1971 War - An Emotional Memory for my Father
Down Madhumati Road
Dinesh K. Kapila
As you drive towards Shimla from Chandigarh, a road sign on the highway passing through Chandimandir cantonment states “Madhumati Road”. Few would know why this name is on the board except may be that it’s the name of a large river in Bangladesh.
For me, passing by the road sign gives a feeling of familiarity and pride, for the road sign signifies a hard-fought victory of the 1971 war by the 62 Mountain Brigade. One battalion of the 7th Brigade also performed the important function of a road block in this battle. Someday I plan to stand my children by the roadside for a photograph, for I want them to remember what their grandpa achieved 30 years ago. The children are yet small but I am sure they understand what I explain to them.
For it was Dad who commanded the 62 Mountain Brigade in this battle. The Army observes Victory Day and Infantry Day every year, but for my father such occasions are for remembering fallen comrades, of recalling men overcoming the primal emotions of fear on a pitch dark night, of men who fought for the honour of their battalions. The emotions, I have observed, are never revealed but the memories of the fallen comrades are always there on such occasions. Very few outside the forces can understand the feeling of having won a hard fought battle only to salute the fallen heroes the same day and to watch the pyres. Such farewells to comrades in arms are something the soldiers take along with them over life’s pathways. All that they ask is respect and honour for the fallen comrades and their sacrifices. The western social mores in this regard can teach us in India a lot, specially the “feel good” feeling it creates in the forces.
The 2/9 Gorkhas and 4 Sikh Light Infantry of the 62 Mountain Brigade fought a pitched battle on December 15, 1971 with the 50 Punjab and 38 Frontier Force of the Pakistani army. The Indian troops had to cross the river Madhumati and take on the opponents, who fought stubbornly before retreating. Dad still remembers crossing the large river in the pitch dark on a light tank as the situation was perceived to be tricky, he wanted to egg on his troops as the men fought desperately on the river banks to clear the way forward. The Pakistani forces withdrew after a stiff fight and considering the scale of the fighting and the magnitude of the operation, the 62 Mountain Brigade celebrates the day as Madhumati Day. Incidentally, the Pakistani troops were fresh troops from West Pakistan and hence fought well.
There is another tale also about the battle. Prior to the battle proper, a young officer from another unit had been detailed to recce the area and to find out the Pakistani deployment. The young officer could not apparently cross over and handed over a report which led to the attack being launched on what were entrenched positions. But then as military writers state, the only certainty in the chaos and fog of war is uncertainty and such incidents do occur.
After the war, 62 Mountain Brigade returned to Kanpur. The Subedar Major of the Unit whose officer had been detailed for the recce was retiring and sought an interview with Dad. On entering the office, he saluted smartly but refused to sit down. Standing ram rod straight he told him: “Saheb, it was a privilege to have fought under you. However, we let you down at the Madhumati river. The patrol did not cross the river for which I request forgiveness on behalf of the unit. Before I lay down my uniform I must request you for this and don’t have any ill-will in your heart.” There were tears in his eyes as also Dad’s. Nothing more was said, the Subedar Major simply saluted, they embraced then he left.
After 30 years, this incident can still make my father emotional. But as he says, only those who have fought together can know the strength of the bonds forged in the heat and chaos of battle and that more than the abstract feeling of nationhood, it’s the camaraderie, self sacrifice and trust factor which motivates the officers and men in the frontlines. Even today his prized possessions are the mementos presented to him by his battalions after the war, simply inscribed “We fought together — Bangladesh — 1971”.
My children must know and understand these bonds. One day the photograph must be taken.
Dinesh K. Kapila
As you drive towards Shimla from Chandigarh, a road sign on the highway passing through Chandimandir cantonment states “Madhumati Road”. Few would know why this name is on the board except may be that it’s the name of a large river in Bangladesh.
For me, passing by the road sign gives a feeling of familiarity and pride, for the road sign signifies a hard-fought victory of the 1971 war by the 62 Mountain Brigade. One battalion of the 7th Brigade also performed the important function of a road block in this battle. Someday I plan to stand my children by the roadside for a photograph, for I want them to remember what their grandpa achieved 30 years ago. The children are yet small but I am sure they understand what I explain to them.
For it was Dad who commanded the 62 Mountain Brigade in this battle. The Army observes Victory Day and Infantry Day every year, but for my father such occasions are for remembering fallen comrades, of recalling men overcoming the primal emotions of fear on a pitch dark night, of men who fought for the honour of their battalions. The emotions, I have observed, are never revealed but the memories of the fallen comrades are always there on such occasions. Very few outside the forces can understand the feeling of having won a hard fought battle only to salute the fallen heroes the same day and to watch the pyres. Such farewells to comrades in arms are something the soldiers take along with them over life’s pathways. All that they ask is respect and honour for the fallen comrades and their sacrifices. The western social mores in this regard can teach us in India a lot, specially the “feel good” feeling it creates in the forces.
The 2/9 Gorkhas and 4 Sikh Light Infantry of the 62 Mountain Brigade fought a pitched battle on December 15, 1971 with the 50 Punjab and 38 Frontier Force of the Pakistani army. The Indian troops had to cross the river Madhumati and take on the opponents, who fought stubbornly before retreating. Dad still remembers crossing the large river in the pitch dark on a light tank as the situation was perceived to be tricky, he wanted to egg on his troops as the men fought desperately on the river banks to clear the way forward. The Pakistani forces withdrew after a stiff fight and considering the scale of the fighting and the magnitude of the operation, the 62 Mountain Brigade celebrates the day as Madhumati Day. Incidentally, the Pakistani troops were fresh troops from West Pakistan and hence fought well.
There is another tale also about the battle. Prior to the battle proper, a young officer from another unit had been detailed to recce the area and to find out the Pakistani deployment. The young officer could not apparently cross over and handed over a report which led to the attack being launched on what were entrenched positions. But then as military writers state, the only certainty in the chaos and fog of war is uncertainty and such incidents do occur.
After the war, 62 Mountain Brigade returned to Kanpur. The Subedar Major of the Unit whose officer had been detailed for the recce was retiring and sought an interview with Dad. On entering the office, he saluted smartly but refused to sit down. Standing ram rod straight he told him: “Saheb, it was a privilege to have fought under you. However, we let you down at the Madhumati river. The patrol did not cross the river for which I request forgiveness on behalf of the unit. Before I lay down my uniform I must request you for this and don’t have any ill-will in your heart.” There were tears in his eyes as also Dad’s. Nothing more was said, the Subedar Major simply saluted, they embraced then he left.
After 30 years, this incident can still make my father emotional. But as he says, only those who have fought together can know the strength of the bonds forged in the heat and chaos of battle and that more than the abstract feeling of nationhood, it’s the camaraderie, self sacrifice and trust factor which motivates the officers and men in the frontlines. Even today his prized possessions are the mementos presented to him by his battalions after the war, simply inscribed “We fought together — Bangladesh — 1971”.
My children must know and understand these bonds. One day the photograph must be taken.
Tailpiece – The 2/9 GR presented a momento to my father after the war, a simple trophy, it states “In Honour of the Battles we fought Together – 23rd Nov 1971 to 16th Dec 1971”. Well, dad and his troops were well into the adjoining sliver of East Pakistan (as Bangladesh then was) by the time hostilities officially started on 04th Dec 1971. The Gorkha johnnies (ah, does he love the Gorkha Warriors, he is from 11 GR himself) asked dad in jest on 04th Dec 1971, now can we untie the lungis draped around our waists !!
(This appeared in The Tribune on 23/02/2003, that time the National Highway passed this road of Chandimandir Cantonment)
(My father Major General Rajendra Nath, PVSM(Retd) commanded 62 Mountain Brigade in the 1971 War from the Western side of what is now Bangladesh, He always remembers this) ===================================================================
(This appeared in The Tribune on 23/02/2003, that time the National Highway passed this road of Chandimandir Cantonment)
(My father Major General Rajendra Nath, PVSM(Retd) commanded 62 Mountain Brigade in the 1971 War from the Western side of what is now Bangladesh, He always remembers this) ===================================================================
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