RHINO LIFEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Rhinoramanan

DEDICATED
TO BRIGADIER PRAKASH SHIVPURI, MY

 SENIOR
SUBALTERN AND MENTOR

Ramanan. I fell in love with
uniform when I was 4 years old seeing my guardian angel donning the uniform of ROTC  parent of our present day NCC who later joined IMA 5 Tech with a B E degree from BITS Pilani . It ripened at the age of 10 when my elder brother [EME brigadier ] wore NCC Uniform and later joined IMA 25 th course in 1958. Those were the era when school uniforms were not compulsory. I put on my first uniform in scouts at the age of 9.  At 18, I found my way into NCC in 12 Maharashtra Bn NCC NOWROJEE WADIA COLLEGE PUNE. With three years in NCC army and a C Cert I decided to follow my guardian, then a captain from EME, doing Technical Staff College At IAT Pune and my blood elder brother a cadet sergeant in IMA. I was the Regimental Sergeant Major [ Photo att receiving award from vice chancellor Pune Univ Dr Karve] of the battalion and was an ace shooter . After graduation, I joined government in defence audit service and did a 6 months course. I had taken the Indian Airforce GD pilot’s exam in 1959 and qualified high in merit but the clash of dates with my degree exam prevented my taking the SSB at Dehradun . Capt Gondiba Damodar Pimple 2 Madras [who gave his life for India in 1962 ops SALUTE SIR ] was my commanding officer who ensured that my application reached Delhi and was processed in spite of many hiccups. I got through the SSB at Banglore [ of course on my second attempt].
Till 9 Jan 62 me and harsh ganguli Sikh LI were sweating for call orders for the course starting on 12 jan 62.  Thanks to God , we received telegraphic  instructions on mid night 09 /10 jan 62 to join IMA on 12 Jan 1962 in 16 NCC course. Their began my journey into my dream life. I learnt a lot at IMA and developed a personality of my own amongst highly talented contenders at every field.

2.   Lesson 1 at IMA was, Thambi had to remove the false notion that army has no studies and only physical work . Realised in time that Defence profession is “studies studies studies” only and without gaining military knowledge, thambi will be a failure in the profession. I kept the lesson for my life all along and I want all future Rhinos to keep in mind at all times. I played boxing for the Alpha battalion [ of course got knocked out by a services champion !], basketball and water polo. No Champion in anything but always a playing member of a team. I started understanding the meaning of words cold and winter at Dehradun. Having lived in Tiruchirappalli T N and Pune which never saw temperatures below 12 degrees, Dehradun 2 degrees of 12 Jan 62 was hell. Who knew God’s plans that he was preparing me for prolonged tenures in sub zero temperatures in my career. Weather is your friend or enemy as you make it. At the end of the first term took a trek to Pindari glacier now Uttarakhand for 8 days which was my first trek of life and put my foot on glacier for the first time.  First term scrapped through under strict supervision of Capt Stiffy Vadhera, Sikh Adjutant Clement town [ later lt gen], who made me ‘SAMNE SALUTE MILLION TIMES !!!’ before declaring me pass in Clement Town Drill Square.[ Later after 10 years when I joined as G2 [ops] 14 div on 12 jan 1973 from staff college , I took my wife to the drill square and showed her, where I was moulded from a college boy to an officer. Allenby , Map reading, tactics, WT ,Soldier’ welfare were drilled into me by expert NCOs JCOs and Elite Officers . The third term started at Prem Nagar. We saw our dear Capt Pillai [ later our
COR ] with White pips as our 9 platoon commander. Soft spoken ever smiling, Cpl Prem Puri [ later Maj Gen and COR ASSAM  ] was our course corporal . Both of us did not know that we will be Rhinos one day. My first professionsl break came in the third term in AMBUSH exercise, and the one who lead the ambush exercise of the company was supposed to be GOOD . After, morning TEWT discussions at 1800 hrs the appointments were announced and I was nominated to set up the night ambush as commander out of Cassino company 22 NDA 31 DE and 16 NCC 1 OTU. I did not realise the value attached to the exercise till, at morning 0400 hrs , when we returned to FRI block, I was given a roaring reception by fourth term 15 NCC cadets , who gave me a pat and said that ,I had broken records and made history. My studying helped to maintain a good professional profile all along in career.

3.   Oct 62 the Chinese attacked India and the Army HQ took a decision, that Third term training, be curtailed by six months and we would pass out on the same day as our fourth termers. It was bloody hell , and we were told that rest six months course syllabus of fourth term will be packed into 8 weeks as per directions of Brig P S Bagat V C , [Later lt Gen ]  Our commandant . All out door training and tests were to be completed and all Chetwode  classes will be shortened. We did not know that we could tolerate so much of ragda that we came from one exercise and went
into another. We were at musoorie hills patrolling at night and were in Tons Valley ranges crawling [ courtesy Capt P N Hoon ] at day.

 Lesson 2. You have lot of inner energy which you don’t know. This lesson came handy all my career both in army and post army . Important events of this crash training period

a.. The most joyful day was the day when our platoon commander Capt S K Pillai told me  to join his ASSAM regiment. [I have written in detail in the Gen SK PILLAI page of the web site on this memorable day]

b.. The second event was the day I had to take the 3.2 km then 2 miles BPET test , I was suffering from fever and shivering. It was announced anyone who did not get through the test would be relegated. It was just 15 days before passing out. Gurdip [ Later a gunner officer ] a services cadet who was my neighbour came to know of the problem and
assured me that he will see me through. I was wondering how he can run for me !!. He came and escorted me to the SP and told me, when the gun fires, put your hand on my shoulder and close your eye and run . Don’t open your eye till I tell you. He ran to my step or I ran to his step I don’t know, but when he asked me to open my eye we had crossed the finish line in much better timing than excellent (with a khalsa hug) .  Lesson  3. Always help a buddy even at your cost. Which became one of my mottos of life .

1.  
Third event was ,three days later we had to run 10 miles BPET . We had a buddy who went to corps of signals who was extraordinarily bulky. Midway plus I knew he was giving up , I picked up his 303 rifle and coaxed him along. Capt K S Kholi Dogras came by and asked me why I have got two rifles and I just told him sir my buddy. He drove off . At finishing line when we finished our obstacles and put our bottoms to the ground Capt Kholi [lot about capt Kholi later maj gen kholi of Dogras and me] passed by and said I like the spirit.

1.  
Fourth event The Government and President of India had decided to present  COLOURS to IMA on 10 DEC 1962 . So Maj Mohan Adjutant from the Guards Regiment and our drill Subedar Major and his team, took whatever free time, we were supposed to have had and we were in the drill square rehearsing parades, parades, drills drills.  Colour presentation drills award presentation drills, march past, march past, slow marching Adjutant rehearsals , Dep Com rehearsal Commandant parade  and at last came the day….   when SARVAPALLI S RADHAKRINSHNAN awarded the colors to our Alma Matter . I was a proud participant of a colour presentation parade to  IMA on 10 DEC 62. After the parade 499 GCs passed out  of 30 th and 31^st 15 NCC 16 NCC 1 OTU 16 Tech 17 Tech courses.

1.  
. Best Event ,My parents, elder brother my mother’s brother and few local friends attended the parade. Best of it was “Wow” I was pipped by my father and mother inside the Chetwood hall at midnight of 10 /11 Dec in presence of my elder brother who by then was a two pipper and my uncle who was a border road engineer. [ He had come back from daparijo NEFA ( now Arunachal) after Chinese encounter] . Capt Pillai and Capt Narsi [ jats] were the first one to greet us. Commandant Brig Bagat standing at the out gate of Chetwood congratulated my father and mother for sending two of their children to Army. [ It also is history my third brother joined Naval Aviation after 7 years]

2.  
Rhino journey begins. We were 8 of us to the Rhino Regiment [ Prem and me from capt Pillai’s platoon] Prem, Khimta, Kiangte, Makin, Manral, Krishan pal, Ghose and me. It was a good batch 2 x 71 Martyrs ,1 Lt gen , I Maj gen 2 X brigadiers one UN Chinese expert and one LMC due to HAA service. . Indian army and the government were on shock due to Indo China war 1962 . We were too young to understand the national and services level situations. Got my movement order to report at Shillong after 10 days leave excluding journey period. In the ten days I went to Pilani where my father was posted to meet the family , then to Pune where my guardian was posted and to Allahabad where, my TO BE,was studying. Then got into the AT Mail at Lucknow for Guwahati with a big black trunk and a fauji holdall. I reached Amingaon on the banks of bramhaputra and was told that I had to tranship into a boat for being ferried to Pandu across Bramhaputra. There the 2 LT President commissioned officer was lugging one handle of the black trunk and carrying the holdall on the other moving approx. 2 km on the sandy river bank with jute grass mats!. Yeh it was the first time I had got into a boat in my life to cross the Super River of India BRAHMAPUTRA. We got an upper deck being first class ticket holders.  The river was approx. 3 km wide but the boat travelled criss cross to ensure that it did not hit the sand bars. . As we arrived at Pandu the railway station master said that, since I was having a first class warrant I will travel in a car to Shillong and my luggage will be delivered at Shillong out agency. Wow I sat in a black ambassador waiting for other passengers. After an hour wait the station master came and apologised for the delay and said since no other passenger was coming with me I will be travelling alone. Yeh great moment of life for a young 2 Lt to travel all by himself in a black ambassador .We drove from Pandu to Shillong the most beautiful journey of my life. Born and brought up at Tiruchirappalli Tamil Nadu  the biggest mountains I had seen was the Rockfort Temple . This journey is one the best of my life. [Years later I took my darling in a scooter to enjoy the most beautiful journey of the earth.] [I had switched into a smart OG
Uniform with sam browne belt and shining white one pip at Pandu railway station with a peak cap] It was dec 29 1962. We stopped at Nampho Gate and I saw the first  Khasi tribal woman with a tribal dress. !!!  cant pen my feelings !!!! . Glad I was already madly in love with my to be which began 5 years before !!. Wow Bara pani lakes and on, as we climbed up and up I saw the beautiful view of the Sundar Shillong as we cleared the ridge. Never in life has seen any such beauty. I made hundreds of trips to shillong in my life I always stopped and admired the city of Shillong. 1962 Shillong was very different from the present day concrete garden. I got down at Police Bazar and collected my trunk and holdall and was waiting for the vehicle to pick me up to happy valley. Shillong 29 dec was cold ,very cold, bloody cold and 2 Lt V Ramanan was standing in OG on the bazar with a Rhino cane in hand shivering away, shivering away. There appeared a 1 Ton with an old major sahib accompanied by his wife and two smart sister in laws! Maj L S Honour. He said young man load your luggage and I am just coming. Told the driver to park the vehicle at the vehicle park. I got into the vehicle and waited, waited , waited  and was looking at the new watch my father had presented me on the pipping day again and again . one hour, two hours and third hour I saw them appear . Then he told me they had gone for an English movie and bit of shopping. !!!!! Great reception into the Regiment !!!! As we reached Happy Valley it was dark and we moved into the ARC Mess. Asamanjay Ghose, a RIMCOLIAN  received me who was to be my room mate and Prem Puri and JBS Makin were my neighbours. Middle of the night Sam Gatpho [ posted to 5 Assam ] landed with his jolly mood and welcomed me and Ghose. SP Sinha a two pipper was at ARC as he had been medically down categorised and was our first senior subaltern .. Maj D B Rana was the officiating Comdt as Lt Col AP Kanthy was on leave, Tall Dogra ,Maj Balwan Singh was the Adjutant Maj Gurbachan  was the training officer , Major L S Honour was the Adm, Capt MS Behl 5 training company , Capt SS Rana [Later CO 4 Assam ] 4 training company were the other officers . Prem and Makin got posted to 5 Assam to be raised on 1 Jan 63 . Lt col Choudhary CO designate arrived on 31 Dec and made the world lively with all his josh and happiness to raise a new battalion. We were dined in on 31 Dec and Prem and Makin were also simultaneously dined out. On 1 Jan 63 we attended the 5 Assam raising ceremonies.  Shillong was cold very cold for a thambi, but full of fresh orange juice. ARC had got 2000 new recruits and divided into 5

companies. Capt later Lt col SS Rana. [my beloved CO 4 Assam] was my company commander and introduced me to the Regimental duties step by step. I was never in my room except for night hours . We could never get our cane drill right .
Before we put the cane in the arm pit the squad had gone past, or we were ready to receive the salute  and the squad walked past without a dahine dekh !! Either I was in the range or on drill square or on PT ground. Me and Ghose were
the two available to do orderly officer duties.  45 days passed and I got my move order to 4 Assam located at Hayuliang NEFA. It took Army HQ that long to find out the NRS of 4 Assam.  A word on 2 Lt Kiangte’s parents. Sub Kangruma Kiangte’s dad was the Head Clerk of 5 Assam and Kiangte’s mother was a divine lady. She looked after me and Ghose as her own children. We spent a lot of time at their JCO Qrs and had many meals. Admonished by senior subaltern for
visiting JCO lines and we argued we went to an officer’s parents.  . Much later in life me and khimta took a photo with her in front of the memorial in lt col uniform. . She blessed us both. Will miss you mam..

5.  
My journey with 4 Assam . A pretty long one . at the outset it is 4 Assam that made me what I am today. I owe it to all officers of 4 Assam who contributed to my development and growth. It spans from 17 Feb 63 to 1 May 81, wow a pretty long period of 227 weeks , with just two gaps a. from sep 69 to feb 74 [ 42 weeks instructional appt . DSSC and Div staff all in one go] b. 33 weeks with 7 Assam from 1 jan 1976 to 1 oct 1978 . I must have been one of the very few lucky officers to have served in battalions ,4 Assam and 7 Assam for 185 physical weeks in years ie 15.5 years of first 234 weeks ie19.5 years of service. [ Just 4.4 years in instructional staff , staff college and div staff]
out of my 32.1 year in the uniform I spent. The career kahani with my battalions is going to be very long bear with me. .

6.  
I left Shillong on 13 feb 63 with a group of 1 NK Vumzakup , (who was a services basket baller and had never been to any battalion) and 17 recruits. I had no clue where was Tinsukia and I was surprised to learn that the railways had a meter gauge line running another 491 km into deep Assam from Guwahati. We took more than 50 hrs to travel from Guwahati to Tinsukia a god forsaken railway station [ now has developed a lot ] and landed at a small tented colony of 4 tents , called transit camp established in dec 62. From Tinsukia we moved to Dinjan Airfield 20 odd kms , where 4 Assam Rear was located. Capt K Jagmohan [ Later Brig Jagmohan ] received me with his famous mushtache which he would fondle after ever two words and also spell out a gali ending with a C which meaning I never understood !!. First time in life I felt the earth quake of my life. The earth quake of feb 63 was severe and I saw Studybaker 3 tons shaking !!. After trying to know more about the battalion location , I came to know that Hayuliang was in the Lohit Valley . I was to be flown in an otter single engine aircraft along with eggs and tomato. We went into the airfield and came back couple of days and on 17 feb, I flew into the valley jolting and  bumping all along. No seat belt. It appeared the wing tip was touching the hill sides. Every time the otter went into an air pocket
we dropped couple of 100 feet and gained it back and my stomach would roll as though it is going to come out of my mouth. Oh God my first flight of my life was fearsome. [ In our four years we got so used to this little bird that the pilots would put a wooden plank between their seats and make me hop on to it holding the side grips} After about an hour and half we touched down on a table top stretch of 800 mtrs sweating from all holes of the body. I was received by Capt B N Godbole, Capt S K hatwal , Lt Prakash Shivpuri ,[my mentor till date]  Capt Amitab Banerjee RMO [and saw lot of other officers on the airfield including the CO. Then I came to know maj C B Pradhan was being seen off, [in the same otter] who was going to take over 1 Assam. Met  Amrik Malhi my first company commander [and hero of my life], SP Nag, BOB Snaize the 2IC designate , 2 Lt B K KHULLAR [our most beloved senior. later Brig Bal VSM ] Maj Umar khunni . and our dear 2 Lt YP Singh. [ a word about YP sir We were in the same battalion for one term. He in 4 th term as L Cpl and me in 1 st term. Y P Singh [ 4 Assam and first GB 8 Assam] used to take  our putti and ragging parade !! at IMA cold in jan 62. Both of us did not know that we will spend our life together.] He would loudly shout come on you clowns start front rolling and quietly announce you bloody fools do nothing and just stand there. My shouting is for the senior appointments sake!!!!! Not for you .YP’s approach to life is unparalleled and should be emulated. Jokes came from him on everyone including the CO]

7.  
I was posted to D Coy commanded by Maj Malhi and relieve YP of 11 Pl who was going to the Bn HQ. I was interviewed by the first CO Lt Col T Sailo. met first SM RAVA. I moved to D Coy on the DOU VALLEY by midnight and landed in a bunker. Next morning I was doing handing taking over of the defences from YP when I slipped and fell into the communication trench hitting my head on a sharp stone and my back on the slope of the stone. I was taken to my bunker and I learn lots of my brain had oozed out !!! After 48 hrs when the weather cleared I was evacuated to dinjan airfd  from where I was air lifted to Jorhat No 5 AF Hospital. My career started in the battalion with an air evacuation !!!!! I was treated for a week and I was granted 30 days leave and told to go home and not exert. I came across many MNS at the hospital and a Mrs Maj Dravid from Agra was so  nice to us that I stayed in touch with didi for a long time. I returned to the battalion, after the leave and meeting my parents at PILANI and my to be at Allahabad. [ Advice to young man always have a TO BE so you do not go astray ]  Padmashree Brig  T Sailo was the CO and a tough tribal . Once when Maj Malhi was on leave in march 63 the Adjutant called me from D Coy Barfoo picket  to come to the Bn HQ and take the CO to D COY defences. It was a 2. 30 hrs coming down the hill . I saluted the CO who said come on let us go . We walked up the hill 3.30 hrs without a halt and went around the defences for 2 hrs. Then we moved to Helmet location of 12 th platoon which was another hour walk . spent time with Sub Nurnenthanga [ 1 Assam Jessami veteran who lived to the age of 99 ]  and walked back to the company HQ . I requested the CO to have a Cup of tea and he said he does not drink tea so we moved down hill 2.30 hrs to the Bn HQ. On reaching his bunker he said one word GOODH. I reported to the adjutant who asked me to get back to my company. That was 12 hrs of continuous walking in UCA. Uncongenial climate area . I asked Bal Khullar what did CO’s GOODH mean , who told me that CO had tested my stamina and knowledge and declared good.

     Lots of LRPs were planned by the higher fmn and the first 20 days LRP of the bn and the bde ,was OP ROSE WATER from 20 May 63 to 8 Jun 63 to reccee the Metingliang valley and upto the pass. I with n sub Thankuma [ Lesson 4.
Never detail a known crook with a subaltern on a special mission. ] and 12 men left Hayuliang and went upto the pass via Chaglagaon AR post. I moved 13 days self-contained  from the AR post and carried out the first LRP of 20 days. The report I made was appreciated by all . Very unfortunately I missed my blood sister’s wedding which was held on 6 jun 63 at my home town . First absence from home at an important occasion. [The next time I missed an important occasion was the marriage of my blood elder brother in 64 ]. In Jun 63 Rodney Darkim B K Gurung Dongzathang and Kamal Ghose Roy joined the battalion The next patrol was to Tamula Pass in sep 63 , for 20 days where we had a narrow escape of Sep Philip Thankul while crossing metignliang river in twine rope. God saved him and us . His bamboo ring broke and I managed to reach out another ring to him by running along the river bed. In the same location Maj Raja of 6/11 GR had an accident of the bamboo ring breaking and he was hanging from the rope
for 20 minutes and when he let go instead of coming down he catapulted upwards by 50 odd feet and came down and crashed on the twine which threw him away and he fell 300 odd feet on to the river bank. It took 6 days to evacuate him by chopper. He recovered after months/ years of hospitalisation and series ofsurgeries.

8.  
My patrol was a failure as I could not make it to the pass as we had no water anywhere except at river level. I was taken to task for not achieving the aim. Accept a failure . you cant avoid if one is destined to it. DZ repeated the patrol and also reach the pass. Lesson 5 Realised that detailed planning was required by higher HQ and senior officers before launching any mission and 2 Lts should not be sent on wild goose chase. Maj Malhi left for IMA in august 63. He was my first guru who put me through from LMG no 1 to section commander to pl hav, pl 2ic, and pay naik, langar commander , CQMH , company babu. The year we spent on barfoo picket with him made me a wiser man . Going up and down to our picket and to other company pickets was a regular affair. Lugging rations up was
another feature. Lesson 6 He taught me one lesson which I held for my life. NEVER CROSS ANYONE ENROUTE WITH OUT EXCHANGING FEW WORDS ,WHETHER YOU KNOW HIM OR NOT IS IMMATERIAL . YOU WILL KEEP MAKING FRIENDS ALL ALONG.I made many friends in my career and life ,who helped me or I helped them.  On 15 Sep 63  Lt Col Gurbax Singh took over the battalion and 4 Assam was rotated to Lohitpur near Tezu . He appointed me as MTO and moved me to Dinjan with a task of shifting the rear including the MT to lohitpur by road. I made over 30 trips across Brahmaputra R driving old Studebaker 3 tons and Ford 1 tons and Dodge 6 Lb gun towers, as we did not have adequate drivers .  Each trip was 200 km one way with a river crossing of 3 hrs. 4 Hy/ 8 Lt vehicles were loaded in a boat and ferried across bramhaputra R. {Digressing L Hav Hokese Sema was my driving Instructor. I never will forget his remarks when I was driving a overloaded studybaker from jairampur to dinjan with stolen
firest wood at midnight . “ College ki ladki ke mafik gadi chala raha hai Ho . Thoda army officer jaisa chalao ho. Accelerator dabao saab”}  We then drove through Digaru Nala which could be crossed by elephants only most of the
time. Having settled the unit MT and rear at Lohitpur I was detailed for D and M course at Faizabad. 9 jan 64 to 19 feb 64. An unexpected boon time with my to be who was at Allahabad. Every week end I disappeared to her home, till I was marked absent in a surprise parade on a Sunday morning.  I attended the course and returned to unit at Lohitpur. I got a BX Grading and when I told Col Gurbax about my being first in the course and obtaining a  BX grading he fired me in a conference and said “ Bachchu [ his famous words] I wanted a MTO for the battalion  and not an instructor for the Army school” !!!! I was punctured. !!! 64 we had lots of officers joining us Preetpal Singh N P Sud , Bagathi, Ragavan, Bala ,RV ,Subba Jaspal Dwivedi Sud, Hukku, DB Mull , Ranbir singh ,Autar Singh SL QM .4 Assam got rotated to Hayuliang for another year in oct 64. In may 64 my blood elder brother capt in army got married and CO told me that I can’t go as CEME inspection was to be held.

9.  
Lesson 7. Ensure a young officer is able to attend his family functions until and unless a war is on. He may be a piddley 2 Lt for you but at his home he has duties to perform. We stayed on there till jun 66 . In Feb 65 I was detailed for attending an Intelligence cadre at Tezpur Corps HQ. Lesson 8 Brig Tuli BGS corps. NOTHING IS AS GOOD OR AS BAD AS IT IS REPORTED FIRST. Carried this lesson for ever. On completion of the cadre, I was attached to GS Int Div HQ. At 2 years and 3 months service I found myself in the staff of MAJ GEN SATINDER SINGH SIKH REGIMENT, an outstanding mentor. Me and the ADC were the two officers who got maximum training under his personal guidance. The ADC was senior to me so I got maximum ragda but learnt a lot. First time I was introduced to SAO 12/S/65 the DSSC syllabus by Maj Kr Harmohinder Singh ASC who was the G2 Int and a psc himself.. Lesson 9. Introduce and set DSSC goal in young minds. To be marked with an asterisk constantly in 3008 was a good achievement in the battalion but the price I paid was from 63 to 68 jun, except PWO mandatory , I got no course and I saw all my juniors going to many courses. They also got posted as instructors when I was still in the battalion. I got married on 30 Jun 65. On 15 jun 65 I was working in the Int office at 0030 AM ,and when I looked up I saw the GOC standing in front of me who used to live in the same campus. He asked me what I was doing at such a late hour. I told him that I was to go on leave for my marriage and the GSO1 has directed me to complete the TERRAIN DIGEST for all 5 frontier divisions before I leave. Old man gave a smile and walked away. Next morning on his directions I was put on an ASSAM TRAVELS Dakota aircraft and pushed to Calcutta. The G1 did not take it lightly. !!!!  Lesson 10 Look after your subordinates. Army Tasks and duties will never end. Youngsters have a life of their own to lead . Support them. I returned back from my marriage and was detailed to accompany the GOC to 4 Assam and 6/11 GR for a test exercise called DOUBLE SWORD EXERCISE.  I walked upto the GOC [ I had 2 yrs and 6 months servie] and told him “Sir I cant accompany you as my unit is being tested”. He overruled and I had to go with him. One of the exercise was a 4 hrs AT based mobilisation and orders were to be issued at 0200 to the battalion by me to be inspected by
the GOC at 0600 hrs. 

     At night after dinner I went to Lt Col Gurbax at 2200 and told him that I will be delivering the mobilisation order at 0200 to the adjutant. I also went to lt col US Raj CO 6/11 and gave him the advance warning. After both inspections were complete , during breakfast the GOC asked me what time I delivered the orders ? I told him that I delivered at night 0200 hrs, the written orders but gave them a verbal warning to both the C O s at 2200 hrs. Old man smiled and said I like the battalion spirit. He also added I would have done the same thing if I were in your place. In November I said good bye to Div HQ and returned to the battalion. On 3 Dec I took a LRP for 45 days 22 days self contained to explore the HALI Valley . It was named OP BLUE STREAK .  The best moment was Brig Gurbax Singh Dogras CDR 82 Mtn bde met me on the track approx. 6 km away from unit and walked along with me . He not only debriefed me all along but also spoke to the men and the jco Sub Moneswar and appreciated them for toughness of doing a special mission. He raised our morale so much that I cant express.  Lesson 11 As a commander reach out to the troops when they do  a special mission .The patrol got an  appreciation from the GOC and I was specially mentioned. One day suddenly CO called me and Bal Khullar [ WE WERE THE TROUBLE MAKERS AND TROUBLE SHOOTERS ] and told us to move to A and B coy pickets and take over and brief the Commander on his visit next morning. He also told us have extravagant menu of tribal cooking . When he saw disagreement in my face he taught me a lesson

        Lesson 12 BACHCHU [ that is how he addressed the officers ] SHORTEST CUT TO  A MAN’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH . After the inspection and briefing of the company posts, Commander was taken for lunch in a bunker where he found bamboo cooking , roasted meat and tribal beaten rice , trapped fowl  he went gaga and all our sins in briefing was forgotten . 1966 saw me as OC of  Adm company , Sp Company , A Coy , B Coy and all specialist platoons. D B Mull got posted as CO 6 Assam and I had a big fight with him in spite of he being the 2 IC . He used to play teen patthi and gamble . Capt KK Ghose Roy lost all his savings which was drawn for his marriage from field cashier. The day he went to 6 Assam I wrote a poem on his dining out and told him please don’t gamble and definitely not take away money
of the juniors. Lesson 13. Do not gamble and positively not with your subordinates. Oct 66 we moved to Varanasi by a special train . This was the first move to a peace station by train . We did not have a special train warrant and all our office kit was packed . I took bagathi with me and walked upto AQ of 2 Mtn Div HQ Lt Col Hudson Raj Rif. I told him my predicament . Without batting an eye lid he told the DQ to give me the warrant leaf. I thanked him and  he looked back and read a lesson of my life Lesson 14  OFFICER’S DUTY IS TO DECIDE. I practice it even now. I feel sad when officers seek permission of seniors for every decision. Maj Decruz 3 Assam who was MCO Barauni gave us a royal halt and we came to know of  his capacity for drinks !! Autar singh SL QM got posted out and I took over as QM at the railway station . Unit had no clue of what is a survey board . I ran around a lot and learnt from Capt Chiman lal AOC our BOO. We were part of a new raising brigade and hence no guidance from anyone. Still we produced hundreds of pages of survey board. A great experience of life. Lt Col Gurbax got posted out to jallandhar and Lt Col GS Sandhu from 6 Assam took over as our CO who had been instructor in NDA.. A top ranking tough CO who trained hard and loved us hard. He exposed me to many training events and in spite of being the QM, I found myself launching an attack as A Coy Commander with 6 hrs notice. The Adjutant Preetpal Singh launched C Coy Attack. Both of us were back to the table as Adjutant and QM at first light after the reorg. 23 DEC 66 me and swarna were  blessed with a sweet pari at MH Varansi. She was the first baby of $ Assam at Varanasi and of course the battalion ladies kept the MH busy for next two years !! She was to be discharged on 26 Dec but the Army Commander Lt Gen Dhillon  decided to visit the town and also visit the MH. The Commandant MH said he would like to retain her at the officer’s family ward so that Army Cdr would be able to see the child and mother. My young princess was dotted by the Army Cdr in his visit. During my stay in Varanasi my home was the centre point where all bachelors would gang up for food. All officers who got married stayed in my house for 10 to 20 days till they got accommodation . bal khullar,  DZ , IJ , Kamal , Subba , Shivpuri . It was a literal dharam shala .  The hottest activity of 67-68  was a 50 KM night marches every Friday . we used to leave at 5 pm and walk 50 km with Lt Col Sandhu
leading with full battle load of 16 kg  and weapons. Return to unit and fire 5 rounds , clean the weapon and then inspect the boy’s feet and go home at 0500. The bachelors used to be at my house at 0515 and my wife would give them a meal and most of them would sleep in the drawing room till 1100 or so and then go back to the mess. A great CO [ btw he was known as  Maharaja of Ganga Nagar and owned Ganaga Nagar Palace at Amritsar. ] After one such 50 Km march he entered the office at 0400 and wanted to check the training instructions which was due at Bde HQ on that day. We had gone home and around 6.00 I got a call on the field telephone from CO , who said, can I come to office ?. I cycled down to office at 0630 and found the Adjutant PP there. Old man briefed both of us to do some writing work and we finished around 1200. Old man got the instructions despatched and went home. He had worked continuously from 0800 Friday to 1200 Saturday . Hats off sir. Lesson 15 CO s  must lead from front and be a role model. In jun 68. I went on a 5 weeks QM
course as the officer for whom the vacancy had come could not go. I was one of the few infantry officers who got an Alpha in the QM course. The AOC school course and curriculum was out dated . I had ground experience of near two years as QM and I got many issues highlighted. I had gathered lot of knowledge by studying rules regulations  army orders army instructions and equipment tables. It helped me and my unit / formations all along.    1 oct 68 [ Raising Day cum Vijaya Dasami was a sad day in history of 4 Assam. The event sparked off when L NK Deka of signal platoon was returning home with his wife and the goons from Varanasi railway station misbehaved. She ran into the railway station When the boys  got the news of missing mrs deka they went to the railway station and ransacked and beat up the coolies and staff. The UP police were also roughed up. The  UP Armed police platoon was called up and the  rhinoboys rounded up the platoon and put them and their weapons  in the QG. The event became a CIVIL MILITARY issue and parliament question was raised by Kamalapathi Tripathi then MP and a COI was ordered. In the mean time on 28 oct I as captain , took the advance party and went to JINDHRA Jammu to relieve 6 Dogra. We had ,sorry to say, a bad brigade commander at Allahabad  who did not support the Unit. All officers were staying at Varanasi and the battalion was moved by Capt Shivpuri sir with 2 Lt B S Gurung in the special train. Shivpuri handed over the battalion to me at Pathankot Railway 

station and moved to Intellegence course at Pune. I took the battalion to Jindhra and found myself as CAPTAIN V RAMANAN OFFICIATING COMMANDING OFFICER  from 20 Nov to 14 jan 69. We had a great brigade commander who supported me at all times { I later on joined him Gen Harish Bhakshi 5 GR as GSO 2 [ ops]} . I and 2 Lt Gurung were the only two officers in the battalion . We settled the battalion and carried out training and even a brigade demo on flame throwers. I even did a SCM as a captain,   Lt Col Sandhu was posted out and he arrived at jindhra for 4 days and said good bye. Maj Ranbir Singh 2IC  who came after few days , was promoted as CO and I pipped him. The battalion saw a sea change . Adjutant was changed and I was changed and moved on a long course of 5 months from 2 feb.  The poor officer who had got the course released to him , while on attachment with the bde HQ became Adjutant to the new CO !!!! The SM had gone on pension consequent to the COI and a new SM took over.  I returned from the course in jun to Srinagar . I was detailed to run a commando training camp for the brigade along with Maj Sharda Vr C of Para. Just as the ragda ended I received my posting as instructor to ASMT Faizabad. One of the first few Infantry officers and the first one from Assam Regiment to become a D and M Instructor. 29 Dec 62 to 16 Aug 69 of near 7 years , was my foundation spell where I held all appointments of the battalion from rifle section commander , 11 platoon commander to officiating CO . I attended many many training events at Div ,Bde level . I went as umpire to many exercises. The Regimental Foundation was solid. I had just done four courses D and M , PWO ASOC and QM. Even though I could not attend many army courses I had done lots of work with specialist platoons which helped me in later career. Lesson 16. An officer should be exposed to all the appointments of the battalion and not get branded to one seat or one specialisation. A 2 Lt whom I had appointed as Adjutant in dec 74 stayed on as Adjutant till dec 78. !! The asterisk for prolonged period in life, in 3008 gave me lot of confidence The knowledge of rules and regulations I gained due to hours of study was phenomenal and helped me to face life with confidence in handling difficult situations.

Lesson 17 An officer should study all rules regulations Army orders and Instructions as a hobby and build a high level of
professional  knowledge base. He must be a master of Record Office Instructions if he really wants to look after the men.

10.                 
ASMT, DSSC, GSO2 [OPS] Aug 1969 to jan 1974. My tenure as Instructor class C and class B at Army school of mechanical transport was very rewarding.

• I made the first NISSAN PRECIS for the entire indian army in partnership with Capt {later Brig} Narayan Patige EME
• I made an electric model for Shaktiman Veicle electric system which was very complicated. It was seen and appreciated by Gen IS Gill DGMT. It was used for over a decade in the school
• I taught motor cycle , Nissan and shaktiman to NCOs JCOs and officers. It was an education for me.
• I had Chamb martyr Rathore and Mani Ghatraj as my students. Mani joined ASMT as an instructor later.
• I trained ASC EME ARTY and few Inf officers in tactics Part C . In those days Part C [Tac appreciation , map reading and adm ] was compulsory. Service officers who were at the verge of losing the seniority got through with my services.
• I grabbed time and studied studied for DSSC. There were many hurdles on my DSSC path but I got through in jun 71 and was nominated for 28 DSSC course. I was fourth from bottom in seniority amongst the students who were detailed. 31 Course Para Rhino Krishan Pal had done 27 th Course with 8 yrs service and I joined DSSC with 9 years service . My DSSC course mates had 14 to 15 years service and one was a LT COL .
• Swarna and me were blessed with another Pari, Sita on 11 May 71. The ASMT tenure was a success in that I was given a roving send off by the
• Commandant and all officers at the faizabad railway station. Remember Capt K S Kholi of Dogras of IMA. He was commanding 9 Dogra at Faizabad. He took keen interest to train me in Tac B along with SPS Vains of his battalion. He used to correct my appreciation and guide which was one of the reasons for my success very early in life . Col Kholi played an important part in my life again and again. He would ask me to attend his battalion sand models Lesson 18. Give time and guide junior officers even at the cost of loss of your convenience .

11.Our course started late in March 72 in view of the 71 Indo Pak war. I was the first commissioned officer of  4 Assam to make it to DSSC through a 6 paper competitive exam in 72. Shivpuri Khullar YP all did the courses later in 73 and 74. Jagmohan, Rana , Godbole had been commissioned in other bns and did staff course from 4 Assam. DSSC. I was never a super top brilliant officer.  But my double hard work, use of my brain compartment and sincerity was my strength. Krishan Pal [ COR ] , who did 1971 course , had advised me not to concentrate on Infantry subjects alone but to concentrate on other arms ,services and other two services [ Airforce and Navy]subjects . So I was always at the models when other arms and inter services  subjects were discussed. I did a project on Trade War as a part of a joint syndicate ,which was commended . I am proud to add that officers who came home ate dosas and copied my solutions retired as Army Commanders! Lesson 19. Do not fall out with a DS in the DSSC course even if he is a ……. [ Any Course ]. During the course the entire syndicate fell out of favour with an Artillery DS and in CI ‘s Interview we complained against him. He was removed from the teaching to Pamphlet section. But we paid the price . WELLINGTON The only time I went on posting below  Vindyachal Ranges, was when I joined  DSSC. Otherwise I specialised only on the LOC !!. My parents and family came and spent lots of time with me  and swarna at wellington and had whale of a time. I was posted as GSO 2 Ops to 14 Inf Div. I was disappointed that I did not get a posting as BM [ I know why . but I am sharing my pain with future rhinos so that you don’t land up in such situation of DS Conflict . But Capt Narsi SC [Lt gen ] who was an instructor at IMA and then posted as DS DSSC  consoled me and told me, “it is good posting and I will learn a lot”. I got a silver owl for my contribution to the OWL Magazine of 1972. Copy attached A simple humour.

I landed at HQ 14 Inf Div in 73and was pleasantly surprised to see my Jindhra bde commander was the GOC and he had picked me up from the DSSC list to be his G2. Col Narsi’s words came true .  I worked with gen Bhakshi for 13 months. I accompanied him to all reccee of deserts , canals , river line prepared plans, plans for static corps , offensive corps . We were the first to reccee and site all defences south of Ganga nagar raising nagar, Anup Garh , Surat garh ,to bikaneer and south .  The word PLAN was imbibed into me in this tenure as G2. We prepared many plans contingency plans. All my life I kept working on plans of innumerable topics. One of the best plans I had made was Afforestation Plan for the western command which was implemented and is visible on the ground till date . Unit efficiency  I had accompanied Gen Bhakshi
 for inspection of over 20 units of all arms and services , and it helped improving my standards and knowledge of unit efficiency. The GOC also taught me an Inspection by senior commander revives many procedures and improves the standard of serviceability of all equipment. I had an excellent team of G3s. two became brigade commanders and one retired a LT GEN . We were the best team of the div hq and were honoured and recognised by the GOC .  Lesson 19. Suffix the word Plan to all your work and it will lead you to think futuristically and give you a road map to follow. So what if the road map is not what you or your superior  wanted but every one will have something to begin and you are proud that you were the author of the original plan. It is unfortunate many officers cannot begin a task on their own. They may execute
the task very well but for making a plan for a mission needs training and practice.

Lesson 19. . Never refuse a soldier’s offer of tea . It is important for me to bring out a lesson I learnt from gen Bhakshi. We had gone to Kasowal bulge for an offensive recee and had gone to a BOP across the river. The BSF boy offered us tea and Pakodas. I thanked him and refused both. Old man stared and told me TAKE IT ! . I reluctantly took the pakodas and tea. As soon as we were alone he told me, SON Never refuse anything when it is offered by a soldier. He would have gone miles cycling to Ajnala or even Amritsar, to get the pakoda material as a GOC was visiting their post. By not accepting what he gives you will demotivate him. I maintained this lesson all my life. I was popular in my 2IC, CO , Dy commander and two  Bde Commander tenures, when men always knew saab will never say no to what they offer. To side track COL Surrey CO 4 Assam was posted out and Lt Col SS Rana took over as CO 4 Assam. Shivpuri and Khullar had just completed DSSC and were moving on staff. YP was going for DSSC . I went to Delhi met Lt Col Ranbir singh my Ex CO and asked him to revert me to the bn as 2 IC. I requested the GOC to talk to lt Col Ranbir who was in MS and had served as CO under him. I was posted as 2IC 4 Assam in jan 74. I took a month leave and joined the battalion for adm inspection. I officially reported in jan 74. My regimental stint started from 9 feb 74 and ended on 1 May 81 [ another 7 years plus] when I handed over command to my very dear Subba.

12.                 74 -75 4 Assam . All of 74 was spent in op alerts , walking from kapurthala to Ranian along the GT Road , DCB Maintenance [ killing and eating snakes, capturing tortoise and fishing by our rhinos ], counter attack rehearsals with 81 Armd regiment. , Exercise with troops and without troops , writing papers for Div on DCB battles and armr counter attack. Gen Chibber and Gen Vyas were full of praises for 4 Assam . [ This development of battle drills and SOPs helped me in my SC Course]

• Me and swarna were blessed with a buxom boy on 20  Aug 74.
• In Nov 74 , when I had gone on 10 days leave to leave my wife and children at Tiruchy, we got our special train at no notice,. Lt Col Rana was  medically unfit to travel to field and HAA. Rodney Darkim brought the battalion to Misamari by special train  . I got a telegram to rejoin soon . I flew  from Chennai to Gauhati and reached misamari at my own cost . In those days travelling by Indian Airlines was a very expensive affair !! [Travelled with Amrith Raj brothers.] Once again ,Ramanan became officiating commanding officer at the railway station . Very few would have such luck. I walked with the battalion from Misamari to jaswant garh along the chako hills rupa ,bomdila, senge ,sela and jaswant garh. We covered a distance of 450  kms including the acclimatisation treks for 6 days at senge, 4 days at jang to sela We had moved from 0 MSL to 15000 MSL [Govind top] from nov 24 to dec 3. Not a single casuality of HAA . we were fit for anything .

• Rodney , zosangzuala , zama , tas raj, valy [ pardon me if I have missed some name ] were my team who footed it with me. It was an experience to lead a battalion marching column for 11 days. We passed through  3 Assam at foot hills, and lt col Das Gupta gave us wonderful bara khana . Bardy Sir was the 2 IC,  Johny [ Lt Gen ] used to be the adjutant. I used to walk with each sepoy NCO in the column and keep talking.
• The bn we had relieved had told many wrong information about HAA. 4 Assam went to HAA for the first time .Our men who had never served high altitude got more worried about not having enough oxygen and lack of erection and infertility.
• I took a sainik sammelan at RUPA and told them that there is plenty of oxygen as long as a matches burns on striking. The boys struck a match at Sela pass in 5 ft snow to light cigarettes and declared CO Sahab ne sahi bola ho. bahooooot oxygen hai ho. I solved the erection problem soon . when a boy was caught at a labour camp , confessed to the battalion that the HAA had no impact on erection I let him off with a minor punishment !! [ What great life with troops]
• Champion regiment has gone a long way into Siachen glacier and established a reputation of one of the toughest troops. Burt first exposure to HAA was an experience and I had the Unique honour to induct them

13.                 My problems started with a bad , sorry a very bad brigade commander. An International Sadist.!!!! 22 Punjab had arranged for tea for the entire bn, which had walked up 4 days from misamari. The commander met me at the tea and said [his first meeting] “I am famous for fixing 2ICs “ I immediately retorted  and said can you do anything better. Don’t worry sir, its God who decides the life flow. I also told him some one made you a CO and Brigade commander and please learn to make people. Sure it was a bad start.

• He got after us as he was from non tribal background and Mahar Regiment. We walked up another 6 days and were settling down at Nuranang commonly known as Naraknang of Kameng Division , for its weather .
• On 22 Dec he rang me up and said I should send a LRP to the LC the next day . I refused him and told him X Mas was our regimental function and I will not send any patrol.  I also told him that patrolling is carried out as per schedule and not at whims and fancies.  In addition I had all Christian officers with me Rodney Zama Raj Vali Zuala for whom x mas was important. He reported to the GOC and told that I should be taken to task. We celebrated the first xmas in snow and the men enjoyed it with pork kichdi and pleanty of lal bahadur , while I was sipping powder milk tea and munching pakodas. . Brig Anand from Gorkhas,  the 11 Bde commander who was located at Bhaisaki joined us for x mas. Again on 29 Dec commander rang me up and said I should send a LRP. I told him I will take the patrol myself and let my officers spend new year at church mandir and Barakhana . He did not like it but I took the patrol out on 30 Dec  and returned on 5 jan 75 to altitudes of 16000 ft in 10 feet snow. On my return I made it very clear that no more such ad hoc patrols. He had never seen a namoona like me!
• In the meantime our A Office TRS hut caught fire and there was a hell of a hungama created by the commander. A COI was convened . Ramanan went into wrong side of commander for letting a TRS hut burn.
• Even though the history Vol 3 says that Lt Col Rana was commanding till 09 Apr 75 , he had left the battalion on 20 Nov 74 and I commanded from 24 Nov 74 to 08 Apr 75. Lt Col SK Sharma moved in to take over as CO. Commander had met him at base and briefed him at the bde hq about me and the battalion. I learnt later he told the CO designate that things needed to be set right. I was back to my seat as 2 IC and Shivpuri joined us and I became B company commander. By april 75 YP had also joined back . From a offg CO of induction I moved down to be a junior company commander. In the meantime,  I was detailed  to assist the brigade commander on a sand model exercise at brigade hq on STAY BEHIND PARTIES. it was to be attended by the hierarchy. Another spate of tactical arguments and discussions in pinks writing between me and him. I maintained a balance so that lessons could be brought out.  The model went off well but junior officers ripped open the pink solutions and said bulk of what was propagated was not practical.!!!!  I wrote a new paper on the subject later for the formation. [ Anecdote. Its law of nature 15 years later, as a brigade commander I organised a lecture demo for the whole division. Maj Gen H S Batra GOC 21 Div told me over a cup of tea , Ramu I have been wanting to clarify my mind and set SOP for stay behind parties. I could not do it. Can you do it for me in the OP ALERT . The whole div NCOs and JCOs attended it and our neighbouring Div also joined in.] I went on a short leave and had been permitted to bring family to Rupa our unit rear. In the meantime thinning out was carried out and unit moved to Rupa . The day I reached back on jun 75, I was told that I should move to pre staff Binaguri as instructor . I left my wife and kids in a JCO Qrs allotted to me and moved to Binaguri for 6 weeks. It was an immense education to be a prestaff instructor. YP had also come as prestaff instructor. It was a high power battalion with 5 Pscs as Balkrishan Khullar had also joined in. Salute to my wife who settled at Rupa JCO’s Qrs on her own.
• On return from prestaff we moved up for op alert and at the end of op alert our bn location changed from RUPA to Baisakhi . I was the fortunate company commander to go forward as Rama Spur Commander.[ I was the only major with a family at base and was not a bridge player !!] 8 hrs walk beyond sela pass. I took B Company and moved into Rama Spur, I created a wonderful set up and enjoyed being the forward most post independent commander. I made a church for 1975 X mas with logs and bamboos which were in plenty. I made a cake for the men based on recipe given by my wife on a military phone, with egg powder and milk powder baked in an ammunition box oven fitted to the choola. I got my posting to 7 Assam a new raising which was to be raised by my mentor Shivpuri. After all my episodes with the brigade commander and impact of his views on the new CO, I had made up my mind to spend my balance of service as MCO Chennai. !! Btw all the three 2 ICS of the brigade from same course . D R Shendil Dogras , H S Bhatia Punjab and me all were from 16 NCC and all were nuts. [Just for information, so what we were sacked by a bad sadist commander, my faith in GOD and hard work took me to one star general  and Shendil became twice national parliamentarian [ MP] from himachal and a minister of HP congress Government. Bhatia [ we called him Gandhi from IMA days]settled in delhipeacefully.
• The saddest day of our life was when the contingent going to 7 Assam was departure paraded at Baisaki in snow in OGs and were sent out without any EI Clothing even when the orders were clear that the men will be equipped to face winter of Assam where the new unit was to be raised. Me and Sud had it out with the CO. that day I told the CO, God willing ,a day will come when I will take over 4 Assam. My ICR was still on his table. Once I reconciled to be a MCO Chennai nothing bothered me. Lesson 21 . Never ill treat men. Inspite of which battalion panel they belonged to especially when you have come from outside and taken command . NP Sud and me left for Senge transit camp and Rupa with a sad depressed  heart after slogging in the Super HAA for 13 months.NP had come in advance party . [ My apologies to those who are very dear to the then GB for  I have written the truth] . My wife was surprised when I told her that we are moving on posting stock log and barrel by next morning 0500 hrs in convoy. Sweet she is, took it with a smile and [we got a 3 ton ] and loaded all our home items  loose and in dresses in hangers. Sud me and my three kids and my dog moved away merrily to Misamari, where I again got a JCO Qrs. { how many of you have moved with family with one night notice !!!} I moved to Tamalpur on 31 Dec 75 leaving my wife to sort out settling down at Misamari. She was a social worker for all the families at Misamari. I visited the corps HQ once and I met the CWE of Misamari in a meeting. he immediately reacted “Oh I know you .You are Mrs Ramanan’s  husband !” Lesson 20 A strong willed supporting  wife is a best asset an officer  can have. We must train them for independent living   Digressing  , She married me as an Intermediate from Kidwai memorial College Allahabad in 1965 . In 1968 She did her correspondence graduation from Delhi University with one child . In 1983 She did her MA from himachal university [ with three children] and followed it up with a B Ed from Annamalai University in 1987.  To top it she did a MA in Economics from the Devi Ahilya University Indore in 2004 after she was many times grandmother. Love you darling. Lesson 21 .Help Your wife to keep studying [so should you keep on  Only few days before  I gave my M A Psychology last paper at the age of 80.11 ]. 

•        She stayed at SPR misamari from 1 jan 76 to jun 77 and had my children admitted . I got my in laws to come and spend
  time with her for short spells from Mumbai / Tiruchy. I used to visit from Tamalpur to misamari when ever I could . In 77 july I got SPR at Guwahati Narangi and I moved them three cheers again  in a 3 TON . . 77 july to 78 oct she stayed there and I used to visit as often as possible blessings of Shivpuri Sir. She and kids would visit Tamalpur, when ever they could. It was great to see the brigade commander’s wife mrs Dhawan and my wife arriving in a three ton with two chairs for two days going back in similar 3 ton. Mrs Dhawan a great lady. Mrs Shivpuri spent lot of time at Tamalpur even though she was based at MHOW.

  ·       In April 76 , I was nominated for senior command without any warning. It was nice of Shivpuri sir to spare me and I went and did well in the course and was graded “I” and much later I was posted as Instructor in College of Combat [Now Army War College ]

  Lesson 22. Working hard and performing well in courses in very important for career progression. In july 76 when I had just returned from SC ,7 Assam, a vehicle toppled over into a crevice en route to Bhutan and we lost Capt Rai Singh and 12 OR. It was a sad day of my life that we had to cremate his mortal remains . His wife and father in law Capt Kalyan Singh had come from rajasthan for the funeral. The other 12 OR were buried/ cremeated a day earlier. We were declared operationally fir by Gen MC Gupta GOC 23 Div. Those of you who have heard of him he was a very tough soldier. Jul 76 to oct 78 the newly raised bn did lot of exercises and many joint training with RBA. Shivpuri sir wrote one of the best standing orders for a battalion and also compiled a book of tactical demonstrations for training at platoon company level. With blessings of the CO, I wrote case after case for Videsha Seva Medal and TA DA for joint training . I also wrote a case for Assam Regiment to be given a tenure at IMTRAT Bhutan[ In those days only selected four regiments were being given ERE at IMTRAT] God’s grace we won all the cases and Videsh Seva Medal was introduced for Joint Training with RBA. TA /DA was authorised for joint training. The ERE case was also approved and Assam Regiment got the first chance to provide ERE to IMTRAT. It was a pleasure when Col Tomar acknowledged my contribution two decades later in a rhino GTG.

  Lesson 24. Struggle and hard work pays and persuasion is important for achieving success in fighting with enemy and higher authorities !!.  7 Assam became a role model battalion and did outstanding work in quantification of Infantry. The battle drill developed by col Shivpuri for /attack across a DCB and canal became the talk of the town.  We also developed a deep strike concept in riverine terrain under Rhino General Bob Barbosa who raised the division .  7 Assam Regiment under Shivpuri Sir was always the point battalion of Div advance to contact of 300 Km overnight. The battalion was a well knit team with outstanding officers in Lyngdoh , Prahlad, Rishi , AB , Rattanjit Jhadav Shashi bhushan Arun Dattar, Pun, Ibnul ,Mani Gahtraj, RN Barkha ,and was always called upon to take difficult tasks. Raji Ver, jasbir Bawa, Lahiri, rawat joined us in our tamalpur stay. I would err if I don’t mention of Rhino R V subramaniam’s 4 Assam  role in our raising time as he was the DAAQMG of the 24 Inf Bde ,which was also a new raising. He covered up all the FUs we created.   In 1978 january I got approved for command and Rhino Maj Gen Ramachandran who was GOC 57 Div compelled me to take over 7 Assam. I refused and said I will rather wait and take over 4 Assam. Many officers of 7 Assam asked me to stay and take over 7 Assam as Shivpuri sir was completing his tenure and I was the raising 2IC. I was in no hurry to take command but I wanted fourth as no one commissioned in fourth had commanded fourth . God’s grace I got posted as CO 4 Assam and I moved on 6 Oct 78 to Faizabad to take over 4 Assam. I had done a continuous spell of near 4 years in field and HAA.

  Lesson 24 A 2IC is an asset to the unit The Commanding officers must learn to use the 2IC’s potential well without any ego. [ I was 2IC to lt col SS Rana and Lt Col Shivpuri both of whom I served with all sincerity and I was rewarded for it. Had it not been Shivpuri’s reporting on me I would have been MCO Chennai Central for ever, as my reports of 75 in 13 th year of service , by the CO and Bde Cdr were super lousy] Prem Puri also played a role in my clearing the board. In jan 77, I had gone to Delhi for a marriage and had a cup of tea with Prem Puri at his Pandora road accommodation. When I mentioned about my having been in the bn as 2 IC since three years and am due for a second posting to staff. He told me not to worry and continue in the bn . That tip helped me and I stayed on and never bothered about the board as I Was sure that there was no chance of my making it after my innings of two reports covering nov 74 to 31 dec 75, in 13 th year of service in NEFA with an excellent  commander [ SECRETARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SADIST ASSOCIATION !!. I got the board results at Yangphula Bhutan and the officers and the battalion celebrated it. The tenure of 7 Assam was an educative and a productive one. When Assam Regiment Volume 3 was published , I saw two anecdotes by COL Mani Gahatraj, and Brig J S Bawa who were junior officers in 7 Assam which touched my heart. It is a nostalgic memory to cherish in life as a tribute to hard work and dedication.

  14..       Command Tenure An officer from date of commissioning dreams of commanding his battalion. Being a workaholic , a habit taught by my father  , I enjoyed my command tenure in an exceptional manner. Lesson 22 My dad who was an officer in the test audit defence services had taught me to Work everyday for the sake of joy of working and not worry about the results. I served under 2 Commanders and two GOCs. Learnt a lot and taught a lot.   Out of the three C O s I was the only one who made it to COL rank and later Brigadiers Rank. Btw one of the CO s was a sword of Honour from 25 th course. [I learnt and teach a new topic called BOSS MANAGEMENT, since my command time to every one ] My command achievements were many. Salient of them are listed..

  ·       Rapport with Centre Commandant . Brig Bajwa was the centre commandant and I established outstanding rapport with him and achieved a lot. Without his support I would not have made any impact on the bn.

  ·       I supported 7 Assam 8 Assam 9 Assam and 10 Assam with good qualified JCOs , NCOS ,Sepoys and Funds.

  ·       Stabilised the substantive seniority structure of NCOs of my battalion .

  ·       Removed all deadwood and indisciplined JCOs

  ·       Got additional vacancies in ERE to reduce the years of service for promotion of NCOs and JCOs.. The new battalions the Hav were promoted with 7 years service, when old battalions like fourth it was 14 years

  ·       Carried out drive to qualify people in MR and Edn

  ·       Got additional vacancies from Inf School and Inf directorate and built up a qualified team. Thanks to Gen Rawat who was the commandant of Inf Schools who gave me 5 vacancies per year for all courses.

  ·       Proved to the Commanders that 4 Assam was professional and trained hard and delivered results

  ·       Prepared lots of op plans for the brigade and Div.

  ·       Ran many exercises for the bn, bde div and command.

  ·       The praise we got was unparalleled.

  ·       We were the best in football and hockey. We won upto command .

  ·       We were the best in competitions

  ·       We got the most difficult tasks in formation exercises. The proudest moment was when C Coy under maj Gurung and cdo gurmit carried out a deep raid of near 20 kms in a night ,and physically ambushed the GOC of 15 Inf Div Gen P N Hoon, in a Corps exercise at Beas at midnight. OP Whisky Bottle.

  ·       I concentrated on training of HAVs and JCOs under 2lt Gurmit and Capt Santram for two successive years for the period of 1 dec to 26 january . [ I ensured no Hav or JCO was on leave in this period.] I had 80 of them spared from all work and the youngsters screwed them professionally. They learnt and taught a lot and moulded each one of them into a professional NCO JCO

  ·       I am proud that Subba, RV, Hukku ,Marwaha my company commanders commanded battalions and Hukku became a maj gen and gurmit lt gen, vij a brigadier and My adjutant Santram commanded two battalions. I take no credit for their growth but I am sure 4 Assam contributed to their making CO s , one star, 2 star and 3 star generals. I sacked few mercilessly mainly due to their own doing . It took time but they realised their follies later in life. Many adverse comments was passed on my judgements, but I ensured that Command went only to deserving. Subba and Hukku also commanded two battalions.

  ·       Lesson 23 Professional knowledge and knowledge of rules and regulations helped me to do extremely well both tactically and administratively. It was a very proud day when Capt [ Col ] CRK Singh the QM put up a letter addressed to CGDA New Delhi with copy to all formation HQ. “ The final audit of battalion before move to field has been completed and the only unit in the indian army which is proud to boast that we are moving to field without a single audit objection or observations. I employed 20 odd civilians as tradesmen as per entitlement in rules. The raising of 7, 8, 9 and 10 Assam had left a large deficiency in tradesmen. I used all the power vested on CO , OIC Records and the CRO and employed civilians in lieu . I am proud to say that all of them got absorbed in the defence establishments as per surplus adjustment policy.

  ·       I prepared the best KLP at Faizabad, inspite of many spokes and restrictions by the command engineering staff and brigade staff.

  ·       I had a young two star adjutant in Santram who was pillar of strength to me. I had a SL QM who was posted out. I was more than happy to appoint Capt CRK Singh who looked after the men in an outstanding manner. People knew him as a foot baller and never realised his true potential. He delivered in a super manner to the men.

  ·       With the blessings of Bajwa Sir. I had kidnapped the Head clerk of 7 Assam Chander Singh , who had completed his field tenure and was moving to Records Chander Singh did an outstanding job of maintenance of records of men and updating , documentation of the unit. The only concession I gave him was that he could go on leave to his home at Rohtak whenever he wanted

  ·       I issued the training instruction in roman hindi and gave a copy to each jCO. All of them knew what activity was coming at what level and their role in it. The leave planning was made in conjunction with the training instructions.

  ·       We had made lots of innovation in firing , RCL indoor range MOR raikes range and MMG.

  ·       In early 80 , Our performance in the corps exercise at beas kanjali was unparalleled. We acted as enemy offensive formation against the holding div. we broke many myths.

  ·       Our contribution to elections in 1980 at Begusarai barauni and muzzafarpur in George Fernandes Constituency ,in Bihar got us a very good name.

  ·       I had a murder case and NK barber Janaki Takur was murdered by sep barber dinanath in family quarters We carried out the GCM within 90 days. [Anecdote.  Sep Barbar Dinanath was sentenced to life imprisonment and handed over to civil police. As per civ jail law they moved him to Bihar his home state. After two months one day he came to my house and my wife was highly worried . On enquiry she told me dinanath had come home .after some time I saw him  in my lawns and asked him as to why he is not in jail. Dinanath told me that the jailor has said “In Bihar only convicts with a dozen murders are kept in the jail and others can go home and report once in a way ” Hence he had been allowed to go home. On my asking why he is here at the unit . He told me he had to earn and I must give him a job !!!!!! Well that for our civil disciplinary system]

  ·       Maj Gen Rajinder Singh GOC 4 Div was very fond of the battalion . He was a great trainer and trained us very well. [A Proud day of my life came later in 1982 when, I had accompanied Lt Gen Sinha Army Cdr , as SO.  Gen Rajindar Singh who was offg GOC of 10 Corps patted me in my back and  told the Army Commander Sir I trained this boy in command.]

  ·       Lesson 26 . Gen Rajindar singh had imbibed in me his motto . “An officer especially in command should not think of today , he should think strategically at least 5 to 7 years ahead in respect of all aspects”. He conducted many officer events at Allahabad, where he and all the unit and formation commanders spent time together studying presenting and playing . The Div was an integrated formation and everyone helped everybody. I was always the one to give inaugural lectures and presentations. I and 4 Assam team [ R V } did a unparalleled task at 6 Mtn Div exercise run at command level as control and umpire org.

  ·       Gurmit’s training and santram’s training made a long time deep impact on the professional standards of the NCOs and JCOs which got revealed in the op Pawan.

  ·       I made a Kali mata temple at ARC which is still in top shape with a plaque “Dedicated by All Ranks 4 Assam”

  One of the best events of my stay at faizabad was the visit of Lt Gen R D Hira MVC, to assess the brigade commander for reporting on his suitability for further promotions. He visited 12 Dogra and 2 Sikh and bde hq for  30 minutes each and spent 3.5 hrs watching our men in action at platoon and section level. At the end when he said come on , “Ramanan take me to your office.” I told him Sir My battalion is loaded in the train and I am waiting for the engine [ railway calls it power]  to move to poonch. He was taken aback and said from the train you did all this events. I told him it is my commander’s training sir. Brig R M Vohra MVC later LT GEN ARMY CDR was elated.

  15.                 Another proud moment at a corps exercise at jallandhar [ we had come from faizabad UP for the ex ] the corps commander visited our battalion and saw the SM by my side. When he asked me how come he is here? . Very smartly SM Mankohein Paithe said “SAB HAM F Ech KA SUBEDAR MAJOR HAI B Ech KA NAHIN” The corps commander issued orders for move of all SMs to exercise location. Digressing SM Mankohein was a L NK when I joined the battalion in 63 and was later my CQMH ,  JQM and my Company 2IC . On assuming command I found that he was not making the board due to one report. I took him with me to Biennial and did what ever I had to do with the CRO joshi with the support of Subba who was in ARC and with blessings of Bajwa sir. He was promoted by the COR at the biennial. I later in 1985 went and spent a day at his house at Imphal. God bless his soul.

  16.                 Move to Poonch . we landed at bari and was received by 8 Assam. We spent two days and moved to poonch. Mrs R V always has an axe to grind that I took away her son to Poonch without telling her. !! We took over the defences eye ball contact from 8 Kumaon. I set up all the pickets and settled the battalion spread over from DODA to Malati. Enjoyed the process as the havildars and JCOs were well grained into op tasks. I use to visit pickets every day and on return RV’s Son would be waiting with my golf clubs for playing golf. He was my best partner cum caddy !! I got my posting order as AQ Ops and Maintenance to HQ Western Command Shimla

  17.                 From 1 Jan 1974 to 1 may 1981 I had continuously served the regiment in 4 Assam and 7 Assam. Plains of Punjab, DCB , HAA , Bhutan , UP and LC eyeball contact. It was a great experience. I promoted Santram as Major under field regulations . It was a proud moment when COL SUBBA my 2IC took over the battalion who was the second officer commissioned in 4 Asaam to command 4 Assam. Later on Hukku, Vij , Santram Gurmit and Pankaj ,commanded the battalion. My association with Subba started from 1964 to date. I had gone to ARC to drag him to the battalion so that he could catch up what he had lost with earlier CO. I have written that story in another page of web site so I am not repeating it. My posting was forthwith and I had to leave Poonch at the earliest. Subba walked up to me and requested “Sir Don’t go now, please spend few days in the mess and give us the pleasure of your company” . Me my wife who had joined from Tamil Nadu with my children who were in the hostel, stayed for three days and enjoyed the feeling of successful command. Taught golf to col Subba , Chandrashekar of 19 Maratha who was a services basket ball player and I motivated them to golf. Chandru  later became a star golfer and I played with him at Imphal in 85. Subba was a star golfer of DSOI New Delhi and incidentally made lot of winnings of golf. Me and my wife ,children ,went to Vaishno devi Darshan and reached Jammu. Since there was no train facility to Shimla from Jammu , we moved by a bus and reached Shimla. [Another anecdote. In 1979 feb at faizabad I was nominated as a senior umpire for a central command exercise of 6 Mtn Div 69 Bde, as part of GOC 4 Div as Ex Control . The exercise was held in Banbasa Pittoragarh. L NK
  Barua was the new Exercise Driver for the CO . After moving from Lucknow near Sitapur we had a puncture. . We replaced Stepney and moved on. After 50 km there was a puncture shop . Barua stopped the vehicle to get the puncture
  repaired. I told him not to worry and carry on as we were getting late. I was to have lunch at shajahanpur with Rhino Lt Col S K Hatwal . He ignored me and continued to get the puncture done. We moved on promptly after another 100 km
  we had another puncture. He uttered nothing but gave me one look which taught me a lot of lessons. After serving me from feb 79 to May 81 in umpteen exercises and visits, we parted at jammu transit camp  with unshed tears in our eyes.] Always respect a subordinate’s decision.  Lesson 27. It is in my command tenure I created a motto AN IMPROVEMENT A DAY * HAR DIN EK TARAQQUI. I ensured that there was improvement all round in each aspect. Every one had to improve every day and not live on yesterday’s glory.  I practice and preach it till today .

  18.                 Logistician Western Command. From may 1981 to may 1983, I was AQ Ops and Maint later upgraded to COL Q ops and Maint. It was an unparalleled education to be serving with Gen Sinha, Gen Sushil Kumar, Gen JK Puri ,Gen Dayal Gen Jaidev Datta and Gen Sundarji. I had the fortune of coordinating all activities of MG ASC MG AOC MG EME DDMF DD POSTAL , and some activities of CE. I learnt a lot and got lots of appreciation from all over. My achievements of those two years cannot be penned in words. I attach one document written by the Army Commander Lt Gen Sinha , in
  his handwriting ,which will prove my performance and output. .

  19.                 I ASSAM was at POO and Bharat Talwar was commanding . I had made a Rhino House on cart road with a very large Rhino painted on roof top ,and all ranks of 1 Assam were my guests. Mrs Talwar stayed with us with children and made chappati in burning wood fire place. Johny and family and Antal and family Raji Ver were our special guests.
  TSK sir was AQ Area and I raided them regularly. I prepared Adm Instruction 44 and Move instruction No 1. I was cited for my performance and was awarded COAS Commendation in 1984.[ I was the first one to get a COAS commendation from 4 Assam.] I was the logistician for EX Dig Vijay a massive exercise. Units got the best of logistics in transport ,trains ,rations, and maintenance support. My two DQs Maj Nissar Ahmed Ansari [ Later COL] and Maj S D Saloke [ later
  Brigadier] were pillar of strength . We provided all what was required by any unit or formation and our motto was NEVER SAY NO TO A UNIT. Lesson 28 In staff tenure you are to serve the units and formations . If units are not there then there is no need for staff officers. I used all the powers of Army Commander delegated to me and settled cases pending since 1965. As a coordinating staff with direct access to the MG ADM COS and The Army Commander , we solved many problems of units and formations at the snap of a finger. One of my achievements was developing a strategic parallel road from Pathankot to Bhatinda for move of troops in conjunction with Punjab government. The second one was moving special trains with improvised A Veh Ramps by blocking the mainrailway track on MG thus saving colossal amount of time and cost. In lighter vein
  col lawate commanding 9 Assam in the exercise collected so much of coal for heating he had to be given extra vehicles to carry it to Dehradun. The knowledge I gained as Q OPS western command helped me later in performing as Dy Cdr, Col GS of a sub area [ Ex Brass tacks where, I established real time Army Maintenance Area [AMA]  for the first time in history of Indian Army], Dy Commander of a HAA brigade ,Commander of two HAA brigades and in conducting wargames for 4 corps ,2 div and senior command.  One day in Aug 82 , Army Commander called me and told me take a drive to Rajasthan for a week. I will have few questions for you when you return. I saluted him and came out of his office and pulled my courage and went back into his room and asked him Sir Can I take my wife with me ? With a smile he approved my request. We undertook a 2000 km drive and also grabbed a visit to Gen Ranbir my earlier CO, who was commanding the 12 Div at Jhodpur. I had served under him as QM, Company Commander in 4 Assam. Gurmit my youngster .was our special and main attraction as he was the ADC. I returned back with massive data collected for all arms and services and gave a presentation to the Army Commander attended by COS and all heads of arms and services . We had a great COS in Lt Gen Sushil Kumar 11 GR who had risen from the ranks to be a Lt Gen. He was a great mentor for all of us. Ex Digvijay was born .

  20.                 Lesson 29. Art of Command .Many of you will be senior commanders and you have to learn art of command from our elders. We had a massive concentration for the exercise in cold month of February in the deserts. As we all know we have “a NA corps , an In Lieu corps and a UFT corps” !! in the army on whom we depend for all our logistics. The concentration was in full swing when the Army Commander Gen S K Sinha , a great man called me, his Q ops, and said go to exercise conc area and visit all the corps HQ, Div HQ and indep bde HQ and meet all the formation commanders personally [ There were a dozen of them] and solve their problems and let me know. I along with Col KK Srivastava DDPS moved out of Shimla in a jeep and met all GOCs , indep bde commanders personally and took their problems and solved them on the spot. Nice of the GOCs who gave me meeting at midnight in their caravans or ops rooms . Problems ranged from supply of fresh vegetables , fresh milk, meat on hoof , coal for heating and warming, engine repairs for A Vehicles , tentage , ambulances , caravans for Visitors, snake bite kit , sand boards for track paving , DTL seats and last but not the least mail delivery to troops. I put in 200 hrs continuous work and came back a very happy man to report to army commander. .Commander’s don’t wait for unit problems to be posed to them. The staff is utilised to go to forward locations and SOLVE it on the spot.

   

  20.                 The stay at Shimla was the first time 2 years my wife and children stayed with me. My sweet girls were in the hostel since 79 to 81 and before that I had 4 years field and 83 to 85 I was again in field. 85 to 87 I was at Ambala when my daughter was again at the hostel in maharani college Jaipur. While 87-89, I was at mhow they were again in hostel in Post graduation. 89 -91 I was at field commanding two brigades and 91-94 when I was at mhow they had grown wings and flown away into their own life. The midnight burning of oil of Shimla had its rewards that my children for whom I was a visiting dad got attached to me. A glorious tenure and I got my posting to 70 Bde Leh as Dy Commander . Capt RN [COR } who was the staff capt sent an escort party to take my luggage. In the meantime one of the best event of my life occurred. Col NK GURUNG sword of honour 1958 was the COL Q of Delhi Area when I was Q ops of western command. [He was BM 35 Inf Bde when I was G2 ops in 73.]  He had been cleared to take over a brigade in a special review board. I was extremely happy and congratulated him on phone from delhi railway station, returning from a spot of leave. He asked me “Ramu would you like to come as my deputy” I was thrilled with such an honour and I said I am posted to 70 bde and am moving soon. He met Gen Sinha who was the Vice Chief and got my posting to 166 Mtn Bde.

  21.                 Dy Commander 166 Mtn BVde .It was one of the best innings of my life and I kept my family at silliguri in a barrack of the ASC Bn and I had one leg at Pedong our base and one leg at HAA. It was a very active period and I was the first one to reach DOKHALAM with Col Y S Panwar of 14 Garhwal Rifles with out acclimatisation when Chinese came to tri unction.. I footed all along the ridge from jalapla to Dokhala many times. I had an attack of pulmonary odema and got evacuated by chopper to kalimpong, and got cured and after 15 days rest was back in op alert. Though I contributed a lot in this period , I shall just list out somesalient aspects without narration.

  ·       83 op alert officiating brigade commander as Cdr was doing a Corps task.

  ·       84 . Maj gen K S Kholi Dogras [ IMA and DSSC guru ] was the GOC and gave me many tasks to perform all over and also and also made us play lot of Golf at Kalimpong .

  ·       84 I was a member of the COI of a Sikh Bn where I saved the CO Lt Col Khalon from being sacked.

  ·       I did a underground mission collecting evidence from Agarthala Mizoram and Assam. I grabbed a trip to Imphal to play golf with col chandrashekar and brig Kashyap. I was the first one to drive down the Agarthala Aizwal Road which was under construction.

  ·       84 op alert I ran a corps level exercise with troops and had physical attacks launched on all heights above 18000 thousand, where three divisions physically took part.

  ·       I prepared a 100 point recommendation for the Pay commission most of which came through

  ·       I was a member of ASEC committee for revising the WE and WET of the Mtn bde HQ. We had volatile sessions at Army HQ with the MOD Staff and I got the table revised adding many useful items for the operational functioning of the bde Hq.

  ·       I ran a highly professional officer’s fortnight at Kalimpong Div HQ,

  ·       I served a lot to 8 Assam and Marty . I was at beck and call of 3 Assam with my dear Hukku. Rhino Khimta was the COL GS of our Div and I enjoyed their hospitality a lot. Mani Gahatraj came and spent time with me.

  ·       I revived the Pedong golf course, made a Tennis court [ My Cdr brig Gurung was a national tennis champ] we played a lot and worked a lot.

  ·       All my logistic knowledge was put to use and I improved a lot of systems.

  ·       I wrote one of the best standing orders for a brigade deployed in HAA but located at Rear .

  ·       I learnt gorkhali as our camp was from 9 GR .

  22.                 Twist in the tale. Commandant of 14 GTC Brig Tiwari had a heart attack and passed away suddenly. Brig Gurung was asked to move to Sabathu forthwith [ later he got special extension of two years and also a VSM One of the finest bosses of my life who was a task master , sportsman and a mentor. . He moved with out relief and subsequently we got a commander who came on promotion from MT Dte. He was a poet and had published many english poems . Din Raath Badalthe hain Halat badalthe hain saath saath Mosam ke phool aur path badalde hain. The weather changed in the HQ. In the meantime in May 85 I lost my father and was running around to south. I spent 7 months under the new commander, happily continuing to do my best and getting what he thought of me in writing . I had a surprise posting as COL GS Ambala Sub Area. My last report as Dy Cdr under a poet made me sure that I will be hanging my boots as a full colonel , which was in any case one step more than my dream of commanding my battalion as Lt Col. The extracts arrived as I expected. I was advised to represent . I took a decision not to represent the remarks . However I wrote a Personal letter to  Lt Gen J K PURI, who had taken over as Eastern Army Commander and was our corps commander , forwarding the extracts and adding one line SIR THIS WAS NOT WHAT I WORKED FOR IN THE HAA OF JALAPLA DOHKALA NATHULA FOR YOU AND THE ARMY  . I got a seasons greeting from him with a small note, I got ur letter.! 

  23.                 I moved to Ambala with lot of inhibitions about my job. I never knew the role of a sub area and I always thought it was a dummy appointment. In any case I did not expect any role for a G staff in a logistic set up. Luck would have it I could move my family less my elder daughter and my son who were in hostel with me. 5 Patterson Road Ambala. We had a top ranking triple barrel gunner V P Malhotra as our commander lesson 30 He was tough but had a motto LIFE IS NOT MADE OF BIG THINGS IT IS MADE OF SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS AND GOOD JESTURE. A wonderful motto which I learnt and practice till date. He himself used to practice it meticulously. Great personality to serve.

  I had COL OP GROVER VSM  who was an outstanding engineers officer who was on reemployment. I had known him as he was the AQ of 5 Mtn Div when I was struggling with the sadist bde cdr, at HAA in 75.  He belonged to Karnal and his wife was a principal of a college there. I ensured he got the best honour in the HQ and had a seat of respect, phone connection in his room and an orderly. We had an agreement that he could leave the office on Saturday at 1.00 PM and proceed to karnal and return on Monday at 0830. He was dropped and picked up . In return he did so much of work for the formation in all spheres, GS SD , GS WE, Engineer Tasks, Civilian Management [ we had over 1000 of them in various depots and installations], SOP . I gave him the honour and I got the return of 10 officers work load. . I learnt a lesson that reemployed
  officers are to be honoured to get maximum support from them. In the meantime Maj Rishi 7 Assam got reemployed at Ambala. I kidnapped him from the station HQ and had him placed under me. We had struggled in 7 Assam for three years
  together on raising, and I knew his ability. He joined me as est officer and we made life wonderful for the HQ troops. Major Rishi at 85 today is  still contributing to the society at jallandhar. He teaches management, he treats homeopathy
  as a Doctor, he is a reporter of Punjab news , he is a governing member of an educational set up , a lawyer, a tax consultant. . I call him Bade Bhai since I met him  first in 1976 and till now he is a role model and a bade bhai. Me , my family and children visit him at jallandhar whenever we can. Army rank Retd Major does not mean the individual is professionally unsound. There are great people who are ocean of knowledge dedication and community service JAGJIT
  SINGH RISHI IS ONE OF THEM.. 

  Lesson 31. The word Re-employed, Not empanelled for promotion should be scrapped from army terminology and an officer’s potential should be identified and used to their best ability. Reverting back to Ambala Sub Area [ Roles have changed now] we controlled almost entire Haryana part of Punjab and part of Rajasthan. We reported to P H and HP  area. The sub area gave me immense knowledge on many subjects. In addition we managed the cantonment of Ambala and the Army School. Even though, the army school was under the chairmanship of BGS 2 Corps , I was secretary of the committee and worked a lot for the improvement of the school. In addition the CIV MIL relationship was one of my GS topics. I learnt a lot and contributed a lot.

  24.                 One day a very senior colonel from AHQ , wo was my DSSC tutorial mate ,rang me up and said that ARMY COMMANDER EASTERN COMMAND ON HIS OWN HAD SET ASIDE THE COMMANDERS REPORT without any appeal. I recapitulate Lt Col G S Sandhu My CO ‘s lesson Hard work integrity and sincerity pays.

  25.                 A small digression , in 1985 an army case had been filed on my cousin who was a LGSC PSC and HC graduate of the Artillery. He was in HC course in 1984 when the case started and he was att at Meerut after the completion of the course. The first two GCMs were set aside and he was moved to Ambala Indep armd bde for disciplinary proceedings. I took him in my wings and with Commander’s permission I helped him in every manner during the SOE and GCM. It carried on for near 2 years. I was clocking 16 to 18 hrs a day . In the end I was defending officer in the trial and we were thrilled when he got acquitted after 4 years of torture. It was Revised and he was given a reprimand under the whims of powers to be. Everything was set aside by the Chief and my cousin moved to DSSC as instructor and subsequently commanded 10 Arty Bde [ he was BM 10 Arty bde in 71 ops] He also picked up a gold medal from Patiala University MBA. He wrote a book STRAIGHT TREES ARE CUT FIRST and gave me and my family a SALUTE. He had lost his wife when he had joined HC course and his two daughters became part of my family .Lesson 32. Always standby a friend in trouble .The GCM helped me to later acquire a law degree and register as a lawyer in the Bar council of India. I am proud to have got acquittal of a major general in 11 charges out of 18 charges made against him and was prime in ensuring he got his Maj Gen’s Pension with nominal deduction. I also had the fortune of serving an engineer officer who had been charged with attempt to murder and helped his acquittal. We fought and lost a case of a young infantry LT and we are still struggling at AFT. I am also a proud member of a number of lawyers who refused to help a corrupt maj gen who was on trial. All legal work I did on charity basis [exceptions apart] .

  26.                 I had had a hectic year in 86/ 87 in op Brass Tracks when I established the AMA for the first time in Bhatinda and controlled 8 TA Bns of Urban TA. It was comic finding the babu’s of Delhi in the desert of rajasthan !!!! Classified event.

  27.                 We belonged to 62 batch and our board of three courses of 62 and the review cases was done and redone many times and finally the results were out prem puri govind khimta krishan pal Ramanan were approved as one star generals. Our joy knew no bounds. But being from NCC and the lowest in seniority I knew I will take around a year to pick up my rank. Any case instead of becoming MCO Chennai , god had destined only some delay. My faith in God helped me a lot in life.

  28.                 My wife’s contribution to defence leprosy patients i want to place in record the achievement of a RHINI who fought for the change of a rule followed since british days of 1937. Ready here we go. It was in dec 85 that a flash call came from my brother who was a naval aviation officer and was a DS in staff college welligton [ who was admitted in command hospital pune ],   to say that the army has detected him to be having lepromatous leprosy and he will be discharged from the navy in eight weeks time. The shock to us on this news of a dear blood brother of mine 17 years service as a anti submarine pilot was just unbearable. He had fought in 1971 at west and  east coast ,he was president of India’s pilot. evacuated indra gandhi from islands of maldive and was the ex commandant of the pilots training school before moving to DSSC as an instructor. Just for your information my mother sent three of us to the armed forces in sixties which very few mothers did. one retired as a brigadier from eme and self you know.

  the third one was the naval aviator. on hearing this i rushed to pune from ambala and had a long discussion with him. three days later when i was discussing with swarna [ my wife’s name for those who do not know it] when she said how can defence services do just injustice and dismiss a leprosy patient  with just eight weeks notice , which was the entitled annual leave period. i started digging the rules and regulations and found the TB patients were retained for five years and treated at Namkum. but leporosy patients were dismissed forthwith in eight weeks. we also researched and found that leprosy in non communicable by sexual acts. It can happen to anyone with no cause like cancer. A scorpio fighter she is , said we must appeal to the authorities. She sat down and drafted an appeal to whom we were to decide later. in very strong words we put it down that the rule of 1937 had no validity for post independance army and in 50 years time medical treatments had advanced so much that the entire order needs to be scrapped. In the end of the day we decided to address it to the President of India the Supreme commander of armed forces, to the Vice President , Mr Rajeev Gandhi the PM , the defence minister whose name i do not now recapitulate, Chief of naval staff Admiral Tehlani who was himself a naval aviator, the DGAFMS who was in charge of all inter services medical treatment. In addition copies went to all service HQ.
  signed by Mrs Swarna Ramanan Mother of the affected aviator. She could not sleep just sending the application. In the meantime we found the DGAFMS was the same person who had been our DMS at hq western command when we were posted there . I took a trip to delhi and met him and he outright expressed his inability to break the rules. I also met maj gen rajammal adg mns and told her the problem. In the meantime swarna appraoched the Secretary to the President at Rashtrapathi bhavan who told us that the President had given the letter to the defence ministry. 15 days had gone by and we were perturbed. Swarna decided to go to delhi to meet the CNS who had flown alongside with my brother. On reaching delhi she found that CNS was away and the vice admiral  and COP Admiral Raju ,were available. She had long sessions with them and they assured her that the CNS was in picture and is doing his best. The best news we got in this time was Shri Rajeev Gandhi a pilot himself had put his remarks on the appeal that the case will be disposed off under his signature . he also ordered all leprosy patients who were being boarded out will be withheld till final orders. God what a relief. the defence ministry found out approx 160 patients were on 8 weeks notice. With this i went back to DGAFMS , who had got the news . Meanwhile Maj Gen Rajammal ADG MNS took a trip to pune command hospital on official visit and surprised the hospital authoriteis  that she wanted to meet the aviator. On return to delhi she moved her recommendations. Fortunately for us all civilian medical research and treatment revealed that lepromatous leprosy patients were cured in 12 months of treatment and needed only follow up. World had advanced a lot in managing leprosy cases and only defence
  services were following an age old rule. Such recommendations from Ministry Of Health and support of CNS and DGAFMS ADG MNS  the order of 1937 was QUASHED after obtaining PM’s OK. New orders were issued in 87 that PATIEINTS DETECTED WITH LEPROMATOUS LEPROSY WILL BE PROVIDED “IN PATIENT TREATMENT” AT RELEVANT SERVICE HOSPITAL FOR A MAX OF 5 YEARS. THEY WILL BE RETURNED TO UNIT ON THEIR BEING FOUND LEPROSY FREE. IF THERE IS A RECURRENCE THEY WILL BE TREATED SIMILARLY AGAIN AS IN PATIENT. THEY CAN BE RETAINED IN SERVICE OR RELEASED. It was very kind of DGAFMS LT GEN JAGDISH NARAYAN to have given us a call and informed us of the change of rules. The Naval HQ took all actions tocomplete the treatment at Command Hospital Pune and also looked after his family at Wellington.

  MRS RAMANAN’S fight for the leprosy patients lead to restructuring the leprosy treatment  and change in  charge process. Thank you Swarna for helping out my brother who is more a son to you as everyone in Naval HQ always referred to you as the Aviator’s mother and not bhabi ramanan

  29.                 I took few days leave after the exercise and moved home to plan a little house. Me my wife my two daughters drove down from Ambala to Chennai via Badrachalam in my premier president along with a servant. 1973 model peacock blue premier was my first car bought with 40 K government loan  One day when I was at home I got a call from Johny Mukerjee who was in MS that I had been posted as Instructor JC Wing and must move forthwith. My relief had already taken over as he had to complete 10 months to get his colonel’s pension. I thanked him and returned back to
  Ambala for onward move to Mhow. [ I had to leave my car at Chennai. ] I landed at Mhow on 23 Jun 1987 as DS JC Wing. It was a great joy that we had Prem and Krishan also as DS / SI. Three rhinos all with chits in pocket. My wait for a formation was most enjoyable as I took two courses as DS and threecourses as SI. I was basic for mountain warfare and FBU . I wrote new exercises and conducted after getting it approved by the Commander GULLU CHANDIRAMANI a great soldier I served with , and a tough Commandant Lt Gen Y Tomar.  The best part of it was Gen Pillai my IMA pl cdr was the Commander HC Wing and was the COR of our regiment. I worked daily for him as honorary  regimental staff officer and learnt a lot from  his vision. We did lot of planning on command positioning, move of units and many other
  facets. In jun 1988 my daughter gita [ loveably called prima donna] got married to Raja her school senior and after the marriage me and my wife drove down from Tiruchirappali to mhow in our premier padmini . I had a small trainee to  ssist me to clean up the car. I loved long distance driving and my wife and children also enjoyed it.   It was a great joy the day Gen Pillai got approved as Lt Gen . He moved to AHQ as Dy Chief and I got RV [ who had done 5 yrs of command of 2 Assam ] roped in as his MA . My promotion orders  came in dec 88 after 18 months of waiting and I was posted as Commander 36 Sector to HAA. Himachal. My Mhow stay  had just begun . My wife and children stayed back at Mhow in dec 88 and lot of water has flown in Narmada that we are still at Mhow in feb 2021.

  30.                 36 Sector My first brigade command tenure was wonderful experience in a state of sea saw. On 30 DEC 1988 , I reached Ambala with my wife ,and was picked up by maj bhakshi the sector DQ. He was surprised to see me in COL’s Rank and asked me to put on brig’s Pips. I asked him which regiment provided the camp ERE. It was Sikh LI and had a camp gurdwara. I told him to organise a paat at gurdwara and would get piped inside the gurdwara on reaching the bde
  hq. It was a long journey from Ambala to POO of 400 Km. I stopped at Santram’s [my dear adjutant of 4 Assam] place at the separated quarters, where his wife Surjit was living with kids. [ During my entire stay at Ambala from jun 85 to Jun 87 we were nursed by Santram’s parents and family. We used to go to his village and spend lot of time with his father and mother. ] We moved on to Shimla and met Maj Gen K S Kholi , [my ima pl cdr 62, my mentor for DSSC at faizabad 70 , my DS at DSSC 72, My GOC at 27 Div 84, My Goc at PHHP area 86] He received me with a warm hug and was proud that his student had come back to him on promotion. He told me to be prepared for hard work as the Sector had been
  without a commander for long as my predecessor was attached to armd corps centre and school for disciplinary action. I moved on to Jakhri transit camp and reached Poo on 1 Jan 1989. It was a treat to meet Maj Gurdip the B M [Later maj Gen] and his family. Few more officers had families in the HQ and it was 9000 feet and was under 4 feet of perpetual snow. It was enjoyable to take over a sector and I went through my flag visits, orientation visits and training visits and op location visits at 16000 feet and above. We had FDL and OPs deployed here through out the year. Enjoyed halts with the troops as much as possible at the posts.  To add some joy the sector’s first unit was the Transit Camp at Kakla, followed by signal dets all along the route of 1 plus 2. The next unit was the adhoc transit camp at jhakri, AT ASC AMC AOC EME troops karcham and RVC hospital at Rekong pio with two major units and signals at pooh and one major unit at SUMDO. I also had ITBP Bn and Vikas battalion for ops.  I had 350 kms of distribution of troops in addition to the FDL being held at highest altitudes.   January ended with a satisfaction and went according to my plans made at Mhow. . My wife left for Mhow on 20 jan and was happy to be away from 24X7 snow. On feb 5  I went to delhi to take my MSc examination . We were the pilot batches for the Madras University which was to award the post graduate degree on successful completion of staff course. But were not awarded the degree . After 17 years  ,72 to 77 DSSC batches were
  allowed to take the MSc Examination by submitting a thesis and a written examination. In the meantime Gen Kholi had resigned and taken PMR.  He was succeeded by Maj Gen R K Suri Vr C from Jat Regiment. I paid my respects to the Army Commander Tubby Nayyar at Chandimandir   . I had served with him in 1969 when he was commanding 2 Para and I was in 4 Assam.  . I also met my second CO Lt Col Gurbax singh at Chandigarh, who was extremely happy and told his wife. “ Itte Aooji Sada Radio Peking Brigadier Banya”

  31.                 Our first meeting at Shimla with the new GOC ,on 9 Feb was definitely not a pleasant one. His reputation from IMA , CDR at Ladhak and GOC 16 Inf div. was well known to those who knew him. I left for Jhakri late around 5 PM from Shimla and stayed the night at the transit camp.  The new GOC was a renowned sadist and was famous for his foul mouth. He believed in terrorising his command. As luck would have it he had commanded 16 Inf Div and had come to Area for his second command., Digressing there are two types of senior commanders. 1. Who make and 2. One who break . He had never made anybody . I was one was not even dreaming of any further rank  as I was elder to my batchmates by near 4 years. I was March 40 and my course amtes of NDA were Jun 44.  I was elder to many of my seniors. The GOC decided to visit the Sector in the second week of March for 2 days. He visited the units and rough shod every one . I had organised an aerial reccee for him over the indo china border and he slept all along in the flight, in spite I woke him up ,many times and the young pilots captains were laughing. On touching down at Sector HQ he wanted an op briefing and when I started it he went to sleep. I told the BM and G3 to pack up and guide the GOC to his room. The evening was a HQ get together where he was rude to the core. Next day we visited the Himachal Scouts and
  behaved very badly to the CO in front the SM and others. I cautioned him to mind his words. We returned to karcham where he wanted to address the EME Det lead by a Captain. He used abusive filthy language which I cant write here. I told him to leave the unit and he went over the routine of visiting other units and moved on to Shimla. I returned to the HQ and pondered over what all had happened in the last three days. I got convinced in 24 hrs , he cant be allowed to have his way with my COs and my troops. I called for a portable typewriter to Sugar House, { name of my room]  and started pouring my thoughts into words. I wrote a statutory complaint and made 5 charges against him. 1. Ill treating a commanding officer 2. Calling an eme sepoy BC and MC . 3. Sleeping in an op briefing of the formation commander in the ops room. 4. Sleeping in the helicopter in a border recee flight. 5. Rude to the officers and staff of in general .  I prepared the mandatory copies and also prepared sufficient extra copies.[ All by myself with no assistance from the Staff]  I sealed them and despatched the requisite copies to HQ PHP Area and sent advance copies to Army Commander , Adjutant General, COAS , President of India and few more. To give the strength one can draw from his wife, I spoke to my wife at Mhow on what I am doing and she fully supported my action. Wild fire everywhere. The Army Commander who knew me personally as an youngster called me up and asked me why I had not told him and took this action. I told him Sir NO NONSENSE IS ACCEPTABLE even from GOD leave alone Gen Suri.

  32.                 In two days time Army Commander , arrived with the GOC in tow and took him to the EME Det along with me and made him apologise for his rude words. He took him to the Himachal Scouts and made him apologise to the CO in
  front of all officers and JCOs. On return to the HQ he attended a detailed op briefing by me and my staff. Thank You tubby Sir. By then lot of fire was on at Army HQ that some one has stood upto to SURI. On eve of  Holi 23 March he called me up and asked me to spend a day at Shimla. I went in ceremonial SD and I learnt that he was waiting for me at Flag Staff House. I went to flag staff house and he was in his casuals and said that he was expecting me to be so. He
  asked me to withdraw the statutory complaint with all honey flowing from his mouth. I in no uncertain terms told him that I am a Rhino and will not let down my subordinates. He mentioned to me that since he has apologised to the relevant people I should forget it and withdraw the complaint. In the meantime he put through a call to Lt Gen S K Pillai at Delhi. As soon I said Tagra Raho , before he could tell me anything I told him Sir You taught me to be an officer and I will live like one and I will not accept anything from a senior officer when he is so rude and bad. Sir wished me happy holi  and disconnected. Gen Suri wanted me to stay on at Shimla for the day . I thanked him and got back to Jhakri transit camp. None of my staff knew about the statutory complaint against the GOC. I kept it a secret all along. The period from March to November was bad. He came for my administrative inspection of the HQ located at 9000 feet. He  tried his best to find mistakes in the accounts and administration.  He found  two new tennis courts one at pooh and one at Sumdo. . Troops were playing volleyball and basket ball , in midnight with lighted courts. A golf course on the rocky mountains. Every officer had to play some sport. Every JCO and NCO had to learn Tennis. Digressing  I sent a team to Western Command Tennis Championship . Lt Col Rajaram grenadiers [ later brigadier ] and Kurana my G3 went to play at Delhi.  My staff was too good. The BM and DQ had been turned over . I lost gurdip who had literally commanded the sector efficiently and got Ranbir as my BM who was outstanding and grew to a Lt Gen. Dasika My DQ grew to a brigadier. I had created a very happy family in the team.

  33.                 Ragda in Training and welfare of all ranks and families was my motto. My new GSO 3 from Armd Corps  who had never been to the mountains, enjoyed all the walking he had to do with me to the FDL. {Digressing Khurana and me are friends till date and after 30 years I attended his daughter sanna’s  wedding at pune.} Training of HAV NKS and Naib Subedars was my prime focus in life. I gave freedom to company commanders to train their subunits.  I Inculcated my motto of life “AN IMPROVEMENT A DAY” “Har Din Ek Taraqqui” in everyone’s mind. The impact was great and slowly, slowly profession al standards  and life improved  . But the worst thing was relationship between the Sector Commander and the  GOC which got reflected in the day to day life. But luck would have it COL PREETPAL SINGH Col ADM 11 JAK LI of the Area was ex 4 Assam transferred to JAK LI. We had served as Adjt & QM , company commanders  of 4 Assam for near five years and had served in NEFA , Banaras , J and K and the Rhino spirit was visible. There was some respite to me and the sector. We were family friends since 1964 . I came to know of the GOC visiting Delhi to wriggle out of the situation. I had done six months and had climbed many posts many times and studied the terrain very
  realistically . I remembered my 4 Div GOC’s advice that a Commander , must think 5 years ahead and strategically. I did many analysis and found that Sugar Sector was one of the weakest links of India China border. The enemy could reach
  Shimla, if he overcame one scouts battalion and one ITBP battalion [ located in Punjab] There was a need to restructure the set up and no adhocism would work at 15000 feet altitude . At Sumdo we were at eye ball contact. I wrote a Top Secret military paper SILVER LINING, . After due consideration of the existing relationship between me and the GOC and my assessment of his knowledge and ability , I took a decision to paste my photo on the first page and sent copies to Area ops, WC  Command ops and MO Army HQ. I am proud to say the conversion of the Sector to a Brigade was my contribution to the Army and 633Nation.

  34.                 lt Col Kanwar who had commanded the Himachal Scouts for 2.5 years at HAA with eyeball contact was not approved for promotion. In my report of jun 89 I highlighted the Army’s folly of not promoting an officer who had successfully commanded Scouts troops at HAA consecutively for 2.6 years without any failure. I wrote a lot on the officer’s command achievements at HAA. The GOC had to support me against his feelings , as he was the CO to whom he had to apologise , and the Army Cdr was very happy that I had taken up his case. Similar situation occurred in case of Lt Col JP Pant 2 Naga in my second brigade [ details later] He was approved in the next board and became a COL.

  35.                 Lesson 33 . In my young days I had learnt a lesson that never assess a subordinate or superior , from your impression, feeling  and perception. Give everyone 101 marks to start with. Reduce number of marks for every omission and commission. In one year’s time the performance gets evaluated proportionately. In addition give the man extra marks for any outstanding contribution to the battalion or unit or formation. As SRO of JCOs I maintained the same drill and it helped me to filter out “also serving category”.

  36.                 Twist in the story. Suddenly in October 89 one day my G3 came at night to my room very emotionally and said I had been posted as Commander 11 Mtn Bde in Arunachal Pradesh. I had just done 10 months and was not expecting
  to be posted out. I took three days leave went to Delhi, and sought the interview of MS. Lt Gen Yogi Sharma was the MS . When I asked him why I have been posted out to NE . If it is a
  punishment for highlighting the GOC’s folly then I wont move and he can take any action he deems fit. He was also one of the DS in IMA and Subsequently at DSSC. He explained to me that the COAS Gen V Sharma had considered my statutory complaint against the GOC and after due consultation had decided to give me a blank, new start. Even though I had my reservations I got a commitment in writing as part of the interview letter that I will be posted to MHOW on completion of my command . I returned to POOH and said bye bye to all. I had a tennis out function as farewell function . No dinner No barakhana in the units. I was and am a strict teatotaler from commission, and had a policy never to visit a subordiante’s house for a meal or never call a superior for a meal to my house. [Subba’s place was the only exception as we were more friends than superior subordinate.] I went to mhow in my joining time and reached 11 Mtn Bde within the permissible 10 days acclimatisation period. You may be wondering how the complaint was disposed off. One day I got a letter from DV that “I cannot complain against a wrong done to a CO or a sepoy but they could do it, if they wanted.” !!! I wrote back that I am a formation commander and would never teach my subordinate to take any action action against my superior.

  37.                 Professional Glory. I was happy to see Maj Gen H S Batra Armd corps as the GOC of the Division. I had served with him at Ambala as Secretary of The Army School when he was the Chairman and at MHOW when he was DS in Senior Command Wing and me as DS in JC wing.
  In addition we were CB block neighbours for over a year. A CGSC graduate who was cool and composed all the time. He expressed his happiness on my joining his team . Lesson 34. Digressing I live by a principle that never share three things with anyone even your best friend. 1. Your wealth, 2. your health and 3. Love . I never mentioned anything of my association or problem with Gen Suri to anyone. I took his permission to move to HAA before the units de-inducted. I bid goodbye to Brig Mishra and organised a dinner. I called the Staff who was in HAA to come down for a day and see him off. I reached back jung and settled down at a tent in 12000 feet . I visited the LANDA defences which I had taken over with three battalions. After 4 days I moved to Landa my bde HQ Op location. I was back in my old ground which I had footed as a Major. Now I was footing each picket and post as a brigade commander. Once again I concentrated on the Section Platoon havildars and platoon commander’s level at op location. I visited my other brigade commanders brig Vij [ later COAS ] , commander 77 brig sohol . I also visited Brig harish joshi Cdr 190 . Goc 5 Div maj gen walia . He was Cdr in 27 Div when I was Dy 166. We had worked closely in 3 Sikh episode of 84 post blue star and Corps ex of 84 at Chango heights. Vij ,Sohol and me were course mates of 1962 dec batches. We knitted well and gen batra was very happy to have a good team. 1990 was a great year . Cutting the narrative to a point form

  38.                 I participated in 2 Mtn Div Logistic exercise at Dinjan where I performed well . Gen Mike Lahiri GOC 4 Corps took a liking to my knowledge of the area and logistics.

  39.                 I spent two days with Brig B K KHULLAR VSM 4 Assam , 3 Assam at Imphal . He was a great senior subaltern and friend since 1964. We played tennis golf at Imphal. Had a wonderful two days break from HAA life. God decided to take him away one fine morning in march 90 when he was doing exercise after a jog . I tried my best to reach Imphal for the funeral , when I was enroute to the Wargame at HQ @ Mtn Div.  But I could not make it. The governor of Manipur attended his funeral. Bal Sir will always miss you.

  40.                 Gen Lahiri ,called me to set and run a wargame for 2 DIV to test their op role . Brig Vij was nominated as Chineese Army Commander . I had got hold of Maj S P Patil JAK LI as my SO for the exercise. I had taken to him for his outstanding analysis and briefing at KNIFE EDGE. Me and Patil burnt midnight oil and the Wargame went off very well with a pat form gen lahiri to the Ex control . At the end of the wargame me and Kranti Sood 7 Assam who was DY GOC 2 Mtn div grabbed a flight to mechuka to meet johny mukerjee CO 5 Assam.

  41.             On 22 May 1991 , I got a call from COL GS at midnight 0200 . He informed me of Rajeev Gandhi’s assassination and gave orders for move to Guwahati  in 4 hrs time. He promised me the vehicles will be in my bde area and I should leave the TCP at 0600 hrs. two of my battalions were at base less the FDL parties. We rolled out at 0600 a tribute to my training standards and were on way to the Plains. Midway we were told that Guwahati  was peaceful and we should return to Tenga.

  42.                 I gave a lecture presentation to the NDC team of Indian and Foreign officers on the NEFA 62 at Jaswant garh. My BM Shamsher Singh was beaming when the CI NDC a civilian complimented the team and said that he had attended many presentation in his tenure all over the world and had never seen any of this standard.

  43.                I was tasked to give the opening address of 4 Corps logistics Fortnight attended by all formation commanders and officers. Digressing I was a camera fad and believed in making good slides and photos as a hobby. In my tenure from Nov 89 to April 90 I had made over 100 slides of the kameng division. Since I had served from dec 62 to
  april 91 and had seen the development in logistic set up of 4 Corps I prepared a 2 hour script and it was a hit at Tezpur. The GOC Gen Lahiri sat through the entire presentation and was gaga over it.

  44.                 I was asked to give an impromptu briefing to the CDS Committee headed by Admiral Shekawat . They were flying to the forward area and was to be briefed by the GOC 5 Div but since weather did not permit they landed in our Div Helipad. They had to spend 3 hrs for the choppers to go to base refuel and come back. Hence the impromptu briefing. The GOC was on leave and the Col GS Pant called me and asked me as to what to do. Me and my BM reached the Div ops room with all my slides. I always was a thinker blessings of Brig Shivpuri and kept pondering on many national and strategic issues. The presentation lasted for more than 2 hours. I highlighted the need for a lateral road between the various divisions of Arunachal, connecting ITA Nagar. Development of Industry based on local resources. Prevention of destruction of forests for domestic use, building up of air terminals.  Admiral Shekawat summed it up saying they have been visiting all forward areas of Sikkim and Arunachal and have been shown around LMG Posts and MMG posts and this was the first time they got very useful defence level and national level inputs.

  45.                 Exercise with troops. I ran a 7 days exercise with troops on Bombdila heights and trained all three battalions as one cohesive formation both in attack and defence ops. The best compliment came from JCOs who over a cup of tea said “ SAB Is EXERCISE MEN BAHUT SEEKHA HAI”

  46.                 Lesson 35. Prayer of a leader TRAIN YOURSELF AND TRAIN YOUR COMMAND

  47.                 The corps Commander had planned a wargame at Tezpur and had called me to set it and run it. I frankly told him that I am prepared to write and set it up but cannot run it as my GOC is taking part. Corps Commander saw light in it and called Brig  K M Pallande [ later maj gen GOC 27 Div, God Bless his soul died in a helicopter crash. We were IMA pindari glacier trek mates and served at many places together ] to run it. It was a feather in my cap that I set up the entire wargame. War game was set up at Tezpur Corps HQ for five days and all formations of 4 Corps were there. The GOC 21 Div Gen Batra was very happy that me and Brig NC VIJ later COAS had done well. Sohal was at forward location. Digressing from op matters. On the fourth day around evening 6 PM I was standing in front of my HQ Room when I saw a Bengali lady walking in the corridor and was being guided to me. She was searching for my HQ ops room. She introduced herself as the Corps Cdr’s wife and had come to see my slide presentation of HAA . Lamba, My DQ fixed up the presentation and she enjoyed it thoroughly. We were one up  and were proud of recognition of our efforts.

  48.                 We moved back to Op Area for Op Alert and Gen Batra called me and told me that it was his third op alert and may be the last one. He had a vision to run a demo on stay behind parties for the entire div NCOS and may be 5 Div our sister formation. I planned rehearsed and conducted the demo . If you recapitulate that was my pet subject in 1975 when I was a major in the same sector. The demo was witnessed by entire div NCOS JCOs Officers and many reps of neighbouring Div. The Goc was immensely pleased with 11 Mtn Brigade.

  49.                 Tail end of op alert was a brigade attack at HAA at 16500 feet. Brig Vij ‘s bde was to attack and we were to provide the enemy. I moved up to 16000 feet and stayed there for a night. Enroute I had a mule accident , the mule slipped on a loose stone and and I fell and was hanging down a cliff when the mule was above me . Luckily the mule driver held on to the mule till it got its footing and moved up to the track. I was given a rope to come up and was pulled by the troops. It was a narrow escape. I cited the mule driver and he got a COAS commendation. The GOC was very happy to see the physical fitness of commanders and troops. We got orders to revert to base and I grabbed a courier to delhi and on to mhow for 7 days.

  50.                 Twist in career and story..I reached back on 20 sep 90 and got orders to move to Tezpur for OP Bajrang. I had two bns of mine and an advance party of Garhwalis Vij had taken over from ITA Nagar to Narainpur and I took over the entire North Bank of Brahmaputra from Narainpur to Rangaiya excl . Guess the area 300 km along the road and 200 kms wide. The battalions had served in mountain and HAA for over two years and were not tuned for CI Ops. In any case no one knew anything of ULFA and their tactics and training. I established over 20 columns with all available troops and commanders. Day and  night I was out with the columns. We arrested many top leaders based on the intelligence we collected. We had an Armd Sqn less allotted to me. We told them to camp and not move as the civil population was angry for moving armd tanks against them. I got 2 Assamese OR from each of the Assam Regt’s battalions and made them move in the area of insurgency and collected lot of information on the ULFA. I had my HQ co located with Corps HQ and carried out many ambushes cordons and searches. Vij was having a tougher time as the Arunachal Assam border was in his area and the Special powers did not apply to Arunachal. ULFA had made many base in the Arunachal forests. The Div HQ was at Takurbari and the GOC Visited the columns regularly on his own.

  51.                 I did a lot of heptr reccee to that extend I was grounded by the GOC for landing at Various unauthorised locations !!!!

  52.                 I undertook a special mission on a Brahmaputra island where the ULFA had made a base. No one had any clue of how to handle an Island on a massive river. On my request I got M 16 four of them and landed in the middle of the island. The ULFA were prepared in all sides for our coming by BAUTS. They knew exactly what we will do. My surprise landing on the island upset their tactics and we rounded up people. CO Raj Rif was loaned to me from VIj’s 44 Bde for this mission.

  53.                 Dirty Dozen , My Deputy had formed a group of officers and JCOs known as dirty dozen and would raid daily some rich people who were exhorted by ULFA and gathered information. This midnight raids came for criticism but no one knew the members. By the way MY DQ Lamba from ordnance who was a regular member of the team retired as a Maj Gen. [ Lamba from ordnance was my student in first tutorial in JC and cleared staff college in competitive vacancy. On completion of DSSC he was posted as My DQ and it was a great reunion for both of us.

  54.                 From sep 90 to may 91 it was operations full time. Me and Vij could meet each other only on jungle lunches. For 15 days ceasefire was declared by the government and we moved back to base. But since the ULFA broke cease fire we moved back to the column sites. [Once again digressing The day he took over as COAS , he called me to the Army
  House and we spent the day together]

  55.                 My contribution to Assam regiment during Op Bajrang was that 1 Assam had been moved to the Area near MISA but were not committed to operations. I had gone to visit Col SP Marwaha who was my company commander in 4 Assam. . I met GOC 57 Div. Maj Gen RP Singh from Guards who was my DSSC course mate and explained to him the
  composition of our troops. Next day the C O S was briefed ,who accepted my recommendation and gave green signals to Launch them. 1 Assam did a commendable job in the operations. Marwaha has written a lot on it.

  56.                 Every day in the operations was excellent. Got an award for an attached artillery officer. Brought many activists back to main stream. Ran Assam ex servicemen rally at many places. Served many disabled ex-servicemen. Provided immense assistance to the Civil Admin.

  57.                 In the month of April 91 Gen Batra and me were summoned by the Governor of Assam and we flew to Guwahati. We were asked to give a review of the Bhutan border. I had submitted a paper on BODO force and the Bhutan border to higher ups. I had predicted it is going to be bad if we do not take timely action. I was asked to concentrate all available troops at hatigarh and launch attacks on the ULFA camps loc in Bhutan. But last minute international situations we were stopped at SP. However by the time we got the orders not to proceed we had done enough damage to the ULFA camps

  58.                 Gen Batra posted to Army HQ and Gen CK Kapoor [ My first tutorial DS in JC ] took over. A very proud moment of my life I have to share at the cost of boasting. Me my BM Shamsher and DQ Lamba went to Takurbari to say bye bye to the GOC. We entered the guest room. GOC called inside Chini [ his wife’s name] and madam came out . He patted me and told her Chini “ All others made themselves but Ramu made 11 Bde a force” Both my staff were emotional and in near tears. It was worth working hard every day every night. Digressing I joined 1 Assam on their golden jubilee. Stayed with Sat at his home . His two daughters looked after me with so much of fondness I cant express. They were small kids in 1978 when me and sat were at 4 Assam Faizabad.

  59.                 From Apr 91 to 15 Jul 91, we operated in full swing and I was posted out as DS SC wing College of Combat Mhow.

  36.I had done brigade commands from 1 jan 1989 to 15 jul 91 for 30 odd months and was very satisfied with myself. I bid good bye to 11 Mtn Bde. I had taken up a case that 11 Mtn Bde raised on 5 sep 1939 had moved to Arunachal as part of 5 Div and had got locked there in the Tenga Valley. It was not able to contribute to 65 or 71 ops. Hence it should be moved to the plains along with the 21 Div and not stay back in the mountains. It was accepted and 11 Bde is in operations in Assam,  as part of 21 Div till today 25 feb 2021.

  37.                DS Senior Command. I had joined as DS SC wing on 15 jul 91 and served there till 31 jan 1994. 31 months . I had run 7 courses in various capacities. I wrote a paper on Regimental Management,covering all administrative aspects of a inf bn. which is being distributed to the students till today in improved versions . I was basic Mountain Warfare, FBU , CI ops and mountain wargame. I enjoyed every day of my teaching and training. I participated in many Seminars. I got my rejection slip for promotion and everyone advised me to appeal which I refused as I knew with my Sector Command episode I could have never made it . I was very happy teaching and training the future leaders of Indian Army. Two, three other DS who had also missed the boat resigned . Me and my senior Arun Adhikari Mahar ,my buddy form D&M days to DSSC continued to pour our blood and sweat. I visited the Intelligence school at Pune to deliver lectures on Tac .

  Lesson 35. My father had taught me that You earn your pay by working everyday and GOD keeps his rewards for you based on your hard work
  . He was a Test Audit officer and when British left the Country many staff were promoted to officer cadre. But he had missed it in-spite he was a very efficient person. Pressure was brought on him to withdraw an objection against a British admiral at Bombay dockyards. He refused leading to his supersession. But after 8 years he was promoted and was known for his sincerity and hard work. On retirement at the age of 55 he was invited to join CEERI Pilani as Accounts officer. I am a proud son of a great DAD.   I CARRIED THE FIRST COMPUTER TO SC WING ON MY SHOULDERS AND RAN LESSONS ON STORY BOARD. Army was just introducing computers and were shy of it being moved around.  I studied software and applications which helped me to have an excellent retired life. I took time to attend a computer training course by DG resettlement at Delhi. [ During the course me and Subba played lot of golf at delhi golf course]  On return I ran a war game from 24 jan 91 to 30 Jan 91 and was applauded out of the Senior Command Wing at Shivaji model room. I was a proud man hanging my boots. But still Army did not leave me . I was invited by
  Commanders SC wing to lecture to the senior command on Military Law and Adm. I lectured for 8 courses in the same SHIVAJI model room. Later I gave a workshop to HC on ethics. And the JC Div got hold of me for a lecture to 600 JC students on law. My boots are still wet. !! I visit Army War college often and enjoy quality time at SC Wing JC Wing Library and the golf course.

  38.                 Civil Life begins. . My civil life spans 27 years in various roles. Jam
  packed with activities and achievements. In nutshell I qualified in LLB Hons, got a doctorate in Management, did my MBA and am on the last leg of getting my M A in Psychology at the age of 81.

  Lesson 36 Never stop studying and learning . Gather as much knowledge as possible ..Set goals and achieve it. Delete the word RETIRED from your name board and replace with recharged.

  39.               I got into social work and became an active member of

  ·       the Mentally retarded association,

  ·       
  Deaf Dumb and Blind school, [Adopted a deaf dumb orphan from bhopal railway station and brought him up. He is married and settled with anothr deaf and dumb girl]

  ·       Old age home,

  ·       Slum children school ,

  ·       marriage of spinsters and poor girls, and

  ·       caring for handicapped.

  ·       Lesson 37 . God lives in the handicapped Don’t search him or her at Temples photos and phir. Serve the handicapped and poor is service to God.

  ·       I educated few poor children for professional skills , BE, MBA. and am still at it with other children.

  ·     I introduced Social work to the college and school students and showed them the path to serve the society.

  ·       I was an active member of Committee of Indore Zila Sainik Board for welfare of men and worked in many cases.. I worked for Second Innings of of Ex service offrs and men and I was fortunate to place 3 Maj Gens and two brigadiers in the academic world. I placed many in the security services and civil establishment

  ·       I focused on training Army Officers for DSSC and many even went abroad for staff course.

  ·       Tax work for rhinos especially recruits.

  
  

  40.                 I raised following multi disciplined academic institutions as Founder Director.

  ·       
  IPS ACADEMY INDORE

  ·       
  PIONEER INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES INDORE

  ·       
  ASTRAL COLLEGE OF MANGEMENT

  ·       
  INDORE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS MANGEMENT AND RESEARCH

  ·       
  SICA College of Science and Arts.

  ·       
  and ran a school of 2500 children for 4 years as a principal.

  ·       
  I am a guide, counsellor and Advisor for many schools even today

  ·       
  I did a lot of work for the university in many capacities. The best being the Chairperson of the MBA Syllabus Revision committee with DR P K Gupta a Dear friend and Dean of IMS. We introduced dual specialisation in DAVV Indore.

  ·       
  I took many lecture cum workshops for many colleges and schools for teachers and students

  ·       
  I specialised in personality development and hobbies as part of life.

  41           I took up  Mil  law and fought the case of Maj Gen KTG Nambiar for over a year and half. He was acquitted in 11 Charges out of 18. He was given token punishment of Severe Reprimand. I fought the case of maj Jha of Engineers who was tried for attempted murder and helped him getting acquittal both on trial and Revison. I was also in a trial of a Lt who
  was dismissed and we are still fighting at AFT.

  42.                 I published MML and RFA English editions designed to help staff college aspirants and Part B Part D. I am also running a web site “ www.faujimilitarylaw.com” free for all officers. I learnt and made a very detailed web site on Map reading www.Faujimapreading.com. In addition I run a website for our regiment www.fajirhinoveterans.com.

  43.                 The staff college examination preparatory training I provide is free of cost and I bear all the expenses. God has been kind. I also trained people for SSB and CDS and many made it. I took up counselling of the needy students , couple with marital problems and others who were suffering with problems. Hence I decided to go for a Counselling PG degree in 2017 and am near the finish line. I worked a lot for water conservation , anti tobacco, addiction .

  44.               I worked for adoption in that I am proud to say that all my three children adopted a girl child each from the orphanages in Indore, Satna, Thailand. I got adoption done from katni and indore for my family . Lesson. 38. Do one service to one person every day before you go to sleep and thank god for giving you the
  strength, health and wealth.

  45.                 I joined IESM in jan 2009 and participated in the running fast and on 7 Nov 2015 I conducted an Assam Regt day at the Jantar mantar site with help of many rhinos and me and Col Shashi maintained 24 hrs fast.

  I ran a rhinoveterans@yahoogroups.com web
  site for over 12 years and on yahoo closing I began rhinoveterans@googlegroups.com which has near 200 rhinoveterans as of date.

  46.               I am also the working president of Assam Regiment Ex officers Association which is a defunct organisation and I am sad I could not do justice to the task entrusted to me by LT Gen Johny Mukerjee. I wrote many papers on the ARWA and AREOA which never saw light. I hope I will find a solution to it being closed or revamped in 2021. I wrote many letters to the editor and also researched and wrote an article in PJ Edition of SALUTE on BOB KATHING the Hero of Tawang.

  Lesson 39 An young man asked me to define enjoyment. I a teetotaller through entire career [ like my mentor Prakash Shivpuri] defined enjoyment as doing  ANYTHNG THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE GROWTH OF YOUR PHYSICAL MENTAL PSYCHOLOGICAL ,PROFESSIONAL
  , FAMILY ,SPIRITUAL,  WELL BEING. And not do anything that reduces any of the above even for a short duaration

  47.              My Family . I was the fourth child of 10 children . In fifties it was common to have a large family. My eldest sister was married to a stenographer to Lord Mountbatton in 1947 and he by sheer hardwork retired as Assistant High Commissioner of India at Srilanka flying a Natioanl Flag at his residence.[ My No 2  role Model. My father being No 1.  . . My eldest brother was my role model for the Army and he was in EME and retired a brigadier. He was an M Tech from Cranefield University UK. He was known as Tiger Thyagarajan a thorough bred professional and in addition a great bridge player and and a golfer. Apart from serving in tezpur in 62/63 and Kargil he had served as Instructor at MCEME for five tenures and was known as a professional teacher. He was the pick of Gen Sunderjee to raise and reorganise the Equipment Directorate of WE. My next elder brother was a BE Electrical from BITS PILANI in 1964 batch and later specialised in paper pulp industry . He established Harihar Polyfibers , ITC Badrachalam paper boards. He grew to be one of the Vice Presidents of ITC . He represented india in Switzerland in Paper pulp technology. He also served in Indonesia to establish two paper mills and on return to India revamped Andhra paper millsTill end of life he was a paper industry consultant . My younger sister was married to a accounts person. He retired as the Chief Accounts of Gulf Aviation Bahrain and lived in Bahrain for over 30 years. My next younger brother is a naval aviator who flew the first SEA KING anti submarine helicopter to India from UK. He flew Seakings in 71 ops at both western and eastern coast. He commanded a naval ship . He was the Commandant of Naval Seaking Heptr conversion academy at Cochin and a Staff College instructor. As a super VIP pilot he flew Gyani Jail Singh President of India to Bombay High. He evacuated Mrs Indira Gandhi from Maldives in a storm where she was struck. My two younger siblings are charted and cost accountants and have a professional reputation of their own in their fields. My baby sister is married to an oil refinery professional at Kuwait who is into social work in a big way as part of Satya Sai mission. He teaches Maths to school children free of cost. Four of my brother in laws served the Army in uniformed / Civil service.

  My wife  joined me as a Plus 2 and educated herself to be a MA [ Eng] MA [Eco] and a B Ed. She took to a career after our silver jubilee . She only raised my children as I was always away in field when the kids were growing . Salute you darling.

  My elder daughter is a M Sc MBA Ph D and is married to her school senior who works for the UAE Government and is a Ph D from Switzerland. My second daughter is a MBA Ph D and is a renowned finance teacher of 27 years experience and is with the UAE government HIGHER COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY.

  My son A BHM MBA is a hospitality professional and an entrepreneur in Australia. His wife a B ARCH MBA is an insurance professional. I attribute the well being of  the family to my father’s Pooja which he performed for 52 years and gave it to me which I did for 30 years and passed it on to my son who is doing it since last 7 years. FAITH IN GOD AND SERVICE TO
  SOCIETY GIVES YOU HEALTHY PEACEFUL LIFE.

  Thanks to Jason and Gandhi I have gone through my career in this looooooooooooooooong narrative. I sincerely hope some future Rhino will benefit from it . Blessings Tagra Raho.

  At the end I apologise for using the word I many times against my teaching . But I could not help it as it was my career write up

  I PRAY GOD TO GIVE ME STRENGTH TO SERVE THE ASSAM REGIMENT TILL MY LAST BREATH. MY BOOK RHINO BADGE* is under compilation and I hope I will have it ready by 15 jun 2021.

  I request all veterans , anchors, GBs COR to give me details of all those who wore a Rhino Badge.

  Blessings

  Tagra raho

  
  

rhinoramanan@gmail.com

rhinoveterans@googlegrops.com