, of which he was also the ‘Colonel’ of the Regiment.  I was very happy when, later, I was presented with the rifle green beret, the cane, and the belt of the Regiment and briefed about the location of the unit in the J&K, by my sponsor Capt. Bharat Singh.

The Battalion was located in the high-altitude area in the Kargil sector in Ladakh. Those days in the winter months, the only mode of transport was a lift in the IAF courier service in the Dakota aircraft from Jammu. This had limited capacity, and the flight depended on good weather. There used to be a huge pile-up of the waiting soldiers, in the transit camps at Pathankot and Jammu.  Pathankot, those days was the railhead, and accordingly I reported to the transit camp at the railway station for onward move to my unit. Along with other transients, we were assigned to the Officers Lorry, in a 3-Ton convoy for further despatch to the Transit Camp at Jammu. Here, at, the Jammu Transit Camp, we were manifested for airlift to Kargil. Though officers were given priority, the wait could vary from days to weeks. It all depended on the availability of aircrafts, and the weather. Many a time, there were last minute cancellations or diversions enroute due to inclement weather. After a wait of nearly 10 days, I was lucky to get a lift in the Dakota flight to my first military duty-station, to begin my long and eventful journey in the army.

 The officer commanding the Rear elements of the Brigade at Jammu was also from our unit, (Maj. S. S. Tomar), a very lively person who made the daily routine interesting and instructive, besides giving us some first-hand information about life in the unit. The special clothing at Kargil was a padded jacket commonly called ‘Coat Parka’ and special gumboots for snow, besides extra issue winter clothing and the sleeping bags. The battalion HQ was located close to the air field, on the banks of the River Suru and the sub-units were occupying the heights on the Line of Control (LoC). This was my first experience staying in the underground dug-outs, known as living-bunkers, with kerosene fired bukharis for heating. After the initial three weeks of Orientation training at the Battalion HQ on the functioning of a unit, learning first hand, the duties of an infantry rifleman and a junior commander, I was asked to quickly learn Nepali as all the communication with the men was in Nepali. Thereafter I was posted to A Company as a Platoon Commander, on the LOC at the height of 12800 feet, opposite the famous 13620 feature. ‘A’ company had a very senior company Commander, in Major H. K. Shepherd, who was also officiating as the second-in command of the battalion. He was very thorough and meticulous in training and administering the men. He knew his men well and would maintain their personal records of the service and would insist that his platoon commanders do the same.

The company was deployed on the LoC, on five posts at altitudes varying from 11 to 13000 feet high. I was made the Officiating Company Commander and sent up to the pickets. Here I had the important responsibility of the security of the border, besides learning the battle procedures and minor tactics. I must acknowledge the good basic grounding given to me during the first few weeks, by the Adjutant, the QM, the Senior JCO, the Company Commander and the Second-in-Command on all the details, the regimental history, the customs and traditions of the Regiment. The Rifle Drill and Guard Mounting procedure, the management of Arms and Ammunition, and the range firing drills, may appear routine. But they were important for a fresh subaltern. The mess etiquette and dinner night procedure, despite being in the Field, had to be learnt, and periodically observed by those at the battalion base.

I was sent on a long range patrol of ten days during the winter where we were to be administratively self-contained, visit villages in the area with essential medicines and also practice snow-craft. I recall my attachment for a week’s patrolling cadre, with 1st JAK LI, at Drass, then commanded by Lieutenant Colonel M. M. Ismail, of 8 GR, who was a true professional, loved outdoors, and shikar. I enjoyed the training outdoors under him, the night marches, navigation by stars and the study of the, natural flora and fauna of the area. Incidentally, many years later I met Colonel Ismail’s son, an outstanding officer, commanding a Gorkha battalion in the Kashmir valley. The duties in Kargil were challenging and interesting except during the time I was located at the HQ. The late nights in the Officer’s Mess, were most difficult for young officers, where most of the senior officers got involved in playing continuous games of bridge and a few of us had to sit out for our dinner beyond midnight. The Field concessions helped save money for kitting, by making essential ceremonial military dresses and also contribute regularly to the family budget at home.

In March 1960, I was asked to come down to the Base from the forward posts, as a vacancy on the Officer’s Physical Training Course (OPTC) had to be subscribed within the next three weeks. I was asked to do pre-course training and the Adjutant, then, Captain (Later Brigadier) Vijay Badhwar, lectured me that “In the 2/4 GR, nobody, comes back with less than an excellent grade”! He impressed upon me that I must perform well on the course, to retain that reputation. Fortunately, being fit and a good sportsman helped and I returned with ‘Alfa’ Grades. This good beginning gave me the necessary motivation and the confidence, and I continued to obtain the Instructor Grades, in all my subsequent training-courses: Weapons, Mechanical Training, Junior Command, Senior Command, Staff College, Higher Command and the National Defence College.

After a few months, the battalion moved to the Kupwara sector in the J&K Valley and I was sent on the snow warfare course at Gulmarg. I learnt to ski and was retained as an instructor for the winter of 1960-61. This was indeed a great opportunity for me to learn mountain and snow craft. I made some fine friends who were also great mountaineers – Everest climbers Colonel N. Kumar, Jagdish Joshi, Avtar Cheema and Harsh Bahuguna, who were excellent skiers too. As I look back to the yesteryears, spent in the Field, there is great improvement in the pay and allowances, in the logistics support and the quality of life and service conditions – as it should be. However, there is also some dilution in the maintenance of high physical standards and moral values, which needs to be restored in a professional army like ours, by the officer cadre.

The Battalion moved to Mhow (Madhya Pradesh) as the demonstration battalion and was also earmarked to go to the Congo, on a UN mission. I was appointed the Battalion Mechanical Transport Officer and the Football Captain. We trained hard and won the formation football tournaments. I was also selected to lead the Southern Command Team in the Services Football who had three India level players in Havaladar Trilok Singh, Arvinder and Ethiraj. The Chinese invasion of 1962 brought the battalion to Dehra Dun, for a three months commando training for special operations, cancelling the projected UN mission. We moved to Sikkim in February 63. In the meanwhile I was posted to HQ 20 Infantry division as the GSO (3) Ops and was selected as the Aide to the GOC, Major General Kamta Prasad MC and later Lt General J T Sataravala, at a rather young service of three years. This was a new learning phase for me. The Commando training at Doon was imparted by some of the finest Officers who had been trained at the Ranger’s School in the USA and focused on survival behind the enemy line, the ability to operate by night, the ‘buddy system’ and junior leadership. This was to prove of immense value to all Ranks and to the younger officers in particular.

Although, in the Army there are many who feel that a young officer should do more of the Regimental Soldiering for the first 5 to 7 years, there are others like me, who was moved on staff appointments very early, with just three years’ service. I personally gained by the early move to the staff appointments, as I had to be on my own and learn new professional matters and interact with officers of different Arms and Services. This gave me a much better professional exposure. I made up for the lack of some important courses such as the Platoon Weapons Course, by surrendering my annual leave and going on the course instead. This may not have been possible if, like some of my batch-mates, I had got married too early. I think officers should refrain from getting married for the first five years, to devote full time to soldiering, and do well on the professional courses, as this would facilitate their future prospects in the service career.

Visits to the Recruitment Areas of the soldiers and understanding their environment, background and language, is another issue, which is not being followed strictly in most of the regiments today. Some of the older battalions like mine encourage officers to trek to explore the soldier’s habitat during annual leave. I remember visiting the recruitment area in ‘Western Nepal’, after the, 1971 War, to meet the War Widows and the pensioners, despite a wedding in the family, which had to be missed as the tour dates were clashing with the event. For this, I was never forgiven by my wife, Aruna, as it was her sister who was getting married. But the Regiment was always a priority over the family, as per the old norms.