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 रामायण गीत

मुकुट को छोड़कर,

धारण किया राम ने जब वल्कल,

तभी संसार में पूजे गये ,  

"प्रभु राम" कहलाये ।

हुआ था जन्म जिनका,

सूर्यवंशी भूप के आँगन,

दुलारा तीन माँओं ने,

अयोध्या राज था पावन ।

गए मुनिराज विश्वामित्र, 

जिनको साथ में लेकर,

कि वध हो दानवों का और, 

भय से मुक्त हों ऋषिवर।

वहीं जाकर जनकपुर में,

धनुष त्रिपुरारि का तोड़ा,

जनक की नंदिनी से,  

सात फेरों का वचन जोड़ा ।

पिता का यश न हो धुमिल,

झुके मस्तक न लज्जा से,

बने युवराज, सन्यासी ,

विमुख हर साज-सज्जा से ।

सिया को लेकर साथ, 

मातु कैकेयी को शिर नवाये,

हाथ में ले कर लक्ष्मण का हाथ,

जब वनवास को आये ।

गले लगकर-लगाकर 

वो निषादों और केवट को,

बनाकर आश्रय अपना 

कभी पीपल, कभी वट को ।

भरत की याचना पर, 

धर्म का सब मर्म समझाया,

नवाकर शीश, जोड़े  हाथ,

सबको देश लौटाया ।

अभी कुछ ही दिन किए थे व्यतीत,

कि बहन रावण की आयी,

किया अपमान सीता का,

लखन से नाक कटवायी ।

दशानन स्वर्णनगरी में, 

उठा ले गया सिय को,

सियापति हो उठे निष्प्राण-से,

सम्भालते अपने हिय को ।

मिले हनुमान से विह्वल,

हरी सुग्रीव की पीड़ा,

शबरी के जूठे बेर खाकर,

उठाया दुष्ट राक्षस के संहारण का बीड़ा ।

लुटाया स्नेह सबपर,जो मिला, 

क्या रीछ क्या वानर,

विभीषण, जो विपक्षी थे, 

दिया उन्हें भी आदर ।

पवनसुत लांघ सागर को गए,

जिनकी कृपादृष्टि पाकर,

बनाया था नल-नील ने सेतु, 

राम नाम लिख-लिखकर ।

छिड़ा फिर राम-रावण  युद्ध,

भूमिशायी हुआ रावण,

सौंपी लंकेश की लंका विभीषण को, 

निभाया अपना प्रण ।

मिली तब प्राणप्रिय सीता,

सकल वनवास भी बीता,

सभी की आत्मा का घट,

व्यथा के नीर से रीता ।

विजय होती सदा उसकी,

चले जो धर्म के पथ पर,

नहीं उपदेश ही केवल दिया, 

अपितु दिखलाए वो जी कर ।

हमेशा मन्थराओं को, उदधि को,

जो क्षमा कर दे,

अहिल्या जब शिला हों, 

श्वांस उनकी देह में भर दे ।

पराई पीर को जो समझे, 

रहे परमार्थ को तत्पर,

जटायु को लिये बैठे रहे जो,

अपने अंक में भरकर ।

अबोले खग-विहग, नग,भूमि,

सब पर प्रेम जो वारे,

विनय के साथ जो,

बल और पौरुष बाहु में धारे ।

पुरुष उत्तम है वही, 

कर्तव्य का नित भान हो जिसको,

उचित-अनुचित, कुपथ और

पुण्यपथ का ज्ञान हो उसको ।

यही है मूल उपसंहार, 

'रामायण' सबसे कहलाए,

वही व्यक्ति है 'राम',

जो मर्यादा का पर्याय बन जाये ।

जय श्री राम 🙏🏻

श्री राम नवमी की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं

I am thankful to the unknown contributor for this poem. Namo Vah.

जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी

 

 अनेक भाषाएं, अनेक बोलियाँ, एक स्वर...

अनेक पंथ, अनेक पथिक, एक ही रंग रुधिर...

अनेक योग्यताएं, अनेक भिन्नताएं, राष्ट्रप्रेम शुचि...

अनेक मानस, अनेक आचार-विचार, एक ही रुचि...

अनेक श्वास, अनेक स्पंदन, एक हृदय...

अनेक खान-पान, अनेक स्वाद, एक ही पवन मलय...

विविध रंग की मणियों को एकसूत्र करनेवाला हमारा संविधान, और उससे जनित सुंदर और सुरम्य हमारे गणतंत्र की माला...

गणतंत्र दिवस ही हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं...

रामायण का एक सुंदर प्रसंग

प्रकाश चंद्र ओझा

“रामायण” क्या है?? 

अगर कभी पढ़ो और समझो तो आंसुओ पे काबू रखना.......

रामायण का एक छोटा सा वृतांत है, उसी से शायद कुछ समझा सकूँ... 

एक रात की बात हैं, माता कौशल्या जी को सोते में अपने महल की छत पर किसी के चलने की आहट सुनाई दी। 

नींद खुल गई, पूछा कौन हैं ?

मालूम पड़ा श्रुतकीर्ति जी (सबसे छोटी बहु, शत्रुघ्न जी की पत्नी)हैं ।

माता कौशल्या जी ने उन्हें नीचे बुलाया |

श्रुतकीर्ति जी आईं, चरणों में प्रणाम कर खड़ी रह गईं

माता कौशिल्या जी ने पूछा, श्रुति ! इतनी रात को अकेली छत पर क्या कर रही हो बेटी ? 

क्या नींद नहीं आ रही ?

शत्रुघ्न कहाँ है ?

श्रुतिकीर्ति की आँखें भर आईं, माँ की छाती से चिपटी, 

गोद में सिमट गईं, बोलीं, माँ उन्हें तो देखे हुए तेरह वर्ष हो गए ।

उफ ! 

कौशल्या जी का ह्रदय काँप कर झटपटा गया ।

तुरंत आवाज लगाई, सेवक दौड़े आए । 

आधी रात ही पालकी तैयार हुई, आज शत्रुघ्न जी की खोज होगी, 

माँ चली ।

आपको मालूम है शत्रुघ्न जी कहाँ मिले ?

अयोध्या जी के जिस दरवाजे के बाहर भरत जी नंदिग्राम में तपस्वी होकर रहते हैं, उसी दरवाजे के भीतर एक पत्थर की शिला हैं, उसी शिला पर, अपनी बाँह का तकिया बनाकर लेटे मिले !! 

माँ सिराहने बैठ गईं, 

बालों में हाथ फिराया तो शत्रुघ्न जी नेआँखें खोलीं, 

माँ !

उठे, चरणों में गिरे, माँ ! आपने क्यों कष्ट किया ? 

मुझे बुलवा लिया होता ।

माँ ने कहा, 

शत्रुघ्न ! यहाँ क्यों ?"

शत्रुघ्न जी की रुलाई फूट पड़ी, बोले- माँ ! भैया राम जी पिताजी की आज्ञा से वन चले गए, 

भैया लक्ष्मण जी उनके पीछे चले गए, भैया भरत जी भी नंदिग्राम में हैं, क्या ये महल, ये रथ, ये राजसी वस्त्र, विधाता ने मेरे ही लिए बनाए हैं ?

माता कौशल्या जी निरुत्तर रह गईं ।

देखो क्या है ये रामकथा...

यह भोग की नहीं....त्याग की कथा हैं..!!

यहाँ त्याग की ही प्रतियोगिता चल रही हैं और सभी प्रथम हैं, कोई पीछे नहीं रहा...  चारो भाइयों का प्रेम और त्याग एक दूसरे के प्रति अद्भुत-अभिनव और अलौकिक हैं ।

"रामायण" जीवन जीने की सबसे उत्तम शिक्षा देती हैं ।

भगवान राम को 14 वर्ष का वनवास हुआ तो उनकी पत्नी सीता माईया ने भी सहर्ष वनवास स्वीकार कर लिया..!!

परन्तु बचपन से ही बड़े भाई की सेवा मे रहने वाले लक्ष्मण जी कैसे राम जी से दूर हो जाते! 

माता सुमित्रा से तो उन्होंने आज्ञा ले ली थी, वन जाने की.. 

परन्तु जब पत्नी “उर्मिला” के कक्ष की ओर बढ़ रहे थे तो सोच रहे थे कि माँ ने तो आज्ञा दे दी, 

परन्तु उर्मिला को कैसे समझाऊंगा.??

क्या बोलूँगा उनसे.?

यहीं सोच विचार करके लक्ष्मण जी जैसे ही अपने कक्ष में पहुंचे तो देखा कि उर्मिला जी आरती का थाल लेके खड़ी थीं और बोलीं- 

"आप मेरी चिंता छोड़ प्रभु श्रीराम की सेवा में वन को जाओ...मैं आपको नहीं रोकूँगीं। मेरे कारण आपकी सेवा में कोई बाधा न आये, इसलिये साथ जाने की जिद्द भी नहीं करूंगी।"

लक्ष्मण जी को कहने में संकोच हो रहा था.!!

परन्तु उनके कुछ कहने से पहले ही उर्मिला जी ने उन्हें संकोच से बाहर निकाल दिया..!!

वास्तव में यहीं पत्नी का धर्म है..पति संकोच में पड़े, उससे पहले ही पत्नी उसके मन की बात जानकर उसे संकोच से बाहर कर दे.!!

लक्ष्मण जी चले गये परन्तु 14 वर्ष तक उर्मिला ने एक तपस्विनी की भांति कठोर तप किया.!!

वन में “प्रभु श्री राम माता सीता” की सेवा में लक्ष्मण जी कभी सोये नहीं , परन्तु उर्मिला ने भी अपने महलों के द्वार कभी बंद नहीं किये और सारी रात जाग जागकर उस दीपक की लौ को बुझने नहीं दिया.!!

मेघनाथ से युद्ध करते हुए जब लक्ष्मण जी को “शक्ति” लग जाती है और हनुमान जी उनके लिये संजीवनी का पर्वत लेके लौट रहे होते हैं, तो बीच में जब हनुमान जी अयोध्या के ऊपर से गुजर रहे थे तो भरत जी उन्हें राक्षस समझकर बाण मारते हैं और हनुमान जी गिर जाते हैं.!!

तब हनुमान जी सारा वृत्तांत सुनाते हैं कि, सीता जी को रावण हर ले गया, लक्ष्मण जी युद्ध में मूर्छित हो गए हैं।

यह सुनते ही कौशल्या जी कहती हैं कि राम को कहना कि “लक्ष्मण” के बिना अयोध्या में पैर भी मत रखना। राम वन में ही रहे.!!

माता “सुमित्रा” कहती हैं कि राम से कहना कि कोई बात नहीं..अभी शत्रुघ्न है.!!

मैं उसे भेज दूंगी..मेरे दोनों पुत्र “राम सेवा” के लिये ही तो जन्मे हैं.!!

माताओं का प्रेम देखकर हनुमान जी की आँखों से अश्रुधारा बह रही थी। परन्तु जब उन्होंने उर्मिला जी को देखा तो सोचने लगे कि, यह क्यों एकदम शांत और प्रसन्न खड़ी हैं?

क्या इन्हें अपनी पति के प्राणों की कोई चिंता नहीं?

हनुमान जी पूछते हैं- देवी! 

आपकी प्रसन्नता का कारण क्या है? आपके पति के प्राण संकट में हैं...सूर्य उदित होते ही सूर्य कुल का दीपक बुझ जायेगा। 

उर्मिला जी का उत्तर सुनकर तीनों लोकों का कोई भी प्राणी उनकी वंदना किये बिना नहीं रह पाएगा.!!

उर्मिला बोलीं- "

मेरा दीपक संकट में नहीं है, वो बुझ ही नहीं सकता.!!

रही सूर्योदय की बात तो आप चाहें तो कुछ दिन अयोध्या में विश्राम कर लीजिये, क्योंकि आपके वहां पहुंचे बिना सूर्य उदित हो ही नहीं सकता.!!

आपने कहा कि, प्रभु श्रीराम मेरे पति को अपनी गोद में लेकर बैठे हैं..!

जो “योगेश्वर प्रभु श्री राम” की गोदी में लेटा हो, काल उसे छू भी नहीं सकता..!!

यह तो वो दोनों लीला कर रहे हैं..

मेरे पति जब से वन गये हैं, तबसे सोये नहीं हैं..

उन्होंने न सोने का प्रण लिया था..इसलिए वे थोड़ी देर विश्राम कर रहे हैं..और जब भगवान् की गोद मिल गयी तो थोड़ा विश्राम ज्यादा हो गया...वे उठ जायेंगे..!!

और “शक्ति” मेरे पति को लगी ही नहीं, शक्ति तो प्रभु श्री राम जी को लगी है.!!

मेरे पति की हर श्वास में राम हैं, हर धड़कन में राम, उनके रोम रोम में राम हैं, उनके खून की बूंद बूंद में राम हैं, और जब उनके शरीर और आत्मा में ही सिर्फ राम हैं, तो शक्ति राम जी को ही लगी, दर्द राम जी को ही हो रहा.!!

इसलिये हनुमान जी आप निश्चिन्त होके जाएँ..सूर्य उदित नहीं होगा।"

राम राज्य की नींव जनक जी की बेटियां ही थीं... 

कभी “सीता” तो कभी “उर्मिला”..!!

 भगवान् राम ने तो केवल राम राज्य का कलश स्थापित किया ..परन्तु वास्तव में राम राज्य इन सबके प्रेम, त्याग, समर्पण और बलिदान से ही आया .!!

जिस मनुष्य में प्रेम, त्याग, समर्पण की भावना हो उस मनुष्य में राम हि बसता है... 

कभी समय मिले तो अपने वेद, पुराण, गीता, रामायण को पढ़ने और समझने का प्रयास कीजिएगा .,जीवन को एक अलग नज़रिए से देखने और जीने का सऊर मिलेगा .!!

"लक्ष्मण सा भाई हो, कौशल्या माई हो,

स्वामी तुम जैसा, मेरा रघुराइ हो.. 

नगरी हो अयोध्या सी, रघुकुल सा घराना हो, 

चरण हो राघव के, जहाँ मेरा ठिकाना हो..

हो त्याग भरत जैसा, सीता सी नारी हो, 

लव कुश के जैसी, संतान हमारी हो.. 

श्रद्धा हो श्रवण जैसी, सबरी सी भक्ति हो, 

हनुमत के जैसी निष्ठा और शक्ति हो... "

ये रामायण है, पुण्य कथा श्री राम की।

Sri Dakshinamurti Nandi Teertha Kalyani Kshetra, Bangalore

#AmazingIndia...

Sri Dakshinamukha Nandi Tirtha Kalyani Kshetra

1. General Info. As the name suggests, this temple has idols of Nandi and Shiva facing south. Such south facing idols are a rarity and therefore the Shiva here is also called as 'Dakshinamurthy'. This temple is co-located with two famous temples - Sri Gangamma Devi Temple & Sri Kadu Mallikarjun Swamy Temple.

2. Special Architecture. The idol of Nandi is situated on a platform above the Shivalinga and there is a continuous flow of water from Nandi's mouth onto the Shivalinga. The source of water from Nandi's mouth is unknown and it falls directly on the Shivalinga. All the Vastu principles for building Hindu temples has been followed. Carvings of snake, tortoise and fish can be seen on the steps of the Kalyani.

3. Faith. The water is said to possess medicinal properties. Several devotees have reportedly been benefitted from consuming this water as teertha. 

4. History of the Temple. The temple is over 400 year old. The whole temple was submerged under the soil and only the upper part of the Nandi's head was visible. In 1997, the residents of Malleshwaram, helped in saving the temple plot from those with real estate interests and excavated the land. To their surprise, they discovered an elaborately built temple tank with idols of Shivalinga & Nandi, & with fish and turtles in the submerged tank!!! When the mouth of the bull was cleaned, a stream of water stared pouring out uninterruptedly.

5. Poojas & Festivals. 

Special Poojas and festivals are observed, namely Dakshinamurthy Pooja, Pradosha Kaala Pooja, Kartika Maasa Pooja, Maasa Shivaratri, Mahashivaratri, Special Poojas on Monday and Sankranti Special Poojas. During Dakshinamurthy Pooja, a sacred thread called 'Dakshina Murthy' thread is tied to devotee's wrists. This thread is believed to bestow Guru Bala, meaning own Guru's help in overcoming hurdles in life. During Kartika Maasa, the steps in front of the deities are lit with oil lamps and devotees witness the divine form of Shiva and Nandi in the oil lamps' light, without any electricity.

6. Apart from the main deity, a small Ganapati idol & Navagraha idols are also in the temple.

PMNRF vs PM CARES...

Authored by me...

Open source material has been used & each information compiled below has been gleaned from multiple sources...

1. First, mandate.

PMNRF caters to natural emergencies, calamities and to emerging medical expenses. 

PM CARES also includes research & infrastructure in pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.

2. Second, Trustees.

In 1985, when Rajiv Gandhi was the PM, the management of the PMNRF fund was entrusted entirely with the Prime Minister. PM had the sole discretion of appointing a secretary to manage the fund & the criterion for disbursement of money and selection of beneficiaries is purely at the ‘discretion of the PM and in accordance with the PM’s directions.’

PM CARES has the PM, HM, FM, DM as the trustees, with  provisions to nominate at least three more trustees, who are experts in various scientific / tech fields. PM CARES thus delegates the power of deliberation and decision making to three other ministers of the government. As chairman of the PM CARES trust, PM still has the responsibility of sanctioning and approving his ministers’ recommendations.

3.  Third, Income Tax.

As both these funds are contributory in nature, they are not subject to Income Tax. Also, contributions to both  these funds are also not subject to Income Tax. 

PM CARES can also accept funds from abroad, as it has FCRA exemption. 

4. Fourth, income & expenditure profile.

PMNRF is a 70 year old fund & has a well established income & expdr profile which is available in public domain. 

The PM CARES, being recently established, does not have a publicly available income and expenditure profile yet. (This does not mean that there is something fishy here. Just that it will take one financial year cycle to do it.)

5. Fifth, Delhi Highcourt has already trashed a PIL asking the legal validity of this fund.

6. Sixth, audit. 

Both PMNRF & PM Care are audited by independent auditors & not CAG, due to the nature of funding of these funds.

Brief Interlude with an Enemy POW, who was destined to become Air Chief of Pakistan

Authored by Brig Ajit Apte (Retd)
       

It was a bright Sunny Monday on 22 November 1971, except that we seemed to be in for a rough time with the Pakistan Air force (PAF) which was visiting us far too frequently.

I had just 10 months service, was the Gun Position Officer (GPO) of an Artillery Field Battery(Bty) of 25 Pounder Guns in 14 Field Regiment(Regt). We were deployed on the Eastern Front, near the Boyra Salient on the North West part of East Pakistan.

It was about 2.40 pm (1440h) “Stand To” was ordered by the Adjutant (Adjt) Capt Sapatnekar.
All guns to be manned. Light Machine Guns (LMG) to be deployed on the Anti Aircraft Ack Ack role as deterrence to the enemy(en) aircraft(ac).

We were under an enemy Air Strike again. We had been under continuous enemy air raids, while providing artillery  support for the Battle of Garibpur inside East Pakistan.

Our aggressive posturing had perhaps provoked the PAF 14 Squadron (Sqn) to be unleashed on us, on our Divisional Sector to engage our military & assets and dispositions deployed there.

Our earlier requests for Fighter aircraft(ac) cover over our Divisional Sector on 21st  November were rejected by the IAF, perhaps because, officially War had not been declared.

Earlier in the day I had seen the Sabres doing High Dive attacks on our position. One of the Sabres had flown, just above Tree Top level, between my bty and the adjacent bty of Lt Gabriel Pereira the other GPO.

At  2.45pm or so, I saw these Sabres climbing up to about 2000 ft and then coming down to about 500 ft for the weapon release like those German Stuka bombers in the Second World War.

Our LMGs on Ack Ack role & our Air Defence (AD) guns were not very effective but we could see their white puffs trying to deter the en ac.

I very clearly saw a mission of three Sabre fighters from the East of my gun area swooping over us at low level.

Just then, within a few seconds I saw four ac heading from the West of my gun area, peeling out of formation, from a Mission initially heading towards us, but then swiftly swinging towards the enemy ac.

The Sabres were totally oblivious of these four Gnats heading towards them, and instead continued with their Dive Attacks.

It was clear to us now, that our IAF had joined the Air Battle. We stepped out of our bunkers & trenches to look up Skywards to see the action.

Our Forward Air Controller(FAC) Flt Lt Sharad Savur (Later Air Marshal AOC –in –C),  with our 350 Infantry Brigade (Inf Bde) was already located with 4 Sikh which was ahead of my regt.1st JAK Rifles, and 26 Madras were the other bns of our Inf bde deployed ahead.
My arty regt was in Direct Support to 350 inf bde.

Earlier the same day on 22nd November at about 1000h, there were two missions (msn) by the PAF Sabres. Our  Gnats had then Scrambled, but they did not reach the target area on time.
They did not make contact and returned dejected. Wg Cdr Sikand was the Commanding Officer 22 Sqn IAF, who had led the two earlier sorties.

He then moved out for the afternoon & handed over the Lead to Flt Lt Roy Andrew Massey, with Flg Offr Sunith Soares as his Deputy. Flt Lts Ganapathy and Flg Offr  Don Lazarus retained their No 3 & 4 Positions. The Fighter Controller then was Flg Officer Bagchi. The Fighter Controller & the ORP Pilots.

All was quiet; on the Eastern Front. Sunith Francis Soares and Don Lazarus were playing Scrabble & relaxing.

The time now was 1440h  (2.40 pm) when suddenly the Klaxon started blaring

Intrusion & Pick Up...

The Radar had Picked up the intrusion of the three enemy Sabres at 1440h and within a minute the Operational Readiness Platform (ORP) at Dum Dum Airport Calcutta, scrambled four Gnats, who were airborne within minutes hurtling through the skies at low level, with full throttles against the Stop.

The Dog Fight...

Our Gnats reached the International Border (IB), and then Bagchi told Massey (On the Air Defence Interceptor Radio Channel) Enemy 2.O Clock 4 Nautical Miles
Massey replied Contact. I see them Pull Up.
Ganapathy & Don being on the right flank couldn’t spot the en ac. Soares spotted one en ac at three km, perched to now commence a Dive.
He called out Contact and Massey spotted the en ac, then pulled over the flank pair, to manouevre behind that ac. Soares then gave the running  commentary on the flight path very effectively.

Meanwhile that Sabre tried to evade, but soon Massey’s Gnat got within firing range & he fired a small cannon burst. It missed the target, but he followed quickly, with another cannon burst,  which slammed the right wing as we saw it near the fuselage. The En pilot immediately ejected.

The Sabres had now commenced another Dive at 1800ft altitude, diving down to about 500ft in an Attack run over our positions.

Massey, Soares, Lazarus Ganapathy,  just latched on to the Sabres (Like a hungry Tiger would do to its Prey) as the Sabres now tried to pull out of the attack.

While Flg Offr Soares was in combat, he had heard Flt Lt Ganapathy saying that he had spotted a Sabre & so he maneuvered behind him to fire on the en ac. He however missed the tgt. Just then, the third Sabre cropped in behind Don & Ganapathy at a distance of 200 yds.

Flg Offr Don Lazarus swerved now, got in line with that en ac & fired. Don's reflexes and manoeuvring skills were Superb, that enabled him to slam the cannons bang on Target. It caused that en ac to explode, with the debris hitting Don’s ac on the nose and Drop Tank. This en pilot ejected. He was Flt Lt Pervez Mehdi.

We on ground, saw his parachute open & he was coming down.We were ready to apprehend him.

Ganapathy fired later accurately and hit the third en ac on its right wing setting it aflame, but that en ac perhaps escaped back to base

Meanwhile both Flt Lt Ganapathy & Flg Offr Don Lazarus spotted an en ac each, & they separated to now shoot down one ac each.

What we saw from the ground was, that two Gnats in a pair were shooting at one en ac & another pair of Gnats were first separating themselves & then shooting one en ac each. Finally two en ac were shot down and the two parachutes drifted to the ground. It was a sight to remember.

I do recall now that one en ac the third with trailing smoke had evaded and probably returned to the en base.We learnt the next day that it was perhaps Wg Cdr Chadhury the Mission Leader from 14 Sqn PAF.

The Dogfight was over in a jiffy. Our Gnats did the Victory Roll over us and Home They Went.

Within minutes the All India Radio and the Newspapers announced this news and the award
of the Nations first three Gallantry Awards.

VrCs to Flt Lts Massey, Ganapathy and Flg Offr  Don Lazarus, and VM to Flg Offr Bagchi.

What the Nation was reading or listening to was remote. We had seen it happening in front of us, and had been part of that High Voltage Drama.

The two Pakistani Pilots ejected and their parachutes landed, one over 4 Sikh that was Flt Lt Pervez Mehdi (where then Capt H S Panag later Lt Gen Army Cdr) was the Adjutant of the bn, who initially had  apprehended the Pilot and saved him from being massacred by the troops.

Flg Officer Khalil Ahmed the other Pilot had landed on 1st JAK Rifles where Capt Sharma, our Regt Observation Post (OP) Officer  saw him being  captured by the bn.

Both these Pilots were then sent to our 14 Fd Regt which was about 1500m behind, on a flank.

I was nearest to the Regt Command Post (RCP) and summoned alongwith Lt Gabriel Pereira the other GPO.

The Second in Command (2IC) Maj Basudev Krishna & Capt Jay Sapatnekar, Adjt, told us to attend to the two PW Pilots once they reached our location. Soon Capt Harwant Singh then near the RCP also joined in.

Flt Lt Pervez Mehdi the senior of the two was slightly injured, but luckily Panag had saved him from further injuries & he had been given First Aid there in that bn.

Both the pilots were treated very well by us with due dignity. Tea and Cigarettes were given to them. Khalil Ahmed confirmed that they were surprised by the Gnats and outgunned & outmaneuvered by them. They were not hit by ground fire as speculated by some.

They told us that the dispositions of our Guns, Tanks, and other details were given by the Mukti Bahini.

I saw Pervez Mehdi’s Shooting Map on his flying suit. On it I noted that we were marked as Enemy (in Red), on his List of Targets to be hit. Our Guns, Tanks and the Engineers were his main targets

Pervez said that they couldn’t pin point the targets for shooting, because accurate spotting was difficult, due to our Camouflage & Concealment. They were also scared of our Ack Ack fire from the Air Defence Guns in action.

Our 2IC and the Adjt asked them some Questions. Both Pervez Mehdi and Khalil Ahmed  pleaded that we don’t hand them over to the Mukti Bahini. You are now PWs we said and will be dealt with, by us only.

Pereira and I were then told to blindfold the two enemy Pilots. Then with a proper armed escort we sent them in our regt vehicle to the inf bde.

Maj GB Reddy, the Brigade Maj of 350 Inf Bde was waiting for the PWs to take further action as required. He was happy that the Pilots had been treated with dignity.

I didn’t know then, that I had just blindfolded a future Air Chief of the Pakistan Air Force. 

PWs Flight to Delhi...

The two enemy pilots were well treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions throughout.

I got to know much later that a pair of my NDA course mates, Pilot Officers Pradeep Kapur & TV Abraham with Flg Officer GS Bhullar as the Capt of the Dakota DC3  Carnicobar-Rangoon Barrackpore Calcutta Courier,  had taken the two PW Pilots with a proper escort to Delhi for  interrogation. They were accompanied by some IAF officers.

Pradeep Kapur said that Pervez Mehdi had kept quiet throughout the flight but Khalil Ahmed was very talkative and easy.

The PWs were given good on-flight packed dinner from the famous Great Eastern Hotel Calcutta.
Khalil Ahmed enjoyed the dinner but Pervez Mehdi refused to eat at all. On reaching Delhi the PWs were handled as per the Regulations.

REUNION OF WAR VETERANS...

It was sheer coincidence that in October 2017, I could establish phone contact with Gp Capt Don Lazarus, Gp Capt Sunith Soares, and Air Marshal Sharad Savur. Alas Wg Cdrs Massey and Ganapathy had  Faded Away, what a pity. Wg Cdrs Milind Baliga 34th NDA & Bhagwat from the same Sqn were also contacted. Must thank my School junior colleague, Gp Capt Rajiv Ketkar 40th NDA to enable this to happen. We planned for the Reunion in December the same year in Pune.

On 16 December 2017, Vijay Diwas, we - Col Sahasrabudhe, Brig Jay Sapatnekar and Myself from our 14 Fd Regt all War Veterans of that 1971 War (now retired in Pune) hosted & invited these Air Force Officers for Beer and Lunch to the RSAMI, our Officers Institute in Pune.

We exchanged notes of that memorable event in  November 1971 as it unfolded that day in the Air as well as on Ground. Col Gabriel Pereira being outstation couldn't join. It was our Vote of Thanks to the Air Warriors of our Indian Air force which undoubtedly is the  finest in the World

(My Sincere thanks to Gp Capts Sunith Soares & Don Lazarus for their discussing the Air Battle with me as it happened. It enabled me to conjunct it with events seen by us on ground.)

Flt Lt Pervez Mehdi rose to be the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air force during the 1999 Kargil Conflict.

Gp Capt Don Lazarus wrote a Congratulatory letter to the Pakistan Air Force Chief on his promotion. In that letter he reminded him of their only, one previous meeting during that Aerial Combat, in 1971
Don Lazarus wished him Success.

ACM Pervez Mehdi duly acknowledged that in his reply to Gp Capt Don Lazarus and Thanked him.

It is nearly Half a Century since this memorable event occurred but it is etched in my Memory.
I would love to invite any snippets from the others who witnessed this Drama in Real Life that day in War.

DIGNITY & DECORUM IS THE HALLMARK OF OUR ARMED FORCES...

Story of Thakur Balwant Singh Bakhasar

Authored & shared by anonymous...

The story of a Rajasthani Dacoit, who helped guide the Indian Para Commandos in 1971 war to their targets in Pakistan. He is Thakur Balwant Singh Bakhasar from Barmer, Rajasthan.  He played an active role in helping the Indian Army reach Sindh and capture Pakistani areas during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.

He was active as a dacoit in and around Barmer, parts of Gujarat and Sindh in Pakistan and was dreaded in these regions within a circumference of 100 km in the pre 1971s. He was familiar of each and every corner and pathway of these regions. His knowledge of untrodden routes proved a boon for the Indian Army in the war. Ultimately India won this war against Pakistan.

Indian Para Commandos in this region during the 1971 war was led by Lt Col Sawai Bhawani Singh. The Col was aware of Balwant Singh’s knowledge of routes in that region. He sought the dacoit’s guidance of routes to which the latter readily agreed.  

The Indian Army first attacked and captured Chachro town in Pakistan on December 7, 1971. Thereafter, the Indian Army commandos attacked Virawah and captured it. In total, Dacoit Balwant Singh Bakhasar not only guided the Indian Army but also (along with his associates) participated as soldiers to capture many villages of Pakistan.

Interestingly, Balwant Singh Bakhasar started his pastime as a Gaurakshak. Pakistanis often came to India along the borders and stole cattle. Balwant Singh Bakhasar saved the cows, killing the Pakistani cattle thieves. He saved many cows from being stolen and encountered many cattle thieves. This stopped the the Pakistanies from further entering the Indian borders and stopped their activities. They dreaded Balwant Singh.

Post war, dacoit Thakur Balwant Singh Bakhasar became a hero and his fame as a patriot spread far and wide. The Rajasthan government pardoned him. Lt Col Sawai Bhawani Singh was awarded with Mahaveer Chakra. 

Here is a video on Balwant Singh by Sudhir Chaudhury on DNA in Zee News: https://youtu.be/axGwkk3kiiE and another video: https://youtu.be/Oq4k64G_ZKw.