Late LT Col CB Pradhan (Retd)

1^st Battalion the Assam Regiment

(Base on Inputs from his daughters & son)

The Assam Regiment: Lt Col CB Pradhan was commissioned on 16 Dec 1945 into 1^st Battalion the Assam Regiment. He commanded 1 Assam from 2 May 1963 to 7 July 1964. Served in Assam Rifles from 6 Jan 1956 to 27 Sep 1958 in NEFA from where he was posted to 3 Assam in J&K where he served from 17 Oct 1958 to 30 Sep 1960. Thereafter he was a part of raising team of 4 Assam in 1960-61. After command of 1 Assam he was posted to ARC as Deputy Commandant in 1964. His last posting was 119 TA as Commanding Officer from where he retired on 1 July 1966.  

Rising from the Ranks: After shining in the school as a brilliant student with first division in matriculation from Calcutta University, which was a super achievement those days, young CB Pradhan had golden opportunities for further studies under the sponsorship of Chogyal of Sikkim. However, adventurous by nature and looking forward to discover the world beyond Teesta River he travelled to British Gorkha Recruiting Depot, Jalpahar in Darjeeling and enlisted in the ranks of 10^th Gorkha Rifles on 6 Feb 1935. It was indeed a tough call for a young and brilliant student to serve in the ranks of a Gorkha Battalion; however, his aim was to become an officer.

Sir Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok: Hailing from the remote village of Song in the erstwhile princely state of Sikkim, young student CB Pradhan shone in the academies and passed Matric with 1^st Division with Distinction in mathematics in 1934. His brilliant achievement in a small state of Sikkim was a super relative achievement that had a very positive impact amongst the public regarding the teaching standards of Sir Tashi Namgyal Academy. Incidentally, his record of distinction in mathematics is yet to be broken in the school even after 86 years. Rightfully, in 1999 his family members instituted a Mathematics Award in his alma mater to commemorate his outstanding achievements.

Action in NWFP & Burma: Baptised by the fire of live action as a young soldier of 10^th Gorkha Rifles (1935-45), Lt Col Pradhan took part in the operations in Datta Khel Tochi in the North West Frontiers against the Pathans and in Razmak area in North Waziristan district of today’s Pakistan during the early 40s. The world was going through 2^nd World War, as such, the young man from Sikkim found himself fighting in the Burma Campaign during the period 1942 to 1945 in the areas of Bishenpur in Manipur, North Burma & Chin Hills. During this period he was awarded 1939-45 Campaign Star, Burma Star, War Medal, Sainya Seva Medal and the GS Medal.

SSB Pioneer: After the retirement, being restless by nature and seeking new adventures, Lt Col Pradhan he joined the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) at Tezpur, Assam. There, he raised the 22^nd SSB Battalion and moved his unit to the remote town of Tezu in the-then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Thereafter, impressed by his pioneering work of raising new battalion, he was tasked to raise 23^rd SSB Battalion at Khonsa, NEFA. He finally retired from the SSB and hung his boots for good 1^st July 1976 which meant that he had been in active service in uniform for 41 long years, half a life time indeed.

Marriage: Lt Col Pradhan was married to Ratna Pradhan, daughter of Biru Narayan Pradhan of Doars on 13 Oct 1941 in his home village Saang, East Sikkim. The couple brought to the world 4 daughters and one son who shone in their respective fields to be prominent citizens of India:

Mrs Milan Basnet, MA (English), retired as Principal Enchey School, Gangtok

Mrs Jayshree Pradhan, IAS, retired as Secretary to Government of Sikkim

Mrs Sushila Chaudhuri retired as Post Graduate Teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Assam

Mrs Kanta Pradhan retired as Post Graduate Teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya, North Bengal

Anil Pradhan, IPS retired as DGP, Meghalaya  

Ride to the Sunset: Mrs Ratna Pradhan expired on 26 May 1991 and Lt. Col. C.B. Pradhan breathed his last on 20 May 1999.

The Ratna Pradhan Lt Col CB Pradhan Memorial Charitable Trust

Upon the demise his wife, Mrs Ratna Pradhan, Lt Col Pradhan created a trust in her memory in 1991, ‘The Ratna Pradhan Memorial Charitable Trust’. Many activities promoting education of girls are done from this Fund. After the demise of Lt Col Pradhan his name was added to the Trust by his children as such the name of the trust now is The Ratna Pradhan Lt Col CB Pradhan Memorial Charitable Trust.

The Trust has carried out charitable work since 1991. A number of constructions were carried out like a dharamshala at 5th Mile Tadong, Gangtok in memory of our Parents, a Bus Stop at 5th Mile, Tadong, Sikkim and another bus stop at Shillong near the DC’s Office. Also, a Shiva Parvati Mandir was built at 5th Mile Tadong, Gangtok as well as a Saraswati Mandir at Sundari Busty, Dooars, Mrs Ratna Pradhan’s birth place.

Wishing to contribute to the cause of the Assam Regiment, the trust sponsored complete furnishing of the Computer Room of Boys’ War Memorial Hostel at Assam Regt Centre, Shillong, including supply of computers and peripherals.

Besides these, a Best Student Award was instituted for visually challenged Girl Student in Namchi and a Best Student Award to Class VIII Student of Holy Cross Student, Gangtok.

A Maths Topper Award is awarded annually at TNSSS, Gangtok. Literacy classes for adult illiterates are an on-going effort at Gangtok while special meals are served on our Mothers Birth Anniversary to a Girls’ Orphanage in Gangtok and to the Hindu Orphanage at Mawprem, Shillong. Many other charity works is also carried out in Sikkim, Siliguri, Guwahati and Shillong.

Close friends: Lt Col CB Pradhan had few close friends within the Regiment and enjoyed their company Lt Col. Shishupal Ranpal, Lt Col BB Basnet, Lt Col DB Rana Lt Col RBJ Snaize & Lt Col Gurbax Singh.

Remembering my Grandfather by Mrs Manisha Pawar (Indian Navy)

They say that the first five years of a child’s life makes its personality and shapes values & beliefs which become part of its life experience. I was lucky to be raised by my grandparents and my parents till I attained the age of five. My earliest memories are more vivid when it comes to my Aji (grandmother) but I have some very special moments with my Aja (grandfather) who was much more than just a grandfather. Needless to say, grandparents spoil their grandkids to no end and I was no exception.

My grandfather was a much disciplined man. While my early years are still vague in the inner recesses of my memory, I have distinct memories from the time I turned 13. It was the time my father who was also in the Indian Army was posted to Shillong. Our three year stint made me come closer to my grandparents and after my grandmother passed away, I was blessed to have spent long quality time with my grandfather. A few values and nuggets from his life make me extremely proud to be part of his bloodline. I list them here-

Health Lesson with Enthusiasm: He would not compromise on his daily evening walks that entailed walking from Laitumkhrah to Police Bazar using his walking stick. Like a normal teenager, I never showed any interest in the benefit of physical exercise. However, he changed couch potato approach in a shuttle and indirect way when one evening he challenged me to a walk saying that he could beat me in speed walking. Fortunately for me I decided to take the challenge. That was the hardest walk I ever experienced. He was brisk & fast paced while manoeuvring the ups and downs of Shillong lanes with his experienced ease that I was supremely breathless by the time we reached home. His idea was to inject a sense of importance of physical exercise towards good health. It was one of the greatest life’s that health is really the wealth. This beautiful lesson of my grandfather has stuck with me so much that I can’t do without my running even today.

Words Smith: He was a man of few words when it came to verbal communication but he had a way with words when he penned them.  He wrote letters that inspired, shared, taught and even reprimanded at times. The blue coloured inland letter addressed specifically to me used to arrive by post when we moved from Shillong to Baroda. It taught me to express myself and to believe that words have the super power to either hurt or love. 

Understanding: Grandfather was very much “with the times”. He came to visit us when we were in Baroda. By then I was in my first year of college. A landline telephone was recently installed in our house and every evening a friend of mine would call and we would chat endlessly.  He saw this for a few days and asked me very sincerely – who is the boy? I laughed and told him he was mistaken. He looked at me and said go and make a boyfriend. College life doesn’t come back. What’s the fun if you don’t have someone to fool around with? He made communication easy and fun.

Fasting: He fasted every Tuesday taking only fruits and milk. No matter what we ate, he simply said- the stomach works way too much. It should rest. Today, the same theory is being sold across the wellness industry. There was no religious reason behind fasting. His reasons were logical because of which I accepted them and is now a part of my lifestyle.

Entertainment: He loved his movies and songs. He always had anecdotes to share from his army life. Once when I asked him why he drank rum, his answer has become one of my favourite quips. He said RUM XXX meant Reserve and use only as Medicine for XXX (30) days

Jokes/snippets

Grandfather always believed in giving a scientific explanation to all our rural based beliefs. He would jokingly tell his children as to why we should not use the broom at night as also not stitching or cutting at night.

Humorously Sincere: One evening during a lull in the Burma campaign in World War 2, grandfather noticed a kitbag in a bunker. Out of curiosity, he opened it and to his utter amazement, saw a huge stack of currency notes and coins. His immediate thought was to restore the money to its rightful owner. So, along with his heavy field armaments, he painfully carried that bag and reported the matter to his Company Commander.

He was very fond of his grandchildren. He always had the time, patience and the energy to play with them and make them happy. Indulgent to the core, he spoilt them thoroughly. His short leaves at home were always full of excitement in the house as also fear. Evenings were study time. He used the kitchen door as a blackboard and the dining room was a classroom for all of us. He was very fond of riddles and asked us to guess the answers to the riddles he asked.

It’s an honour to write about my illustrious grandfather and I cannot thank The Assam Regiment Rhino veterans enough for providing me this opportunity to pen my memories of my beloved grandfather, Lt Col CB Pradhan.

Tagra Raho & Jai Hind