Fighting Fifth 5TH BATTALION the ASSAM REGIMENT GOLDEN JUBILEE-1963 to 2015 IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE CHAMB WARRIORS by

Col Mani K Gahatraj (Retd) 2015-Golden Jubilee-1^st GB Couple with GJ GB Couple                                                    1973 Christmas- Channu Diwani- GB with Officers-JCOs   Hooghly Rocks with Rhinos Shifting depth pattern of River Hooghly that flows through the City of Joy is almost notoriously famous across the naval world, for the tough challenge it poses to the ship’s navigators. A barge, a ferry, or a fishing boat sailing lazily over the muddy waters of Hooghly is a common site, yet, within himself, the captain is tense and alert as he steers the ship along with the narrow depth that meanders under the calm surface. Long Kolkata day came to an end. The streetlights came on. Headlights came on. As the dusk of the city slips away paving way for the twinkling city lights almost matching the starry January sky, the medium size diesel barge sailing upwind at a slow speed of about 5 knots pushes against mild current. The bow plowing through muddy Hooghly water sprays milky froth by its side. Up North, the mountains are in the grip of winter and the cold Himalayan wind skims through Hooghly surface, warming its way down to the Bay of Bengal. MV Sumangal Cruise lit up for the Rhino Night MV Sumangal, our sailing rendezvous for the evening, illuminated like floating Diwali, had taken off from Malancha Resort, Barrackpore at about 8 pm and was heading for “Nivedita Bridge”, close to Belur Math in Dakhineswar, a distance of 22 km one way and in Naval terms about 15 nautical miles. It would return back to the same resort after a couple of hours when the merry was made with flowing wine and lavish bill of fare while the better part of the night would be danced away to the peppy music of the Rhino Boys. The ship was carrying the Regimental family of Fighting Fifth and the theme of the night’s floating celebrations was to create a joyous melting pot of old and young Rhinos in an informal mold with music, food, wine, and lots of laughter. It was a rendezvous of two worlds, the black & white world with its multicolor incarnation. Present were four generations of Rhino Veterans, who had pioneered this home of the Rhinos, trail blazing their way through the 60s, 70s, 80s, and the 90 and had handed over the baton to the 21st Century Rhinos. Since the inception, the founding fathers had exploded their way through the vast labyrinthine landscape of India across its mountains, jungles, plains, deserts, and the Sarkanda fields and had fought the bloodiest battle of Chhamb in 1971, earning the rarest of rare Battle Honor, Chamb-71. During this historic battle 24 Rhinos had sacrificed their lives, 35 had been wounded and 52 had suffered being prisoners of war, a heavy price indeed. Tonight, sailing over Hooghly was more than special as the diehard veterans were in the company of present generation flag bearers, the 21st-century team. The elderly veterans had converged to their old home from different corners of the country, despite age, health, commitments and vagaries of travel. Two generations were now in the same boat, albeit literally celebrating, drinking, reminiscing, dancing, and laughing away the night. This event was writing a historic chapter on the surface of this timeless Hooghly River. After all, when was the last time that a Glorious Golden Jubilee and one of the all-time great Battle Honors of an Infantry Battalion was commemorated on board an illuminated barge sailing on the surface of Hooghly river; for that matter; any river on planet earth.

Dear reader, this unprecedented event was the commemoration of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the 5th Battalion the Assam Regiment, the Fighting Fifth. <p style=”color:red”>The ship carried the Regimental family and all the passengers had one thing in common; each one of them had a deeply ingrained spirit of Fighting Fifth, one of the finest fighting machines of the world. This was the one and only Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army to have earned the “Battle Honor-Chhamb-71” in the 1971 Indo-Pak war for its extreme valor by singlehandedly blunting a major Pakistani Attack in the Sarkanda fields of Chhamb and foiling their audacious plan to eat breakfast in Akhnoor, about 60 km deep inside India on 4th Dec Morning of 1971. They thought it was a cakewalk to Akhnoor but our battalion made the enemy eat humble pie in the form of mines, bombs, bullets, Dahs, and bayonets. The most endearing and formidable presence was that of the founding father, Lt Col (now Brig, Retd) SS Chowdhury, fit at 92 with his neatly groomed white beard along with his graceful wife, Mrs. Chowdhury, the very first, First Lady of the Battalion. It was in 1965 that a young and dashing Gaon Bura had pioneered the raising of the battalion as the first commanding officer. Upper Deck Bar-from Left-Author, Brig SS Chowdhury, Col AS Malhi & Maj Gen Prem Puri Almost all the surviving veteran officers of 1971 Battle od Chhamb were present. The hero of the Battle, Lt Col AS Malhi (now late Col, Retd) 85 was present in his indomitable Khublei spirit, albeit in white beard and a walking stick. His bravery, canniness, and hawk’s eye for the ground had turned Pak forces dreams into a nightmare in the Sarkanda fields of Barsala and Chhamb. Next came Maj (now, Maj Gen Retd) Prem Puri, the then Bravo Coy Commander, Capt Hmingdailova Khiangte (now Retd IPS & presently Cabinet Secretary, Government of Mizoram) the de-facto Charlie Company Commander cum Support Company Commander cum Recoilless (RCL) Gun Platoon commander, the one and only officer who knocked down a Pakistani Tank with RCL gun; ever smiling and joke-cracking Capt (now Lt Col, Retd) SR Das, then the Battle Adjutant; Capt (now, Col Retd) RS Rathore, then Motor Platoon Commander, 2/Lt (now Col Retd) MK Gahatraj, then MTO and the Battalion Mine Laying Officer as also the very first battle casualty; 2/Lt (now Lt Col, Retd) BK Nair, hero of Bokan Border Outpost (BOP) who had extricated his platoon from under the nose of Pak Forces while carrying piggyback 2 wounded Rhino Jawans saving their precious lives. We still call him “Bokan”. Capt M Prohlad Ao (now Lt Col Retd), who walked away from unfinished tenure in Indian Military Academy to join the battalion in action as a replacement of late Maj JBS Maken who was killed in Action fighting Pak attack in Delta Company. Capt (now Lt Col Retd) K. Tshering and Capt (now Lt Col Retd) RL Atri; both had volunteered back to serve the Khel during the war but could only join after the cease-fire. Those of ’71 veterans who could not join us due to illness or other business were Maj (now Lt Col, Retd) MS Sharawat, who was well represented by his son Maj NS Sharawat, presently serving the battalion; 2/Lt (now Capt Retd) YB Thapa, wounded in the battle of Dalla BOP, Maj (now Lt Col, Retd) NP Singh, Capt (now, Lt Col Retd) CS Nair, 2/Lt (now Col Retd) SK Tiwari and Capt (now Lt Col Retd) Jialal. This is the first time after the 1971 war that so many FF Team of 1971 gathered under one roof of Fighting Fifth. However, to be honest, for us the band of Chamb-71 Veterans, the old sentiments of battle field Chhamb was so strong that the celebrations auto volte-faced into more of “Chhamb Day” and less of Golden Jubilee. It just happened, Khublei to the indomitable Chhamb spirit.

We found perfect and graceful hosts & hostesses in each member of the present Team lead from the front by Col Vishal Jondhale with his beautiful and gracious first lady, Priya, and the team of officers and ladies; Maj Sahi and Mrs Sakshi Sherpa Sahi, Maj Chalamba and Mrs. Taroja Chalamba, Maj Pikky & Mrs. Sonia Pikky, Maj Thapliyal, Maj Prakash Singh Bhandari and Mrs Neha Shah Bhandari, Maj Udit, Maj Adarsh, Capt Vipin, Capt Amit Thapa, Lt Moore, and Lt Vedang. A few serving officers and ladies presently out of the battalion also joined the celebrations were Col Santosh Tripathi & Mrs. Anita Tripathi and Maj Nikhit Bisht & Mrs Namita Bisht. Although each of these hosts were enjoying every moment of the occasion yet none of them forgot to be the perfect host taking care and attending to every single guest, veterans and ladies in the true spirit of the one and only Fighting Fifth. As we arrived at the shore of the Hooghly, a bevy of beauties in flowing skirts and high heels welcomed us near the jetty guiding us to the waiting barge. One by one we climbed the short but steep staircase to reach the landing of the lower deck only to find another flight of similar stair case to the upper deck where we felt the gentle swaying of the barge pushed by the low tides. An illuminated upper deck was partially filled with people who had already arrived as more were pushing themselves up the staircase. Rows of chairs were neatly placed on the starboard and port side of the deck where ladies were taking their seats holding clinking glasses just saying hello to each other exchanging the evening notes. The interesting part of the upper deck was of course the Rhino Bar that was strategically located on the Quarter Deck where I asked for my usual, brandy with warm water, ideal for the winter night. With a generous swig, as I felt the warm fire water trickling down my system and warming me inside out I snaked my way across the crowded deck and found myself joining the first group of old buddies huddled together. Chaired by Ranjan Das, as usual, the keen listeners to his wisecracks were Prem Puri, K. Tshering, Roshan Atri and Bokan. Upon joining them I felt an immediate transforming effect back to the future of 1971 mess evening in Channu Diwani. Ranjan’s jokes on Maj MS Sharawat were in full swing that has become almost legendary. He repeats the same jokes again and again but with such mesmerizing effects that each time it feels like a new joke sending all of us in a rapturous peal of laughter. The jokes are about MS Sharawat’s statements and off the cuff remarks in his typical Jat English. Back in the 70s, these were the jokes during mess a function that enthralled us and now after 45 odd years Ranjan Das, in his grey avatar, is still at it, cracking the same jokes with almost the same audiences with the same effect. The evening started warming up as the drinks went down and the music slowly switched from the melody to peppy dance numbers. Young officers and ladies started inching towards the forward deck where the band had started playing its pulsating musical notes. Rina and I had already formed a happy bond with Priya, Sakshi & Neha over the dance floor during the Golden Jubilee dinner night on 8th Jan and here I found myself dancing with these young ladies again. Jasbir was already hot at the dance floor and as usual we warmed up together shaking and swaying with the music. The crowd had swelled up to a considerable size thumping the forward deck with every beat of the music. More people joined in and soon the dance floor was packed with gyrating bodies. When I noticed Mrs. Satindra Cheema, ex first lady, standing on the sideline and clapping to the music, I requested her for the honor and much to the bewilderment of the young generation, we did the old forgotten foxtrot, the waltz, and the jive enjoying the old steps after many moons. Then enter the COR, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, the COR enthralled the gang by a solo dance performance with a glass full of whiskey precariously resting on his forehead and not a drop falling. All that was missing was Helen of yesteryears, slithering around the gyrating General. Good to see that the Regiment is in good care of a balanced head between two strong shoulders. The evening warmed up further with clinking glasses, flowing snacks, and gyrating people while our small ship was gently riding the waves of Hooghly towards Belur Math, not that anyone was mindful of it. The upper deck transformed into a great musical stage as all of us, veterans, elder ladies, young ladies, and young officers danced in sync with the drum beats, guitar strumming, soul full saxophone melodies, and vocals by the Rhino Boys. There was a mocking glint in the eyes of the swaying bodies, the glint of mischievous happiness of once in a lifetime event. Now the crooning was taken over by our veteran singer, BK Nair a la Bokan who sang his old-time favorite, Kahin door jab din dhal jayey, in the same manner, he did 45 years ago. It was amazing, no sign of aging in his voice and in complete rhythm with the Rhino boys band. Thereafter the mike was taken over by Capt Adarsh who started with all-time Fighting Fifth favorite, Lakhon hai yahan dil waley, and carried on with other numbers such as, Sara jamana hasino ka diwana, Yeh jawani hain Diwani and mixed with old favorite by the rivers of Babylon, etc. Thereafter Rhino Boys belted out Sharabi Ankhen, Hotel California, Sunday Morning,  and many more. Lower Deck – K Tshering, BK, Ranjan, Hminga & Author   Sweat beads trickling down the spine but not at all tired, I left the dance floor and walked towards the bar for a refill and came across Ranjan Das still in full swing with his old Sharawat jokes, only this time, his attentive audiences were Brig SS Chowdhury, Lt Gen RN Singh, Lt Col RL Atri, Lt Col K Tshering and Col AS Malhi, all huddled and listening and laughing to Ranjan’s monologues on Maj Sharawat. By midnight, it was time for dinner and we trooped into the lower deck where a sumptuous bill of fare was served. We ate and chatted and laughed talking about old times and in between some of us narrated battle of Chhamb episodes to the rapt audience of the younger generation. By the time we finished dinner, laughter and gupshup it was almost 2 am and our little ship had started approaching the harbor. Time flew faster than the current of Hooghly River, we disembarked and touched the land where as the Vishal and Priya were already there to see us off. So engrossed were we with singing, dancing, joking, and talking about old times that we neither had any idea about time nor about where the barge took us and returned. Only at a glance we were aware of sailing up the Hooghly. Needless to say that it was out of the world experience and lot more was to come our way in the next three days. The Stage and the Management I had never known anyone in Olive Green to be as creative as I found out now. With the entire set of invitation cards, programme management, the set, and the event management were so meticulously planned that showed a very deep rooted conspiracy of creativity at work, a lethal combination of creativity and discipline. I do not think any outsider professional was outsourced but the entire show management, design of invitation cards, and programme cards as also the creation and direction of stage was so finely choreographed that, perhaps it stood closer to a Hollywood, rather than Bollywood. The invitation cards that we received on time and without fail, showed care taken to go into details of each address. However, when I opened the envelope and looked at the card it was a pleasant and poignant surprise to find pictures of five of our old buddies, the fallen heroes of the Battle of Chhamb; Maj JBS Maken, Maj Ashok Suri, Capt Kalyan Singh Rathod, and 2/Lt Oliver Wilson. They were looking at me with a twinkle in their eyes, as if saying, Tagra Raho. This was one great job done commemorating our Chamb-71 heroes by endorsing them on the invitation card cover and to bring us back to the present day photograph of our brave and stupendously smart Badlu Ram of today was printed on the last page as if protecting yesterday’s warriors from the rear. It is a beautiful concept with a bright color scheme, festive yet a beautiful blend of Regimental Colors, and an innovative idea of a small torch having reached the milestone of 50 golden years, a well-conceptualized work of art. We remember, back in the old days, LO meant Liaison officer, but now things have changed for better as the LOs of the day were smart and intelligent NCOs are fulfilling the same duties very efficiently. I was glad to see a smart LO, NK Lalmowia coming to receive us right inside the train compartment, arranged a coolie and led us to the waiting car. The early morning drive through the streets of Kolkata without much traffic was pleasant. Upon reaching the officer’s mess area we were guided to our and the suite that was tastefully furnished with all the essential comforts. Our buddy, Sepoy Bichen welcomed us with hot cups of tea and showed us around. Even before we could finish our tea , Col Vishal V Jondhale, the Commanding Officer, materialized in front of us in a grand gesture of very personal welcome. It was an amazingly kind and very gentlemanly gesture for the GB to visit guests upon arrival, because, in such a scenario of the first day of the programme, CO in spite of his understandably busy schedule could find time to come to our suite to welcome us and spend quality time with us. Frankly, I have experienced this fine gesture after many years. Personal attention does matter a lot and leaves a beautiful taste forever. Excited as I was, I started enquiring after other guests in the nearby buildings and pleasantly located no other than my first commanding officer, Col AS Malhi, now in the late eighties, relaxing in the adjacent suite. As I walked into his room with “Khublei Sir” he got up and hugged me with his indomitable beaming smile. We chatted, catching up on old times. It is Col Malhi who made this Khasi word, Khublei, famous in the regiment. It means a greeting in Khasi, during meetings and partings but he used the word to suit an occasion by changing the tone of the word in a manner that would clearly convey his happiness, anger, sarcasm, and sadness etc. The word, Khublei is now part of his legend and his signature style. BK Nair appeared from nowhere and we decided to take a tour of the unit area. We passed through the Quarter Guard receiving a very smart salute from the Guard on duty, thereafter to the office area. The GB, although about to leave for someplace, took us and treated us with a hot cup of tea and biscuits in his fabulous office. We were very excited to see the old albums admiring our black and white photos and clicking many pictures for remembrance. Thereafter we walked around to see the offices of the Second in Command, the Adjutant and Subedar Major in the same building while comparing the Sarkanda barricaded temporary offices of our days in Akhnoor, Dhanchok, Rakhmuthi, Channu Diwani, and Barsala in the 70s. Although preparations were in full swing in the mess for the gala dinner the same night we decided to settle down in the mess lawns with jugs of chilled beer while more veterans and ladies joined us. The Golden Jubilee Dinner The President Mess Committee (PMC) that is the Second in Command, Major Sahi, had stuck to the age-old format of the cultural programme followed by golden Jubilee Dinner but least did we expect the entire format of the Cultural programme, which, to say the least, was mind-blowing. We were welcomed at the entrance by a bevy of beautiful young tribal ladies who presented us with the beautiful scarves with tribal designs. Adorned with colorful tribal scarves over our lounge suits and saris we walked through the illuminated L-Shaped red tunnel on either side of which were our boys and girls in their traditional costumes smiling at us with a Namaste as we walked past them with smiles and Namaste too. This tunnel of 2015 took us back to our old days of the 60s & 70s when, during such parties, we tried to bring in a mysterious and suspenseful entry for guests by constructing such a tunnel with tarpaulin, camouflage nets and at times even dug small water body with a BAUT (Boat Assault Universal Type) – kind courtesy nearby Engineer Regiment, to ferry the bewildered guests across to the inner sanctum of officer’s mess made a la double or triple EPIP tents. The mess would be tastefully decorated with tribal shawls and illuminated with multicolor lights created by colored papers. The electricity supply being as erratic as could be out standard practice was a field generator borrowed from EME workshop or Engineer Regiment. Needless to add that the battalion Electrician would have to be on duty to manage the hiccups of the generator Back to the present, at the other end of the tunnel, we were received by young officers who guided us to Hollywood style red carpet photo ops. The professional cameraman was ready and each couple was asked to pose for this special photo session against a backdrop of gleaming golden Jubilee logos on a larger than life laminated board. The stage for the cultural extravaganza was a huge tribal hut colorfully designed and decorated in all shades of North Eastern hues. There were large paintings of Tribal men and women on the walls of the stage but one caricature painting of a Naga lady almost resembled Bollywood actress, albeit in more beautiful avatar. We leave the reality check with the organizers but I think it was a great idea. Blessed with wide space, the seating arrangements were done with rows and rows of sofas and lounge chairs and I could observe that every guest of all ranks was seated most comfortably with a good view. The show commenced with cheerful announcement by two very smart and beautiful Mistresses of the ceremony, one in sari announced in Hindi and the other wearing Poi spoke in English, both crisp and flawless. Although we have witnessed tribal dances within the regiment over the years but the stage show of 8th Jan 2015 in the chilly winter evening of Barrackpore stood apart. Whether it was the wide, larger than life stage show or the ensemble of finely choreographed movements of the dancers in rhythm with the music or the dazzling visuals causing mesmerizing effects of light & sound; but the magnitude of the ensemble just blew the audience out of this world. Starting with the colorful, energetic, and cheerful Bihu by expressive and smiling dancers; the dramatic Pheipet Kuki dance after killing the ferociously comical tiger; the rhythmic swaying of Manipuri dances, the rhythmically dangerous bamboo dances; the butterfly-like swaying of the Khullam and Bagarumba dances; the romantically rhythmic Nepali dance et-al, the stage exploded with blasts from the east enthralling the glued to seat audiences. The finale of the most spirited Regimental anthem a la difference, Kaziranga will shine tonight, brought the final curtain down. Glowing Dinner Night-8 Jan 2015 Chhamb Veterans with GB, Col Malhi   The driveway to the heritage building that housed the Fighting Fifth Officer’s Mess was dotted with ground-level well balanced and subdued array of lights illuminating the way that indicated silent sense of warmth. At the same time it reminded the veterans of the good old days in the field areas where a very modest effort used to be made by using banana tree barks over candles or hurricane lamps to create an almost similar effect. The dinner night arrangement was spread from the mess building across to the lush green lawns with well-spaced seating arrangements, gazebo bars with flowing drinks & snacks, and imaginative dinner spread over multiple decorated tables. After the guests were warmed up with the first few drinks, one of the highlights of the evening came to the fore, a visual presentation on the historical landmarks of the Fighting Fifth across the span of the last 50 years. The dynamic visual history of the battalion highlighted the Mother of all Battles, The Battle of Chhamb in a glowing tribute to the five great brave hearts, Killed in Action and the veterans of the battle, six of whom along with the Tiger, Col AS Malhi were present. Somber event was gradually eased away by the narration of achievements of the battalion along the road of 50 golden years that culminated with Golden Jubilee cake cutting on stage by the father of the battalion, Brigadier SS Chowdhury. Jubilee cake having been consumed, the evening took a turn towards a golden bash with the talented Rhino Boys playing foot tapping music of vocals and instrumentals with saxophone and violin to boot. The initiative to step into the dance floor was taken by very smart, white bearded Col Somanna and his lady love inspiring many of us to join in. Veterans & ladies started dancing with young ladies and young officers in gay abundance. I found myself dancing with so many young ladies and I hit a special dancing bond with Shakshi and Neha that lasts even today. Sakshi dashed across the lawn and brought my wife Rina to the floor and all of us held hands and danced away to glory till the kingdom come. Gyrating with old buddies of 1971-72 brought back sweet memories of our 1973 Raising Day party in a Double EPIP mess tent in Channu Diwani a few kilometers away from the Indo Pak border. I had been directed by the GB to volunteer for the decoration of the EPIP party venue. I have no idea how it was managed but with full force and resources of the battalion Intelligence Section, the end result was that the EPIP Mess Tent looked like a discotheque of sorts. There were chart paper cut outs of peace signs, hall mark of the 70s generation, guitars, tribal costumes and the ever present, tribal shawl butterflies splattering the EPIP tent walls. For warmth there were red hot burning coal angithees strategically placed across the floor covered with tarpaulin in lieu of carpets.  Pathway to the mess tent was illuminated by hurricane lamps craftily covered by banana barks that exhibited a dim and romantic neon effect.  After much welcome drinks as crowd warmed up; our gang, led by Capt Kunjo Tshering, did a welcome jig proudly flaunting the fancy disruptive pattern jackets urgently stitched by the Bania for the occasion.  Due to war and the operational commitment we did not have Rhino Boys at that time, as such, an Anglo-Indian Band from a Jammu Hotel had been outsourced that played great songs and tunes of the 60 & the 70s swinging us into the mood. 1973-Raising Day – the welcome Jig                           Kaziranga will shine tonight, GB leading the band                                            2015- All of 1973 gang  except Michael Athing  

Times have flown away but the spirit of Fighting Fifth is same that was palpable now after 50 years with the smiling approval of old Gaon Buras, Brigadier SS Chowdhury, and Col AS Malhi. However, better part of the evening was quality time spent mixing around with fellow veterans, old buddies, elder ladies, young officers, young ladies and getting to understand each other’s lives as also nostalgically sharing the good old times, chatting, backslapping, hugging, and sometimes even being emotional with each other. I guess this is all about celebrating the brotherhood of the band who have fought shoulder to shoulder, stayed and supported each other in good and tough times, cried, and laughed together as we kept moving along the life’s highway. Tonight was indeed very special in more than one way that will go down in the history as one of the most beautifully showcased extravaganzas with highest standard of the military class, grace, and discipline. Thank you Team PMC Fighting Fifth, for making it happen for all of us.

The Day After-9 Jan 2015 As the Gangetic sun spread its Golden fingers from the Eastern horizon raising a thin cloud of mist over Hooghly River, the morning kicked off with a somber wreath-laying ceremony. Assembled around the neat and well laid out premises of War Memorial in crisp ceremonials and Muftis, we followed the Col of the Regiment in a somber and quiet drill of wreath-laying in perfect drill and harmony, bowing and saying a silent prayer for the fallen heroes of the battalion. With love and respect in our hearts, we looked at the memorial and read the names of our brothers in Arms who had served with us and names of brave hearts that had joined Fighting Fifth in later years, only to give their lives for the nation, the regiment and the battalion. God bless them all and may each one of them rest in peace in the happy hunting ground of the Rhinos. Each one of us has the responsibility to ensure that they are never forgotten. The inscription on the gleaming war memorial is just apt:- Those who stand on this ground breathing of freedom and peace, do spare a gentle thought for those who gave themselves for these Prayer & Thanks Giving in Church & Mandir

There is much buzz across the country about religious tolerance and secularism but our Regiment has been quietly practicing multi-religion and multi ethnicity since its inception in 1941. For us secularism is a way of life, as the old tradition continues enriching us with milestones, we are always blessed by our battalion Church and Mandir. Golden Jubilee Services with a Special Church and Mandir were marked with somber dedication for the blessings of Almighty.

1972-Merry X’Mas in Channu Diwani, J&K (Officers & JCOs with Lt Col Malhi) Lunch Time with JCO Sahebans-9 Jan 2015 We felt the festive mood under our skin as we walked into the bright sunlit lawns with artistically arranged settings that looked like a leaf from Bengal’s Raj days. The lawn was dotted with groups of 6-8 chairs set around a table each. We were received at the entrance by Subedar Major Nila Kanta Sinha and JCO Mess Secretary whereas younger JCOs ushered us in systematically. We were impressed by what we saw, the arrangements, the JCOs and their Memsaabs conducting guests, well-dressed boys moving around with gleaming glasses of beer against the sunlight, cold drinks, and smooth flow of snacks to a group of guests spread across the lawn. We could notice that immediately on arrival everybody had a drink in their hands and snacks to munch. There were pork and mutton barbeque rolling over slow fire where as the plates full of freshly sliced roast pieces sprinkled with salt, pepper and spices were being served lavishly. For the elderly veterans, this was one time to throw health precautions out of the window and drink and eat in abundance without thinking too much and that’s what all of us did. It is a once in 50 years, if not once in a lifetime, as the moment was too precious to be cautious about one’s intake of food and drinks. It was time to indulge in the company of old buddies that some of us would have met after almost 50 years. The food was delicious whereas the menu was a happy spread of assorted Indian cuisine. This was the second day of the celebration and it was also time to catch up with our veteran JCOs, talk about days gone by in our lives and share what we could. It was out of the world pleasure to meet and hug my old buddies, soldiers with whom I had lived in tents, dug trenches, marched during exercises in Hyderabad, and patrolled the high and low mountains of J&K hills as had also played football and basketball with them. We had laid mines day and night under the nose of our dear enemy, hooked and dragged wild boars blown in the mine field for a well-deserved feast. We had fought side by side with all the guns blazing at the attacking enemy and they are the dear buddies who had carried an injured me to the RAP (Regimental Aid Post) saving my life. There was Subedar Major (Hony Capt) Men Kumar Gurung, ex-A Coy trench mate, Sub Major (Hony Capt) YL Mukhia, fellow football player, Subedar Major (Hony Capt) KS Thapa, another football buddy, Subedar major (Hony Capt) Ganesh Bahadur Thapa, always smartly turned out Mess Havildar of Akhnoor, Subedar Lalit Ale, Subedar Madan Chandra Ray of A Coy who, as a young teenage soldier, had spent a year in Pakistan as a prisoner of war after being wounded, bayoneted and captured while fighting in Burejal Post. He showed me bullet marks and bayonet marks on his torso and legs and had lived to tell the tale. It was like the world had frozen back in the times of 1970-71 and we were back to our younger days of cotton olive green uniforms or in FSMO (Field Service Marching Order). There were Sub Major Purna Bahadur Thapa, a Burejal veteran, Naib Subedar Bishnu Rai of Ghogi and Subedar Major (Hony Capt) Golok Das. We hugged and backslapped and chatted about old times, later years, families while guzzling jugs of beer all the while. We sat around a table and ate together in total happiness of togetherness, but it was never enough. It had been too long a time and much water had flown over Chenab, Munawar Tawi, Brahmaputra, and Hooghly, age had caught up with all of us as it must. We exchanged contact numbers and promised to be in touch and meet again. However, ours is a vanishing tribe and next time we have another get-together, whenever it may be, some of us may have galloped away to the sunset. Although it is as natural as taking birth, growing up to youth, middle age, retirement, and old age, the finality of life’s end is another matter to contemplate. This reminds me of the lines of a famous song, My Way, composed by Paul Anka and sung famously by Frank Sinatra:- “And now, the end is near, And so I face the final curtain, my friend, I say it clear, I state my case, of which I am certain, I have lived a life that’s full; I have travelled each and every highway, And More, much more than this, I did it my way, Regrets, I have few, but then again too few to mention, I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption, I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway, And much more, much more than this, I did it my way….. “   This undying camaraderie exists only in the Infantry tribe of the Army bonding the soldiers and officers in a lifelong brotherhood. We become a family, sometimes even more. Many a time, even after long years of separation and retirement an infantry man suddenly finds one of his old buddies at his door for no reason but just to see him. Last year I received a call from Sub Major (Hony Capt) Sarabjit Sunwar, who had been in 7 Assam with me since its raising. I went to receive him at the railway station and brought him and his wife home. Over lunch, that he insisted on serving my plate as the old times when asked about his trip he simply said, “I wanted to see you so I came”. He had come all the way from Pokhara, Nepal. To me, this is what the Infantry is all about. In 1988, I had gone visiting Mizoram during one annual leave to see the place and catch up with veterans of my battalions 5 Assam, 6 Assam & 7 Assam. Although there were many old buddies I was fortunate to meet our very own Subedar Major Chalmingliana, who was the Sub Major when I joined 5 Assam in 1970. When I asked him how he was doing, he said in his typical regimental Hindi, “Retire bhi ho goya, commutation khatam hokar pura pension bhi milgaya aur abhi tak mora bhi nahin” (I am retired, receiving a full pension after commutation and still not dead). Like all good things, this nostalgic togetherness in the JCO’s mess also came to an end, and once again we hugged and parted to meet in another event. One of the most striking and special moment I noticed this time was that the Col of the Regiment and his graceful lady were there to see all the guests off at the gates of JCO’s mess. Frankly, I am not sure about the laid down protocol but it was a very pleasant and humbling experience in the true Rhino tradition that is hard to find elsewhere. It was an epitome of humility and grace. Although lunch was heavy physically and emotionally, we had to be ready for the next event and that was going to be an evening with a difference. Imagine having an informal dinner and music on the deck of a ship sailing along the Hooghly. No, we were not invited by some Maharaja or a corporate honcho of Bengal; it was the initiative and innovation of Team Fighting Fifth. Hope Vishal and his team kept in mind that none of the veterans and the elderly ladies have had previous experience of swimming in Hooghly or any river at night. Perhaps, the only exception would have been friend Ranjan Das who had been such a proficient swimmer that when, the then CO, Lt Col AS Malhi casually told him to jump into the Chenab River, he just did that without second thoughts and crossed it against the heavy current, much to the heartbeats of all of us. That was in 1971, only 44 years ago, I wonder if Ranjan could repeat his feat in the muddy waters of Hooghly now. Sainik Samellen-10th Feb 2015 After disembarking from the ship at the wee hours of the morning, all in one piece without a swimming test, we were allowed to go to sleep albeit for a while. Most thoughtfully FF Team had planned the next morning Special Sainik Samellen in a suitably relaxed time of 10 am. It ensured that the old bones could relax and sleep in the morning. At the same time, there was a FF lady’s Coffee at 10.15 am. It goes beyond imagination that for such an event, ladies of the battalion would have been present at the venue early enough to organise the show. I am sure that bevy of little beautiful and energetic girls lead by Priya would have hardly slept the last night but when I met them during lunch at the CO’s residence the same afternoon, they looked as fresh and beautiful as dewdrops over rose petals. Golden Jubilee Sainik Samellen The good thing about the Sainik Samellen was that it was a well-planned deliberate and efficiently stage-managed event in clockwork precision. The seating arrangement was practically arranged spaciously with each veteran’s name carefully and correctly pasted on the sofas. Seating for veteran JCOs and other ranks was also neatly arranged in spacious rows of chairs. Rightfully, in the most appropriate manner, the previous Commanding Officers were given their places of honor on the stage on either side of the colonel of the Regiment. The Commanding Officer, Col VV Jondhale, after the initial reporting, introduced the Samellen and formatted every present ex-Commanding Officer to speak. It was so good to see Brigadier SS Chowdhury opening the Samellen in his old style and Col AS Malhi beginning his address with his signature greetings, “Khublei”. Every Commanding Officer addressed the Samellen, explaining in brief, about important events and achievement during their command tenures and the Colonel of the Regiment addressed the Samellen congratulating Fighting Fifth on reaching this landmark milestone of Golden Jubilee with honor, dignity, and sacrifice in the highest tradition of the Indian Armed Forces while earning awards and citations as great milestones along the journey. He also explained the larger Regimental issues and road map for the future. After the final wind up by the Commanding Officer, we gathered for tea with the young Badlurms in a beautiful and colorful samyana. For us, the veterans, interacting with the young generation of the Rhinos in their crisp and smart uniforms wearing correctly tilted green berets with gleaming Rhino crest, is a sense of happiness and satisfaction and a factor for rejuvenation. We were injected with new energy in the presence of these vibrant young soldiers, good enough to be our grandsons. The group photo session was well coordinated and it was a pleasure to sit and be photographed with the new team and the teams of the yore. This was indeed a very poignant moment as these beautiful moments were being captured for the posterity. Someday, in the future, when all of us would have gone, these photographs would tell our tales to the next and the next generations of the future, perhaps during the centenary or bicentenary celebrations, fifty, hundred years and five hundred years from now. We were making history. Golden Jubilee Sainik Samellen FF Ladies Coffee Morning In the meantime, ladies were enjoying the morning mist of Barackpore at HSOI with coffee. Their theme was rekindling the journey of the vibrant North East albeit with wallets full of wads. A poem on the invitation card said it all:- “We the Brahma’s Creation, Rich in Culture, Vibrant in Nature, Beautiful & Bountiful Terrain, Expansive wildlife, mesmerizing woods, Come here explore & gain Joyous dances, fun-filled festivities, It is a pleasure to be with them, We the seven sisters, unique in diverse, We are all one, though not the same” GB’s Rhino House Lunch The most strikingly beautiful environ of the Rhino House in Barrackpore is that the heritage villa is an island of greenery. When I stepped into the world of Rhino House I experienced a part of our green North East had been transshipped to Barrackpore. The Team 1970-72- GB’s lunch                                  Post Lunch Departure   It was a joyous and pleasant garden lunch in a bright & sunny winter afternoon of Kolkata with laughter and guffaw that mingled with beer, vodka, and wine. All of us in our informal best, spread across the lush green lawn & garden, in small groups or huddled over cane chairs, sharing the past episodes, present issues, and about the future unknown. As we chatted, smiled, and laughed away in abundance cameras were clicking and videos rolling, recording the unique, once in a lifetime, togetherness. Time rolled away and as we celebrated the sumptuous and delicious lunch washing it down with golden beer, red wine, vodkas, and gin while the air was filled with the soulful soft music of guitar and saxophone. We stood around the golden jubilee trophy, made impromptu groups, and got ourselves shot with the SLRs and cyber shots happily exhibiting our smiles and wrinkles in perfect harmony with the beauty and grace of the young generation. Suddenly we woke up to the idea of adieu as now it is a curtain for another beautiful event. Heartfelt thanks to Priya & Vishal for the gift of this this unforgettable afternoon. Barakhana Extravaganza-10 Jan 2015 Veteran JCOs & Families in Action  Flames of the bone fire danced with the rhythm of acrobatics of the North East warriors, a spectacle of muscle, and graceful body movements with extremes of flexibility and control. The flawless act of the warriors laced with the expertise of the jokers enthralled the entire galaxy of Fighting Fifth family; from children, the “memsahibs”, the veterans. The jugglers, the sword fighters, fire eaters, the gymnasts, and the jokers all enthralled us with oohs, ahhs whereas the children’s giggles on joker’s antics were the loudest. After the colorful and energetic stage show of the Warriors, the stage was set for the golden Jubilee cake cutting for which the honor was given to Col AS Malhi and his band of Chamb-71 veterans. It was both a classic and nostalgic trip to be together for this solemn and happy event. Befitting the occasion it was a huge chocolate cake beautifully decorated and inscribed 50. Cake pieces having been consumed with delight it was now time to begin the journey of laughter and clapping across company stands. With the Col of the Regiment leading, as all of us walked in the coy stands filled with young Rhinos full of youth, vitality, and energy clapping and singing regimental songs. Alpha company enthralled us with, Humesha Khusi Se Raho, Bravo company sang, Pahar par Chota Ek Ghar, for Charlie company boys it was Badluram ko Zakham hokar mar gaya, in Delta company we joined in to sing Mera Jaan se bhi pyara, SP Company boys clapped and sang, Kaziranga will shine tonight and finally we wound up with Bahut dur gaon mera in HQ company. Thereafter it was time to enjoy the delicious Barakhana in the company of the boys and their families. We marveled at the way times have changed whereas in our times it was the food was cooked in the company langars but now it was outsourced from the town’s best caterers. Times have to change and as I write these lines I cannot even imagine as to how life would be in the battalion after another 50 years during the centenary celebrations, very different indeed. The night wore off pleasantly and it was now time to say goodnight and prepare for the final destination of the Golden Jubilee celebration the next day, Pagal Gymkhana.</p> The Golden Jubilee Hamper Back to the rooms, there was a pleasant surprise waiting for us in the form of Golden Jubilee Hamper. With childlike excitement, we opened the package to find beautiful articles, most imaginatively and thoughtfully gifted to us. There was Fighting Fifth GJ Shield, GJ wall clock, designer baseball cap and Tee-shirt with individual first names embroidered on it, a beautiful black leather wallet for the lady, Dao key chain, GJ monogrammed writing pad and envelops et al. Very beautiful mementos of remembrance most imaginatively and thoughtfully prepared for each guest, so much beauty and kindness. Thank you, Fighting Fifth. Pagal Gymkhana The word Gymkhana has its origin in Urdu, meaning a contest, a competition where riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes. In olden times it was an event in a military camp consisting of a series of competitions and the word also means a racket court. Obviously, it is militarily related, a fair or picnic mixed with competitions, entertainments, and food stalls where soldiers and their families could enjoy. The legacy carried on and today we have a modern version of a military fare where fun games, village-type gambling, food stalls are organised during festivals. The Assam Regiment has been following this tradition of Pagal Gymkhana albeit in our unique tribal style. In this context, the penultimate event of the Golden Jubilee was Pagal Gymkhana in the sprawling RCTC ground. It was a day to chill out for all ranks after having worked hard for Golden Jubilee celebrations for the last three days, a well-deserved way to unwind, enjoy the freedom, play games, gamble, win, loose, drink, and eat in abundance, at a price. There were stalls for games such as kicking a football through a tyre, knocking off tin cans with a tennis ball, ringing a beer bottle, or betting on card games. Veterans and all ranks and ladies turned up in holiday attire and excited children ran around in anticipation of food, fun, and games. That was also the last time for many of us to be meeting each other till an unknown next time wherever it was ordained. We chatted and took photographs in random groups and those of us who were leaving the same day hugged and bid adieu promising to keep in touch and catch up in Shillong during the Platinum Jubilee in 2016. We ate lunch of chilly hot mutton curry and rice in Alpha Company restaurant in the company of few hungry and happy tribal children. The last Supper-11 Jan2015 By now several guests had left and for those us who were still enjoying the celebrations; the PMC had planned an informal and relaxed dinner get together in the officer’s mess. Although looking tired by the nonstop events of celebrations of the past 4 days the hosts of young officers and ladies as also the Mess Havildar and his team of rhinos, were in their element, as always, in a spirited mood. Dressed in relaxed informal we picked up our drinks and mingled around with old buddies and young generation officers and ladies, chatting and laughing away the evening. It looked like none of us had enough of the Fighting Fifth. The way the evening was happening none of us seemed tired or overtaken by the events of the past few days. As elders like Brig SS Chowdhury and Col AS Malhi were guided to settle down in comfortable sofas rest of us took turns to sit and chat with them learning the old wisdom and their experiences of more than 80 years. However there was a plan, a plan to live the old times through old albums of a black and white era of the 60s and 70s, cleverly scanned and projected over a huge flat TV screen. Slowly we gathered around and started watching the blacks and whites, from the time of the raising in 1963 and moved on across time to the pictures of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. As the old black and white pictures were flashed on a large flat screen we would comment on a particular photo explaining the events of those days. We joked and laughed remembering those days and the most enthralling was, as usual, jokes and anecdotes on Major (now Lt Col Retd) Sharawat by the evergreen joke master Ranjan Das that made all of us laugh and laugh. The highlight of his jokes was, as Ranjan explained to our amusement that in a certain party in 1970 in Hyderabad someone sang a song and promptly Major Sharawat appreciating the performer, had said, “ladies and gentlemen let us clip. Ranjan narrated further that he walked up to Major Sharawat and explained to him that the word in English is clap, not clip. To this Major Sharawat defended his English vocabulary by saying that there were three forms of clapping; first was the normal clap by slapping both the palms together, second was a clip that is done by hitting the forefinger over the top of a closed fist and the final one is chutki that one makes a sound by crossing the thumb and the middle finger. Everyone roared with laughter. Another joke about Maj Sharawat narrated by Ranjan is about the new fashion of bell-bottom pants in the late 60s when the battalion was in Hyderabad. As a youngster, Ranjan Das had got a uniform pant stitched in the latest bellbottom style but during a Brigade officer’s class, it was noticed by the Brigade Commander. When fired by the furious Brigade commander, Ranjan Das meekly looked at his senior officer, Maj Sharawat who timely intervened and shouted at Ranjan to go to his room, change the trouser and report back immediately. After Ranjan was gone Maj Sharawat told the Brigade Commander, Sir this youngster likes the latest decoration (meaning fashion). Most of us from the 70s gang had enjoyed Ranjan’s jokes over Major Sharawat over the years and I also remember a time in a party in Akhnoor when Major Sharawat walked up to Ranjan and reminded him to tell the same old jokes about him. That was Major Sharawat, who is not only a legend about his famous counter-attack over Pakistanis occupying Delta Company location during the thick of the battle but also a man who immensely enjoyed jokes about himself. In such a mood of laughter reached the penultimate event of the Golden Jubilee of Fighting Fifth.

This Article is dedicated to late Col Amrik Singh Malhi, the first GB of FF I had the privilege to serve under and learn invaluable lessons on matters of life & military.

Khublei & Tagra Raho Col Mani K Gahatraj (Retd)